This is probably my favourite card trick. I've been performing it for more years than I care to remember. It is just as powerful now as it was when I first came upon the principle and developed the trick.
What You Need
A pack of cards and a dotted key card (see Time Out Children Card Tricks).
Preparation
Place the key card in the pack - exactly the 26th card from the top.
What You Do
Place the cards face downwards in front of the spectator at point A (1).
Have him cut off about two-thirds of the pack (over half) and place the cards at point B (2).
He must now cut the pile of cards at B approximately in half and place these cards at C (3). Your key card will now be somewhere in pile B.
Instruct the spectator to pick up pile C and shuffle the cards as much as he like (4). When he is satisfied he must look at and remember the card that he has shuffled to the top (5) - put it back on the top - and then place the whole of this packet of cards on top of pile B (6). His chosen card will now be on top of the combined B-C pile.
Now have him pick up pile A and shuffle them well before placing them on top of the B-C pile (7).
He can now give the cards as many complete single cuts as he wishes over and over again. All the cuts in the world will not alter the fact that his chosen card is now exactly 26 cards away from your key card - so although you don't know what it is, you do know where it is!
You must emphasize at this point that you have not touched or even seen a single card and that he has done all the cutting and shuffling himself. Get him to confirm that this statement is true.
Take the pack from him and spread the cards face down across the table from left to right. Make sure that a small part of every card can e seen (8).
Ask the spectator to hold your right wrist. You say that you are going to attempt to receive "impulse" from him and thus find his chosen card (9). Extend your right index finger and, starting from the left-hand side, begin to move the finger slowly along the line of cards about two inches (5cm) above them.
When you spot the pencil dotted corner (your key card) count this as number 1, and continue to count the cards silently to yourself until you have reached the count of 26. Your finger will now be hovering over his chosen card.
Don't pick it up right away. Go a few a cards further on - then retrace your steps. Hover over the cards in the vicinity of his card as though you are beginning to receive an "impulse" from the cards. Then drop your finger decisively onto the 26th card and pull it clear of the spread - still face down (10).
Have the spectator name his card out loud and then slowly and dramatically turn the card face up to show that your "impulse" was correct (11).
The "impossible" has been achieved. If it was "possible", we wouldn't bother to do it, would we!
Afterthoughts
If you reach the end of the line (the right-hand end) before you have reached the count of 26, merely continue the count at the left-hand end. His card will always be 26 cards away from your key card.
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