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CardGames Vol 1 Issue 4
This issue of CardGames is something you can keep in your wallet at all times to help you make decisions, but whenever you want, you can also use it to read minds.
If you haven’t heard of CardGames or seen my previous reviews, it is a monthly release of a new trick. It’s not subscription based (although they did sell a limited number of subscriptions), and each release only has 100 copies. So, when you buy it, you know you're getting something unique that only a select few have. Vol 1 Issue 1 was their take on an ACAAN, Vol 1 Issue 2 was their one card version of a Mind Power Deck, Vol 1 Issue 3 was a prediction of a thought of card, and here is their description of Vol 1 Issue 4:
"This month we blend the world of productivity and decision making with mind reading. Whilst sharing a new and useful tool you demonstrate your new found ability of understanding secret thoughts.
Under test conditions you will know with 100% certainty a secret thought (drawing, word, number, anything) that is written upon any piece of paper and hidden in your participant’s pocket.
The paper, the pen, the writing surface are ordinary. The reactions are not.
With any paper or pen, no set up and any information, you can perform this."
All of the other CardGames so far have utilized Poker Hand Ranking cards in one way or another; this is the first issue that doesn't. Instead, this item can live in your wallet. It's very similar to a credit card in its size and stock, and it's disguised as a thing that helps you make decisions. Essentially, the card is used to randomly choose between two items. But secretly, the performer has full control over the outcome of which item is selected.
I really like this. The decision making process is fun, visual, and completely done by the spectator. It's simple, but that's what you want from this type of thing. It's taught in the context of a mind reading demonstration (more on that in a sec) but it could be used for much more. There are many routines that involve you using magician's choice between two objects, and it's often the weakest point in the trick. There's even some memes that have made the rounds about it.
Instead of making this the weakest part of the trick, you could pull this out to "randomly" choose between the two items and it will feel much more random and free. You could also use this to decide which side to start counting from for Quinta. There's a ton of uses for it outside of the one they teach.
That said, the routine they teach is really solid. It's a mind reading trick where a spectator writes two pieces of information and uses the device to select which thought you will think of. You can immediately reveal it. The device itself doubles as a clever peek device. I've never seen this principle used quite like this, but it works really well in this context. It's an under utilized principle. I don't want to say too much to spoil anything, but with no envelopes, wallets, special paper, special pen or anything extra, you get a peek of one of their thoughts. It's a little easier to peek a drawing than a word or number, but you can really peek anything with a little practice. This is the perfect thing to carry in your wallet because you can literally grab a receipt, napkin, or scrap of paper and something to write with and immediately read someone's mind.
This is one of my favorite ones yet. It's hard for me to decide between this and Issue 3 as a favorite, but realistically, this will get more use because I'm going to be keeping it in my wallet instead of on my wall (see my review for Issue 3 to understand how I'm using it.)
Available while it lasts for £50 at:
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