Details

Rating:

Author: FastBikerBoy

Access Level: 13

Difficulty: 40%

Surefire Bet

Effect

I use this as an 'encore' and to demonstrate why you should never take a bet with a stranger no matter how 'surefire' it seems.

The magician explains to the spectators that they should never take a bet with a stranger no matter how sure they think they are to win. He explains that this is all in fun and no money will change hands - this is just pretend to show how easy it is to con people - but the person should feel free to bet what ever they like as long as they think they can win the bet.

A pack of cards is displayed backs and fronts. They are seen to be different values and the same coloured backs.

The magician cuts to different cards a few times remarking on the value of the cards and the various odds of the spectator cutting a higher or lower card. Once the magician has cut to either an ace, two or a king he stops and then (in this case the Ace of hearts) says 'I've cut the ace of hearts - now if I were to ask how much would you be prepared to bet that you can't cut a higher value, you might suspect I'm trying to trick you and say that aces are high so you can't win. Well my reply is Aces are low and I still bet you can't cut higher. Now you're a little more interested, but you're still thinking there is some catch and what if you cut another ace? Well what if I were to say that we'll say the ace of hearts is the lowest card in the pack so if you cut another ace you would still win, what would you be prepared to bet then? Remember it's just for fun, no bet will stand but what would you bet? £10, £50, £100?'

The spectator usually names one of these figures, say £50. The magician then says 'Oh still conservative, I see you're worried that you might also cut the Ace of Hearts and I'll say it's a draw and that I win, well don't worry, if you cut to the Ace of Hearts, you can decide who wins, now what would you be prepared to bet, you cannot lose, no matter what value or suit you cut to you win - name the bet.' (I have had people bet daft amounts of money on this).

Say the spectator says £100. The magician as he shows the cards backs and fronts again says 'Okay £100 all you have to do is cut the pack....' He offers the pack to the spectator to cut and as the spectator cuts the cards carries on saying '....and reveal a card and you win but, Oh no you've cut to a blank, you've lost'. The spectator has cut to a blank card!! (His jaw should be on the floor by now). The magician then shows that all of the cards are blank both back and front, fans them out and says, 'Not only have you lost the bet but you've also broken my cards, and the bad news is that they cost £100 a pack so you now owe me £200'. However I said that no money would change hands and as I'm a magician I'll use my magic powers to restore them'. As he says this he starts to cut the pack in small blocks producing cards with faces and backs until he gets to the end of the pack and then shows once again that all the cards have backs and fronts. 'There fixed them for you' says the magician 'I think I need a drink now' as he pockets the cards and leaves the spectators open mouthed, hopefully about to buy him a drink.

This never fails to stun audiences.

Please note, this requires a gimmicked deck that can be purchased from many magic stores, and can be used to perform many other effects as well as this.

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