A Holy Grail

The participant shuffles & cuts the deck multiple times.

The performer never touches the deck yet he is easily able to
predict the final outcome. Perfect for Online Zoom shows &
Real life performances

Copyright © 2020 by Moustapha Berjaoui & Jose Antoine. All rights reserved.
Preface (Jose)

To say that this journey would be possible without Moustapha would honestly be a lie. It is
mostly thanks to him and my good friend Moe Makkeh that such a small idea reached new
heights and escalated into something that I never thought would be possible. For that I am
eternally grateful. Throughout this project I got the honor to meet so many magicians that I
never dreamt of mee>ng. I got some feedback from magicians that I dreamt would even
comment on a single piece of my work, like the amazing Michael Murray.
Most importantly, I would like to thank the people that have supported me from the start: Imad
Harb, Pascal Hakim, Anthony Fares, Chris Khalil, Wadie Rida, Wissam Kaouk, Celena Samaha,
Berine Wehbeh, Christy Haber, Dona Atallah, Sami Saade, Michel Saade, Stephanie Sha>la, EJ
Bou Karam, Charbel Boueiry, Elio Chedid, George Avedizian, and Michel Bassil.

Without you guys leOng me show you my tricks, and always giving me >me, aPen>on, and
feedback, I would not be here.

Thank You,
Jose Antoine

Copyright © 2020 by Moustapha Berjaoui & Jose Antoine. All rights reserved.
No part of this book, text or illustrations may be reproduced in any form
without Written Permission from both Moustapha Berjaoui & Jose Antoine
Introduction

What is the Cut ?

The cut is a versa>le system that allows you to perform numerous effects from the comfort of
your own home or right in front of your audience. Imagine holding up a card, millions of miles
away from your par>cipant, over zoom, and aSer the par>cipant gives the deck several cuts and
shuffles, you have correctly predicted the card at his lucky number.

Types of Effects That Can Be Done

• A.C.A.A.N
• Do as I do
• Predicted C.A.A.N
• Double coincidence
• Drawing Duplications
• Plus much more
The Cut formula

The system basically looks like this formula

C-X-Y=Z Then X

C The constant number

X Their lucky / favorite number (which they will tell you)

Y The amount of cards that they want to cut (first cut)

Z The number you tell them to cut to (second cut)

X Finally you tell them to cut to their lucky number which is X

First you subtract the spectator’s lucky number from the constant (C-X). Then you subtract from
their difference the number they cut to first (aka the easy number they try to cut to). (C-X-Y).
These 2 subtrac>ons give you a result (Z), which is the number you ask them to cut to. For the
sake of explana>on Here is an example: Let’s say their lucky number is 13. So we do (53-13=40).
Then we ask them to name an easy number they believe they can cut to. They say 10. So we do
(40-10=30) or (53-13-10=30) The result is the number which you ask them to cut to.

Note: You do not cut to their lucky number at first.

The Constant (C)

In the case of a deck the constant is 53 (Total+1). In case you are performing using an incomplete
deck or one with jokers or even something different than a deck like a stack of pictures or
symbols, all you can do is add one to the total number of objects present.

Lucky Number (X)

As the note previously said you do not cut their lucky number at first you just subtract it from the
constant. Now I would like to address the dilemma where people worry that the par>cipant
might pick a number greater than 30. If you use the subtlety I taught in the video, you will not
face this problem. Basically all you do is urge them to pick a number quickly through the simple
ac>on of rapidly snapping your fingers. To them it might seem harmless, but their brains register
such ac>on as a call for them to work quickly and put out any answer. Also another idea Jose
came up with is that if they pick a very high number like 48 you can go like I said number these
are numbers… Then go on to either ask them to add them together if they result in one digit or
just tell them to pick one of the 2.

