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SECOND CHANCE

Whilst looking on the website of Alakazam Magic I happened to watch a trailer of Benjamin
Earl's DVD, Past Midnight. He did a 'Think of a Card' effect that was an absolute stunner, (Isn't
it great to be fooled?) After watching the effect about three more times, I am ashamed to say
that I realised that he was using nothing more than a Stacked Deck, a principle (again I am
ashamed to say) that I had never used. I think it was the subtle way in which Benjamin
presented the effect that threw me?

I immediately went about to learn the light Kings' stack and started using the trick and it
completely fooled everybody that I showed it to.

Although the effect that you are about to read is nothing like Benjamin Earl’s, in fact it
doesn't even use a memorised stack, however the main inspiration for the effect definitely
started from seeing Benjamin Earl's original trick.

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Required

One red and one blue deck of cards. A black Sharpie pen.

Set Up

Take the blue deck, discard the jokers and give the cards a good shuffle.

Cut a small section (1" Square) out of the bottom right corner of the back of the blue card
case (The side that has Bicycle written in BIG letters).

Take the red deck and arrange it in the same order as the blue deck. Turn both decks face
up and put them side by side.

From the bottom (face) of the red deck deal the top card face up on the table, on the back of
the second card you write in BIG letters the name of the first card. You then turn this card face
up and deal it onto the first card. On the back of the third card you write the name of the
second card. Again you turn this card face up and deal it onto the second card on the table.
This process is repeated throughout the whole deck.

Note: The first card that was dealt on the table, at present has nothing written on the back.
You write on this card the identity of the last card dealt.

You can now shuffle the red deck. Place one of the jokers on the top of this deck. (This hides
the writing on the backs of the cards)

Place the two decks into their respective cases and you're all set.

Note: A lot of preparation is required, but once completed that's it!

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Presentation

Start with both cased decks side by side upon the table (Obviously the blue case is face down
with the cut-out hidden from view).

Remove the blue deck from its case and spread them face up to show a normal deck of
cards. Turn the deck face down and have a spectator give the deck a few complete cuts.

Ask the spectator to think of any card, and to spread the deck faces towards them and to
look for their card. When they see their card they are to cut the deck so that their card is at the
face of the deck, staring at them. When they have done this they are asked to remove their
card and to place it out of sight, into their pocket.

They are then instructed to slide the deck, face down into the card case. You then lift the
deck up to their chest level and ask them to clone the flap. This now allows you to glimpse
the bottom card of the deck through the cut-out section of the card case.

You now discard the blue deck (making sure that you remember the card that you have just
glimpsed)

You now recap what has just happened and say to the spectator:
"You thought of any card and you removed it from the deck and placed your thought of card out
of sight into your pocket. The deck was then put into its case, the lid closed and the deck was
discarded, and that you have not touched the deck?"
Once they agree that what you have said is correct, you then proceed as follows:

You remove the red deck from its case and spread it face up on the table. (When removing the
deck be careful not to expose the writing on the back of the cards)

You explain that you will try and select the same card that the spectator has in their pocket.

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You slide forward from the face up spread the card that you glimpsed earlier. (Let's assume
that it was the Four of Clubs). Note: On the back of this card will be written the name of the
card that the spectator has in their pocket.

Ask the spectator to remove the card from their pocket, and to place it face up on the table.
Whilst they are doing this you casually gather up the red deck, place it in its case and discard
it.

The spectator will now notice that both cards are different and that you are wrong!

You ask the spectator for a second chance to prove that you found the same card as them.
Once they agree to your request just turn the red backed card face down and ask the
spectator to read what is written on the back of the card. It matches the spectators thought of
card!

Note: This effect is so easy 1 almost feel guilty performing it... "No I don’t !"

Reset (lf you can call it that?)

All you need to do is to put the red card anywhere in the red deck and the blue card on the top
or the bottom of the blue deck.

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 PenUltimate

In my book WD40 I described an effect called Sharpie, since publishing Sharpie I have been
informed that the principle used is quite old even though I thought that 1 conceived it
independently. Having made various investigations I have still not been able to track
down the originator. Although PenUltimate user the same principle as Sharpie it is now a
lot more streamlined and the presentation is quite different.

Required

Four 'Mini' Sharpie pens of different colours. I use Blue, Black, Red and Green. Also required is
one of your business cards.

Set Up

Turn the cap on a Sharpie pen so that the ‘clip' is in line with the top of the ‘S’ on the word
Sharpie on the barrel of the pen, also it is in line with the 'Sharpie' logo which is situated at
the end of the pen. Once the 'clip' is lined up, the other three pens are lined up the same.

The four pens are on the table in a very haphazard manner and alongside them is your
business card.

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Presentation

You start by explaining to a spectator that you would like them to think of any one of the
coloured pens and whilst your back is turned you would like them to pick up the pen that
they are thinking of and to write that colour on the back of your business card. Once
they have dove this they are to put the pen back with the others and to mix them up,
turn the business card over and cover it with their hand.

When they have completed the above procedure, you turn around to face them and ask
that they spread the fingers of their hand that is covering your business card.

You now proceed to pick up each pen by the cap and place one between each finger of
the spectator's hand, making sure you ask them to dose their fingers together so that the
pen is held upright. Note: As each pen is placed between the spectators fingers you position it
so that the 'clip' on the cap is facing you.

It is now a simple matter to note which pens cap is in a different position to the rest. Once you
know you can then reveal the chosen colour in anyway you like.

I personally say to the spectator that I am going to get them to take a lie Detector' and that
they are to say the word 'No' each time I tap the cap on the different coloured pens, and
you state that they will be lying on one occasion and you will be able to tell which one. Say: "I
once took a lie detector test…. No I didn’t"

Once you have got the required information you discard the pens into your pocket and reveal
what colour the spectator was lying about.

Note: When presenting the effect remember the pens are totally unimportant.

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 AN AMAZING TALE

On every episode of my TV series 'A Kind of Magic' I presented a routine called 'Alistair
Witchells Amazing Tales' This was a bizarre type scene set in a mysterious garret and various
effects were performed with a serious story.

Even today magicians ask me if I intend publishing the stories. As most of the routines
used props that are not in every magician's arsenal and I have no intention of publishing
these routines, however the following routine was one of my favourites, and it was a
standard trick that used NO props, and it is called Gypsy Thread.

I am not printing the method as most of you will know it and probably have various
improvements? Ali 1 am printing is the script a however I have highlighted the salient points in
the routine.

As in the standard routine you start by displaying the spool of thread.

"Since the dawn of time the unanswered question for mankind has always been 'Why are
we here?' What purpose do our lives serve between birth and death? Alistair Witchell had
an interesting theory. He believed we were placed on earth for each other."- Display a single
length of thread.

"That the single thread of our individual life weaves its way into the tapestry of mankind.
Touching other lives momentarily, but often having a lasting effect."

"In that short period of time between our birth and final passing, how much influence
do we have on others? Our happiness touches the hearts of all those that witness it."- Break a
piece of thread.

"Our sadness draws their pity."- Break another piece of thread.

"Our hatred stings our enemies."— Again break a piece of thread.

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"And our love warms the lives of all those that we allow to bathe in its rays ."- Finally break
another piece of thread.

But we really cannot disassociate one emotion from another." - Roll the pieces of thread together
into a small ball.

"How quickly they change within our own lives and what an endless spectrum of emotions we
contain. Emotions that from birth to earth make up the single thread of life."- For the finish you
unravel the thread to show fit restored!