ALL MAGIC / WAP

Perfect Force
Simon Lovell Answers
The Card Question
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Hi Simon,
I'm searching for the most perfect method to force a card. It seems to me that there are not many forces that seem logical from the view of the audience, especially those that involve counting or other activities before the card is chosen.

Dear Card Worker,
Like yourself I am not a fan of forces that require any un-natural handling or counting of cards. As soon as you say, "Pick a number, add the digits together." or "Pick a number between 17 and 33." or some-such I believe that you are reducing the effect to a puzzle.

Traditionally I use the classic force where the deck is spread before the spectator and they are just asked to pick one out. This force is considered difficult by many neophyte magicians but, if studied carefully, is actually much easier to do than you may imagine. You can find many good write ups of it including Paul Gertner's manuscript, the "Card College" books and my own handling in "Simon Says." Paul Green also released a very good video devoted to the move simply called "The Classic Force."

Although less free than the classic force there are others that at least don't simply fall into the puzzle category. The age old cross-cut force can be very effective when presented with a good line of patter. The riffle force can also be used very effectively and is not hard to do. Both these forces can be found in the "Card College" books where Roberto Giobbi explains them very clearly indeed. You could also check out my World's Easiest Riffle Force in "Simon Says" which, although requiring a little courage to pull off, is one that I use quite often.

Finally, fake deals, if you are proficient at them, can be used to very cleanly force a card. Using second deals, you can be dealing cards and ask them to say "Stop," whenever they like. Or, conversely, you can use a bottom deal to give them the force card as they call out "Stop." Several folks have published a force using a one-handed Bottom Deal. You'll find a good description of this in Randy Wakeman's very fine book "Randy Wakeman Presents."

I hope that helps you on your quest to find a good force that suits you!
Best, Simon

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