First Cut (Y)

The number they name aSer their lucky number is the one they cut first. Just like their lucky
number, this faces the same false dilemma. The fact that you use the idea of name an easy
number you can cut to they are not going to cut to a number bigger than 15 regardless whether
they are magicians or laymen. We (Moustapha and I have been performing this effect for a while
now and none of us has faced such a problem).
 So here is a simple short example
Lets say we will use a full deck of 52 cards.. so our constant number will be 53

1. Par>cipant’s Lucky number is 7 …. So 53 minus 7 = 46

2. We tell the par>cipant to cut small amount of cards let’s say they cut 15 and complete the cut
3. Now we take the small amount of cards that the par>cipant cut (which is 15) and subtract it
from 46. which will give us a result of 31.
4. You tell them to cut to 31 and complete the cut. Now you are done.
5. They cut the deck one final >me to their lucky number which is 7 and the card will be located

Peeking the card

You can basically use any idea you’d like in order to peek. The most common one we use goes as
follows: We ask the par>cipant to shuffle the deck a couple of >mes and then we ask them to
spread the deck on the table or towards the camera (on Zoom) in order for us to make sure that
they have thoroughly shuffled the deck. Also it can be used to make sure that there are no jokers
or duplicates.

Another Idea Jose came up with while dabbling with the skill card mechanic presenta>on is
teaching them to hold the card in a specific grip (mechanics grip), so that it is easier for them to do
hard deals. That way you peek the boPom card. Then you go on to ask them to deal one from the
top to try a second deal and then a boPom deal. With that ac>on being done you have a pile of 3
cards on the table with the top card (previously the boPom card of the deck) being the one you
peaked. Then you go on by asking them to return the packet on top of the deck and boom you now
have the top card peeked and ready to perform.

Throughout our performances Moustapha came up with the idea of peeking the second or the
third card instead of the first and reques>ng the par>cipant to bury the top and the boPom cards
once or twice in the middle of the deck. This has fooled tons of magicians.

Erik Tait has contributed an idea regarding the peek which is an ingenious one. Eric went on to
discuss that to show that the trick is impossible as the par>cipant to cut twice and miscall the top
card. Then go on by asking the par>cipant to spread the deck towards the camera in order for you
to “see by how far you missed”. It is then you peek the second card and ask the par>cipant to bury
the first and last card in the deck.
Additional Ideas

The Cut Effect is not only limited to cards. You can use any stack of paper whether you have a
stack of business cards with random names and drawings, or if you ask your par>cipant to grab a
bunch of old family photos. Again you are only limited by your imagina>on. All you have to do is
make sure you add one to the total and make the performance your own.

An idea that we came around is that we can turn the trick into a packet trick with around 30
cards and just go for a shorter quicker version of the trick. All you have to do is add one to the
total number of cards in the packet. (If the par>cipant has 30 just add one so 30+1=31).

Also if you want to add another kicker you can use a nail writer (swami gimmick) to write the
par>cipant’s lucky number on the back of the card. If you want the card to be in an envelope just
cut out the back of it.

If you dislike adding or removing cards to the first packet the spectator cuts to, you can just
subs>tute the number they actually cut to by the number they intended to cut to. All you have to
do is subtract the number of extra cards, or add the number of missing cards. For example, if
they wanted to cut to 12 and they cut 10 the number changes from 41 (53-12=41) to 43
(53-10=43) and vice versa
Alternate effects

An idea Jose came across is an alternate presenta>on that can work for both the packet idea and
the full deck approach. This presenta>on works for couples. Also it has an added bonus of it not
dealing with the issue of “What if they pick high numbers” which is nonexistent in my opinion.
Here is an overview of how it should go: First the performer goes on with the idea of who is
more intui>ve in the rela>onship. You ask for a number that perhaps means to the girl (since girls
usually are a bit more sensi>ve than men). This in the formula takes place of their lucky number.
Then comes the first number they cut to which is replaced by the month in which they met. The
second number they cut to is the day they met, and voila you have a rou>ne for couples. Also
you can subs>tute the lucky number by the amount of years they’ve been married. (Only if
they’re old).

