The Holiest of Grail (a hands off shuffled ACAAN)

I have long been intrigued by the challenge of the Berglas Effect and the many solutions to producing truly baffling ACAAN effects.

I believe I have created a version which will appear as the Holy Grail to an audience, theatre or television and which can be done with randomly chosen spectators, completely hands off, and without any stooging/instant stooging (including the dealer!)

How it appears...

A volunteer is randomly selected, invited on stage (or to the performance area) and given a deck of cards. They are asked to check through the cards, make sure they are all present and all different, there are no double cards, no cards stuck together or anything else that appears untoward. They are then asked to shuffle the deck thoroughly however they wish, overhand, riffle, casino, cuts, they mix up the cards and square them up on the table. They are then asked to watch over the cards and ensure no one else touches them for the duration of the performance. 

A second and third volunteer are randomly selected, by whichever means the magician or audience or first volunteer choose. The second volunteer is invited to think of any card. It is a completely free choice and they are invited to change their mind as many times as they wish before committing and naming their card.

The third volunteer is brought onto the stage (or performance area) and asked to name any number between 1-52. They are asked to confirm this is a free choice and also, mirroring the choice of card, asked if they have changed their mind as many times as they wish. They confirm they have had a free choice and may have even changed their mind in this. They name the number aloud.

The first volunteer who has been guarding the cards is then asked to deal the cards from the top, one at a time, face up, to the chosen number. The freely chosen card is revealed to be at the number stated, the miracel is achieved!

I have a POC already in place and am in discussions with another party to realise the full end to end working version. A video performance will follow in due course, please bear with me! 


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