MATHMATICAL CARD MAGIC

EFFECT: A deck of playing cards are borrowed. The Jokers are removed.

The performer tells the audience that, "This is one that the math Professors couldn't figure out. In fact as far as I know, no one knows how it works...even me!"

Performer takes the deck and begin to make random piles of face up cards. As he is doing this he ask the spectator to square up the piles as neat as possible but do not rearrange the order of each pile as they are being squared..

The whole deck now lies face up on the table in numerous piles. The performer ask the spectator to turn three piles of cards face down that is believed to contain the most cards.

After this is done, the performer gathers the remaining face up piles. He holds them face down in his hand.

He tells the spectator that he (performer) will burn off ten cards. The performer counts ten face down cards off to the side onto the table from the pile of cards he holds.

Next the performer ask the spectator to hold up his (spectator's) left and right pointer fingers. The performer asked the spectator to now touch two of the three face down piles that was though to have the most cards in them. The performer demonstrate. Touching piles at random..

"Now you can touch these two piles or these two or these two. It doesn't matter to me," performer said.

The performer offers the spectator a choice to remain with the two or he can freely change his mind and select two other piles of the three piles that are at play.

No matter what the spectator's choice is, the performer goes with that. "Okay, we'll use these two," performer said

He ask that the spectator turn over the top cards of each of the two piles. The spectator is asked to add the numeric value of the two cards together and announce the total. For example, if the two top cards are Five and Ten. The total will be 15. (Ace equals One (1), Jack equals Eleven (11), Queen equals Twelve (12) and King equals thirteen (13.)

After the total is announced. The performer counts off that many cards from the deck he holds, onto the pile that is off to the side. The performer then draws attention to the one pile that remains face down.

The performer reminds the spectator that the face of the top card of this pile has not been seen. "This is the mystery card." he tells spectator.

None the less, the performer announces the value of the card. The card is turned over and is seen to be just that! In the end the performer is left holding some cards. Which strangely enough, is the exact value of the mystery card. "But, you know the strangest part about this effect. Is that I'm always left holding a card or some cards that always come out to be the exact amount as the mystery card's value." He counts the cards onto the table.

Secret

I don't know! Really I don't....

....But I do know the SOLUTION.

SOLUTION:

A full deck of playing cards must be used to work this effect. The deck can be your own or borrowed. Also the deck can be shuffled and mixed very well by spectator. This will not mess up the effect. In fact, it makes the presentation stronger!

Next, after you take the deck. You will seem to be making random piles. But what you are secretly doing is counting out the piles to total thirteen in value. Let me explain.

Each card holds a value.

Here is the value system: Ace equals as One (1), then you have 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,Jack (11), Queen (12) and King (13).

With me so far. Good!

Now, because the cards get mixed or shuffled. They will not be in numeric order. That's okay. Now pay attention. This is how to count the cards in piles to get the total thirteen in each pile.

Say for example: After the deck has been shuffled. You take the deck. Hold the deck face down. Place the top face down card face up on the table to begin your first pile.

Note the first card's value. For example, if the first card was an Eight (8). Mentally remember that.

Now you are going to give the impression that you are randomly making a pile. But what you are really doing is counting the cards to equal to the number thirteen (13).

Here's how: The first card laid face up on the table is, Eight. Now for each other card that you lay on top of it, just do a running count. 8, 9, 10, Jack (11), Queen (12), King (13).

That is your first pile.

Lets say that the next card after this pile was Four. You would mentally count: 4. The cards after that would be, 5,6,7,8,9,10, Jack, Queen, King. (Pay no attention to what the actual card value is. Just use each following card as the value based off the four that was placed onto the table first.

if the card in the next pile you are making is a 10, run the count like this, (IO, Jack, Queen, King.)

Got it?

Now what if the next card in the new pile came up to be a King...?

...what then.

Because King is valued to be thirteen (13). You can not add any cards to do a running count to thirteen. What do you do? It's Simple. Go ahead and put the King face up on the table.

Just use the next card to be counted. Note it and use it to scoop under the King. Lets say that the card could be a Five. Start your count there. Using the King as Six. So it will be: 5,6,7,8,9,10, Jack, Queen, King, in your mental count.

Don't worry about the scoop being an off set. Just do it. Anyway the audience don't know what you are doing. So they have no reason to suspect fail play. Just keep the flow and you will be okay.

You understand how the count works? Good!

Now when you start to run out of cards. Some times you may not have enough cards left to make a pile of the value thirteen. It's okay. Just finish the pile out. You have enough piles to work with now.

Now you will ask the helper to turn over three piles that is assumed to have the most cards in it.

Reason being is to assure that the piles with the value of thirteen is picked. This is known in the magic world as FORCING.

Because the pile(s) were FORCED, now you don't have to worry about the piles that did not value to thirteen being picked. The FORCE provided an OUT.

An OUT means that the performer had an escape in case the effect went wrong or to prevent the effect from going wrong.

To see some effects on FORCING, read my Hubs: Super Duper Card Trick or Chicago Opener.

But what if the helper picks a small pile anyway? Well, you still have an OUT. Just say, "That one is kind of small. Pick a Larger pile?" (USING a FORCE to create an OUT.)

Now once your three piles are picked and turned face down. The performer gather up the remaining face up cards on the table. He holds them face down.

"Now the first thing that I'm going to do is burn away ten cards," Performer said.

The performer counts off ten cards to one side.

Then the performer ask the spectator to place his fingers on two of the piles. The magician tells the helper that their free to change their mind if preferred.

Whatever the answer is, the performer continues.

"These two piles. Find, then we'll use them."

The performer then ask the helper to turn face up the cards on top of each piles.

This done. The helper is asked to add the value of the two cards and announce the total.

For example. Say that the two cards were, Five and Ten. Add them together. The total is Fifteen (15.)

The performer then counts Fifteen more cards to the side.

Now the performer is left with some cards in his hand. All he has to do is count them secretly and these cards tell what the mystery card is. Announce the total and turn the top card face up on that last pile. It will be correct.

"But you know. The strange thing about this effect. Is that I'm always left with some cards in my hand that is the exact amount as the mystery card." The magician said. Then he count the cards onto the table for a triumphant finish!

COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS

This is one of my most performed card effects. It is totally impromptu. All can be examined before and after the effect. It is truly a mind baffler. This is an effect that helps you get away from, "Pick a card, any card..."

     When you are mentally counting the cards. Try not to appear as if you are counting. You should appear as if you are just making piles of cards.

  To secretly count the cards left in your hand at the end of the effect. Just spread them apart into threes, or fours or whatever they come out to be . This help you to nonchalantly take a GLIMSP  of the amount left in your hand. You might want to say something like this to help cover the, GLIMSP.(A term for taking an undetected pick to get need information in an effect.:)

  "And I'm still left with a few cards, here." say this as you seem to display them. But you are taking a glimpse.

  Work on making your movements look natural..