An Idea that Moustapha came across for live performances is to have a blank faced deck and ask
the par>cipant for their favorite card. You secretly load it into the blank faced deck using any
deck index. One great index that Moustapha uses is “Advocate” by Daniel Madison. ASer you are
done with the rou>ne and they locate their card. You end it with a kicker where you tell them
that if they had gone a card extra or a card less they could have goPen black cards. Then turn the
whole deck over showing that the en>re deck is blank except for their though of selec>on.

Another presenta>on Moustapha came up with is one where the trick is turned into a sort of a
murder mystery/horror type of trick where the deck is replaced by old spooky pictures and the
person they finally land on aSer their cuts is the only dead person.

Ori Ascher suggested an idea using a stack of business cards or papers with words on them. The
spectator can add a few if they please. Now you can force any word you want from the pile. It
could either be the spectator’s added word or one of the words you ini>ally had in the packet.
(it’s bePer to force your own words instead of the par>cipant’s so they don’t expect that the final
word is going to be theirs)

Nice idea as well is to prepare 2 stacks with common names in your country (male names &
Female names), and use this to reveal the par>cipants name.
Indexes

The use of indexes is to be reduced for zoom conferences and virtual shows only. There are
several indexes you can use out there. In a lot of our performances Moustapha just lays out 52
envelopes with one card inside each on the table in new deck order. In case you’re worried about
that don’t be because you taking the envelope does not get burned by the par>cipant due to the
fact that to them this all happens before the trick even starts (ASer they shuffle).

SimPdex by Moustapha Berjaoui

It came to Moustapha near the end of this project and honestly it is beau>ful.

For this index you don’t even need a table. You just need cards, rubber bands and envelopes.
All you have to do is group the suits together in numerical order, put each card in an envelope,
and >e a rubber band around them.

Stack 1: A K Clubs
Stack 2: A K Hearts
Stack 3: A K Spades
Stack 4: A K Diamonds

Then you set them up on your lap in a specific order for Zoom shows, or in different pockets for
live performances. During which you can remember where the suits are. To find the card all you
need to do is riffle your thumb through the par>cular stacked envelopes and go through the
cards’ order mentally.
PRINT Grids

For Zoom shows I prefer to print this grid and have it next to me, to make math easier. That
allows me to only focus on one subtrac>on instead of two. This gives me room to focus on the
performance. Check the video to see how I use it in online performances.

Constant number is 53 (minus) X = The numbers in the chart below

1 = 52 11 = 42 21 = 32 31 = 22 41 = 12 51 = 2

2 = 51 12 = 41 22 = 31 32 = 21 42 = 11 52 = 1

3 = 50 13 = 40 23 = 30 33 = 20 43 = 10

FOR ZOOM
4 = 49 14 = 39 24 = 29 34 = 19 44 = 9

5 = 48 15 = 38 25 = 28 35 = 18 45 = 8

6 = 47 16 = 37 26 = 27 36 = 17 46 = 7

7 = 46 17 = 36 27 = 26 37 = 16 47 = 6

8 = 45 18 = 35 28 = 25 38 = 15 48 = 5

9 = 44 19 = 34 29 = 24 39 = 14 49 = 4

10 = 43 20 = 33 30 = 23 40 = 13 50 = 3

1 = 52 11 = 42 21 = 32 31 = 22 41 = 12 51 = 2

2 = 51 12 = 41 22 = 31 32 = 21 42 = 11 52 = 1
This one you can print and 3 = 50 13 = 40 23 = 30 33 = 20 43 = 10
IN WALLET

glue to back of a playing

card, on card box, or have
it placed inside your
wallet for easy peek while
taking out a business card
to write your predic>on
4 = 49 14 = 39 24 = 29 34 = 19 44 = 9
5 = 48 15 = 38 25 = 28 35 = 18 45 = 8
6 = 47 16 = 37 26 = 27 36 = 17 46 = 7
7 = 46 17 = 36 27 = 26 37 = 16 47 = 6
8 = 45 18 = 35 28 = 25 38 = 15 48 = 5

9 = 44 19 = 34 29 = 24 39 = 14 49 = 4

10 = 43 20 = 33 30 = 23 40 = 13 50 = 3
Murray’s FORMULA

ASer Michael was shown the effect he instantly wanted to add to the project and so kindly
agreed to share his contribu>on to it. No wonder many people say he’s one of the nicest guys.

