What's better than a card trick? Predicting the FREAKING FUTURE, which is exactly what you'll do in this scam. We call it Pigment Prediction.
THE EFFECT: Your mark shuffles the cards as they like, while you write a simple little prediction. Once the cards are shuffled, the mark turns over the cards two-at-a-time, and sorts them in the following piles:
- If both cards are red, place them in a "red" pile.
- If both cards are black, place them in a "black" pile.
- If both cards are a mix of one red and one black, toss them into a "discard" pile.
Once the deck is sorted, have them count and tell you the number of cards in the "red" and "black" piles. For example, we'll say there are 14 red cards and 10 black ones. Now, show them your prediction, which clearly reads "THERE WILL BE 4 MORE RED CARDS THAN BLACK"
PART 2: even better, you can REPEAT the effect: Write a new and different prediction. Have the mark repeat all the same steps. This second time, both the red and black piles will be even...and that's exactly what your prediction will say: "BOTH PILES ARE EVEN".
THE WORK: First off, you might have trouble believing this, but with a full deck of 52 cards, no matter how much you shuffle them, when you pull off the top 2 cards and separate them into piles, you will always end up with some number of discards, and two even piles of red and black. (If you think about it mathematically, it makes sense. If you don't want to think about it mathematically, just try it a few times and you'll see this is true).
So how do you get 4 more red cards than black ones? By removing 4 black cards and leaving them in the box before you do the trick. Now, no matter what the mark does, if he counts correctly, there will be 4 more red cards in the piles than black cards (which is exactly what your first prediction will say).
The second time you perform this trick, make sure to add in the 4 extra black cards, making the total number of red and black cards even (52 total cards). Make sure your second prediction reads "the piles are even", and you're home free.
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Posted by far3 on 11/27/2008 at 07:47:32 pm in Scam School
I did this trick at a college party I was at a few Saturday's ago, everyone loved it. You could put a bit more risque 2nd prediction if the atmosphere of the party is right.
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Posted by shwooddotcom on 11/01/2008 at 11:13:59 am in Scam School
"Thanks for the awesome trick, Brian!
I tried it on my boyfriend and almost got busted. After I performed the trick for the second time (when it turns out even), he was so amazed that he started checking everything out, including inside the box! That was close!"
LOL... I love those close calls! Congrats on the win.
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Posted by coldv on 11/01/2008 at 01:49:50 am in Scam School
Thanks for the awesome trick, Brian!
I tried it on my boyfriend and almost got busted. After I performed the trick for the second time (when it turns out even), he was so amazed that he started checking everything out, including inside the box! That was close!
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Posted by Hayz on 10/22/2008 at 08:11:18 am in Scam School
"So tonight, I met up with buddies at Hooters. We were having a great time. Shared with one how to play "Fast and Loose". I then played it with the waitress, letting her win because it was the set up for her to "foil" more fancy tricks. Instead, I did this week's trick.
I started, explaining I realized when I had dreams of time of trauma, the dream helped me prepare with the real ordeal. I then explained I had clairvoyance and could predict future events.
She counted out the cards, and I showed her my predictions. It impressed her and others at the table. SHe was impressed by my esp. My buddies were impressed that I got a Hooters girl to talk with us for as long as she did."
nicely done, lol, gotta remember this if i go to hooters....for the buffalo wings of course ;)
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Posted by Sincerelee on 10/21/2008 at 10:37:32 pm in Scam School
So tonight, I met up with buddies at Hooters. We were having a great time. Shared with one how to play "Fast and Loose". I then played it with the waitress, letting her win because it was the set up for her to "foil" more fancy tricks. Instead, I did this week's trick.
I started, explaining I realized when I had dreams of time of trauma, the dream helped me prepare with the real ordeal. I then explained I had clairvoyance and could predict future events.
She counted out the cards, and I showed her my predictions. It impressed her and others at the table. SHe was impressed by my esp. My buddies were impressed that I got a Hooters girl to talk with us for as long as she did.
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Posted by crinzema on 10/20/2008 at 05:25:32 pm in Scam School
"In this case, someone with background in combinatorics is probably so socially damaged, they don't allow them in bars.
I study Algebra. Someone once defined Algebra as, "Start with something interesting and fun, then remove from it everything that makes it interesting and fun. Algebra is what's left." :("
I hear you. I almost decided upon a true mathmatics degree. I'm crazy for statistics. Combine that with sports, Lord have mercy on me.
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Posted by masherscf on 10/20/2008 at 04:35:51 pm in Scam School
Why do i get the feeling that dump people have all the fun?
In this case, someone with background in combinatorics is probably so socially damaged, they don't allow them in bars.
I study Algebra. Someone once defined Algebra as, "Start with something interesting and fun, then remove from it everything that makes it interesting and fun. Algebra is what's left." :(
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Posted by shwooddotcom on 10/20/2008 at 04:32:55 pm in Scam School
"
ALWAYS glad to hear when we put out a winner!
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Posted by RickXTN on 10/20/2008 at 02:58:28 pm in Scam School
I've done this trick several times over the last few days and every person has looked at me and asked, "How did you do that???" I did it a few times at my job (a 50's style diner) when it was slow and the cards I hide I just put in my back pants pocket. Then the discard pile goes in there while they're counting reds & blacks. I also alter which color and how many I hide so that even if I've done it to someone already (co-worker) he watches and sees yet another outcome. LOL
I've only had one friend that I did the immediate 2nd prediction because either people don't want to go through the process again or, in the case of being at work, there just wasn't time to do it again. Fortunately, this trick works out even if you only do it once.
Thanks for this trick and it's absolutely my favorite one! The easiest yet most amazing one! :-)
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Posted by crinzema on 10/20/2008 at 02:29:42 pm in Scam School
"First, Accounting is not Mathematics, not at all. When I was studying for my Ph.D., there were six disciplines, Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, Statistics, Probability, Topology and Abstract Algebra. Accounting is not a subset of any of these.
The trick is based on the premise that you're predicting something that is not dependent on the shuffle. Therefore, the person can shuffle all day long and the "prediction" will stand. Somebody with a background in Combinatorics might have an easier time making that leap of logic, given the known facts."
Why do i get the feeling that dump people have all the fun?
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