I figured I’d throw caution to the wind with this final ‘Fingertip Fumble.’
As usual, make sure you’ve read the previous effects before you get to this one.
Here’s the big difference between the other versions…
The previous variations all had one thing in common—we forced the first card of our stack.
However, I do have a method that allows BOTH cards to be free choices.
Check it out.
As usual, let me outline the basic sequence and then explain in more detail…
- Two cards are freely named
- A number of shuffles is freely chosen
- A number is forced
Let’s break it down…
- Two cards are freely named
Simple stuff so far—the only thing I should point out is that you’ll want to immediately convert those cards into their stack numbers.
Let’s say they choose the 10D and 2C. In the Mnemonica stack, that’s 49 and 27 respectively.
- A number of shuffles is freely chosen
Let’s say they choose 5 shuffles.
What I’m now going to do is find the two numbers—27 and 49—in this chart, and calculate the distance between them.
I see 49 is second to last on the first row, and 27 is first on the third row. Since I know each row has 8 numbers in it, that’s a difference of 9.
My number is 9, which brings us to step 3…
- A number is forced
Now, I know I previously established that having someone choose a number via a number deck is not as natural as forcing the card and letting the number be a free choice.
I still think that’s the case.
However, if you want the freedom to use two freely named cards, this is the price to pay.
(to be honest, I’m not sure even I would use this handling—but I found it pretty fascinating nonetheless, just for the sake of ‘completeness’)
Anyhow, we’re going to force the number in the manner described in the first version of this effect.
Of course, having them look at a card gives you a good justification to turn you back for a moment—and perhaps do the calculation you need for step 2.
Either way, once they’ve selected the number you want forced, our work is done.
The reveal:
We give the deck the number of faro shuffles chosen (of course, we don’t CALL them faro shuffles when we’re performing). Once we’ve done so, we can deal through the deck, and the two chosen cards will be separated by a number of cards equivalent to the chosen number.
Neat, huh?
I hope you enjoyed this week’s ‘Fingertip Fumbles!’
I’ll be back next week with more…