So What Michael did was changing the Formula / System

First he Changed the Constant to 50
Secondly instead of doing two subtrac>ons.
He changed it into an Addi>on of two numbers then followed by a subtrac>on from a constant.

The number they cut (Plus +) Their favorite number (Minus -) 50 = The amount of cards
you tell them to cut

To begin with you are supposed to know the iden>ty of the second card by peeking it in any
manner you see fit. Then you explain to the spectator that “cheats” usually prac>ce precise
cuOng by cuOng small packets of cards and building their way up. So first you ask them to try
and cut one card. You ask them to feel the weight of it. Then you ask them to try and cut 2… then
3. Following that the spectator is asked to put the remainder of the deck on top of the small pile,
with the peeked card, on the table. (The peeked card is now third from the boPom).
From here you can take it in 2 direc>ons. You can either ask them to give you their lucky number
and ask them to try to cut to an easy number or you can do as follows:
You talk about how there are 52 cards in a deck and to prac>ce precise cuOng you need to build
from the top down. You go on by saying that half of the deck is 26 cards, so the spectator should
try to cut around that number. Now your par>cipant cuts and counts the cards. Let’s say they got
25 cards…it doesn’t maPer. All you need to do is remember the number 25 (The number they cut
to). Then ask them for their favorite 1-digit number. They say 6. You add the 6 to 25 which gives
you 31. Now you take that result minus 50 (The Constant No). It will give you 19. The number
they cut (25) + Their favorite number (6) - Constant No. (50) = 19 cards.

You proceed by telling them okay perfect now let’s try this with a smaller amount of cards. Try
cuOng 19 cards… count them. If the cards are less than 19 you can tell them to add to them so
they add up to 19. This process is added to the top cards. Now you really need to feel the weight
of those 19 cards. Take the rest of the cards and drop them on top.

It should be easier for you to cut to your lucky number since we prac>ced with a big amount of
cards and got it down to a small amount… Now try cuOng to your favorite number. You should
pretend that you forgot their lucky number, and ask them again what is your lucky number?
They tell you, you tell them to cut to it. Now the predicted card will be located at the exact
posi>on which is 6 in this case.
Important

- Once again, and as a reminder you do not have to ask them to add or remove cards on
their first cut. In case they cut more you just subtract the difference from the constant. In
case they cut less just add the difference to the constant.

- In case they cut extra on the second cut (aka the number you tell them to cut to), you ask
the spectator to remove the extra cards from the boPom of the packet which they cut. In
case they cut less, you ask them to add the cards missing to the boPom of the packet they
cut to from the deck.

- Make sure that you tell your par>cipant to cut from a table not in hand, to avoid any slips
or mistakes

- Always make sure you tell your par>cipant to count the cards before you start the effect,
so you know how many total cards are in play (some people may have missing cards, or
extra cards such Jokers and Adver>sing cards)

- You can use a calculator next to your crib our of frame to make things easier for you while
performing on Zoom.

- I lay my wallet open next to the SimpDex, once I riffle and take out the correct envelope I
place it inside the wallet then close it then take it out in play
CREDITS

Moe Makkeh: For co-crea>ng the ini>al formula

Erik Tait: For the stunning and well thought-out peek idea
Michael Murray: For his wonderful addi>on to the project
Ori Ascher: for his extra ideas and thoughts

Final Words

Thank you so much for buying our effect

If you need any help please reach us any>me.

Make sure to join the dedicated Private Facebook Group, we will share more ideas and exclusive
content.

Click the link to Join the Private Facebook Group:

www.facebook.com/groups/thecutowners

NOTE: Keep a receipt of the purchase to guarantee access to the group

See you in the next one!

Cheers,
Moustapha Berjaoui
Jose Antoine