I've been performing PSI-DECK for around
15 years in selected venues but, except from a very small circle, have
guarded its secrets jealously. One of the main reasons that I've held
it "under my vest" for so long is that as well as being a pleasure to
perform, it is also thoroughly deceptive.
There is very little in Magic or Mentalism as easy to perform, as is
PSI-DECK. With almost nothing technical to worry about, you can relax
and put all your energies into entertaining your audience. Yet it fools
just about everyone. I've "taken" some of the best-informed Mentalists,
and Card Workers with this effect. When performing at a convention for
"those in the know", it has become one of my trademark presentations,
since I've seen the impact it has upon laymen and experts alike.
I've thought of marketing it for many years, but only now do I have the
opportunity to present PSI-DECK to the community at large with the
quality I expect. I predict it will quickly become a favorite of yours
too. Since over an hour of handwork is required to assemble each deck,
and the difficulty in manufacture, when these are all sold, it's very
unlikely there will be another run.
THE EFFECT:
3 people are asked to participate in an experiment that will test the hidden powers of the mind.
A deck of cards is fanned and shown to everyone. Then a rubber band is
placed around the middle of the deck, which is then placed face down on
the left hand of assistant #1. He is asked to place his right thumb on
the edge of the deck and when you turn your back and instruct him to,
he is to quickly pull up just enough to peek at one card at random and
then remove his thumb.
Turning around, you ask that assistant #2 take the deck and hold it as
assistant #1 was previously instructed. You turn your back and tell her
to peek at a card in the same manner as assistant #1 did.
She is then to place the deck off to the side as you turn back around.
You do not touch the deck in any way, or even have to see it.
You then look at assistant #1, and after "concerted mental effort"; you
then concentrate on assistant #2. With proper showmanship you then
ACCURATELY REVEAL THE EXACT SELECTION THAT EACH OF THEM HAD MERELY
PEEKED AT! (There is absolutely NO pumping involved. You know with
CERTAINTY exactly which card each of them had peeked at!)
Assistants #1 and #2 are dismissed, as you hand an envelope to
assistant #3. You then pick up the deck (yes, it is the same one - no
switching!), take off the rubber band, and explain that you will slowly
deal through the face down deck, one card at a time. You carefully
instruct him to call out "STOP" when you are holding a card in your
hand, so that there can be absolutely no question about exactly which
card is the one being chosen.
You then proceed to slowly deal the cards, pausing for a second each
time you peel off a card before dropping it to the table, so it will be
perfectly clear exactly which card is being selected. He says, "STOP".
You ask if he's sure, or would he like the previous card, or the next
one etc. (He can, of course, change his mind if he so wishes.)
You turn the card around so all can see it.
You ask him to open the envelope and remove the contents. They match EXACTLY!