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MAGIC SHOW: MENTAL

ONCE AND FUTURE KING
By Richard Robinson

The magician writes a prediction on a playing card. Another card is freely selected. The prediction names the selected card.

Props

Four number cards and the four Kings are needed as well as a marking pen whose ink has dried out so that it no longer writes. The number cards should be of assorted values and include all the suits.

Setup


A K and a Heart are drawn at one corner of each card used, except for the King of Hearts.	The cards are assembled into a packet with the marked corners all at one end.	The unmarked King of Hearts is added to the stack.

With a marking pen that does work, write a K and the Heart symbol on one corner of each card except the King of Hearts. This writing should be bold and easily readable.

Assemble the packet of cards with all the marked corners are at the same end, then add the King of Hearts to the packet.

Store the packet and the marking pen that doesn't work in a convenient pocket.

Handling


The packet is given an overhand shuffle, then fanned and displayed. The marked ends are covered by the fan and the hand holding the fan.	Square up the cards and turn them backs towards the spectators.	Spread the cards and look through them.

Remove the King of Hearts and place it on the face of the pack.	With the marking pen that doesn't work write the prediction on the corner of the card.	Using a pen with a dried out ink supply allows you to actually write on the card.

Remove the supposed prediction card and place it in a spectator's pocket or to one side of the table face down.	Spread the remaining cards face down.	Ask a spectator to select one card and pull it out, keeping it face down.

Place the selected card with the prediction card. Then remove them and hold them in your hand or place them together face down on the table.	Turn over the two cards with a flipping motion. This will switch the position of the cards in the unlikely event that anyone is actually keeping track of which card is which. Your prediction is correct.

In picking up the remaining cards from the table, rather than making a fan put the fingers under the upstage ends of the cards.	Lift the cards up to show them briefly before putting them away, the fingers hiding the marking.	A more deceptive method of holding them is to shift the hands to either end, this allows the cards in one hand to be moved forward slightly, increasing the visibly of the card faces.

Presentation

Explaining that Kings can't help but stand out in a crowd, remove the packet from your pocket and, keeping the backs of the cards to the spectators, give the packet a series of overhand shuffles.

Now spread the cards in a fan, turning and adjusting them so the marked corners are at the bottom of the fan. The hand holding the fan covers the bottom right corner of the face card (and thus the writing on it) as it normally would in holding a fan.

Turn the fan faces towards the audience displaying the cards and pointing out how obvious the Kings are among the other cards.

Now explain that one King is more significant than the others as far as most people are concerned. Turn the fan so that the backs are towards the audience. Tell them you are going to make a prediction as to which King more than the others stands out.

Keeping the backs of the cards toward the audience, remove the King of Hearts and place it on the face of the fan. Square up the fan. Take the marking pen and write on the card. Place the card face down on the table or into a spectator's jacket pocket.

Give the cards another overhand shuffle, then place them face down on the table, spreading them apart as you do so. Have a spectator point to one card. Take that card and place it with your prediction card.

Pick up the rest of the cards, square and fan them again or spread them between the hands are described above. Say that they could have chosen any of the Kings, pointing to the King of Spades, Diamonds and Clubs. Close the fan into the left hand. With the right hand reach for the two face down cards and flip them over, remarking that they didn't choose any King but the King of Hearts and that that was your prediction.

As you make this revelation, the hand holding the packet goes into your pocket and deposits the remainder of the cards. This hand then comes out, picks up the pen and again goes to the pocket to put the pen away.

Performance Notes

Once And Future King is what magician's like to call a packet trick in that only eight cards are used. Based on a principle credited to Jack Vosburgh, this presentation shifts the focus to four specific cards, the four Kings, and creates the impression that the magician has somehow mentally controlled the spectator's selection.

The effect is visually surprising, perhaps because it takes the spectators a moment to focus on the two cards and register that the prediction matches the chosen card.

ESP cards can be used to create a similar effect where the mind reader predicts which of the five symbols will be chosen, with one chance in five that not only will the prediction match the selection but will have the same symbol.