• Author / Uploaded
• Giuseppe Di Bianco

• Categories
• Jugando a las cartas
• Magia (Ilusion)

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IMPROMPTU OUT OF THIS WORLD This idea has already appeared in a few magic magazines. Whenever it has, the writer always admitted that it was not original with him and that he didn't know who had originated it. Well, as is usually the case with good (but simple and really obvious) ideas — there's always the possibility that a few people thought of it — independent of each other. I can only tell you that I first learned the original (Paul Curry) Out of This World about twenty-one years ago. I started doing this impromptu version of it about twenty years ago — and nobody taught it to me or showed it to me. (Of course, through the years, I've shown it and taught it to others.) I haven't used it much because frankly, whenever I want to perform an effect of this type, I use my own Out Of This Universe (see Close-Up Card Magic), on the other hand, it has come in very handy when I wanted to do it with a legitimately shuffled deck — and I still use it occasionally. I've used it at lectures (for other magicians) and surprisingly (to me) it fooled most of them. So — assuming you know the original (stacked deck) version — here is my Impromptu Out Of This World. After your opening patter (ESP, etc.), have the spectator shuffle the deck thoroughly. Take it from him and make a wide pressure fan facing you. Look at the top group of cards (left side of fan, as you look at it) and decide which is the dominant color in that section — red or black. Let's assume, for this explanation, that you think there are more reds than blacks in the top portion of the deck. All right — the entire idea is to eliminate all the blacks from that portion. (Of course, you can use any color, it doesn't matter at all. It's just that if there are more reds, it's easier and takes less time to remove or eliminate the blacks.) So — take a black from there and place it face up on the table, as the black leader. Take a red from anywhere else in the deck and place that down as the red leader. Now again, take a black from the top section, hold it with its back toward die spectator and ask him if he thinks that card is red or black. Whichever he says, place the card, face down, onto that leader card! (Don't let anyone see the faces, of course.) Take another black from the top section and repeat exactly. That's all there is to it! Keep taking blacks only and place them on the red or black leader, in an overlapping fashion (just as in the original version) according to his instructions. Every once in a while, when he says, "black," flash the card as you place it onto the black leader, saying something like, "Gee, you're doing extremely well, etc." I do this, perhaps, three or four times.

Okay — keep removing the blacks, as explained, until you approximate that there are about, say 15 to 17 red cards only on top of the deck. (See Fig. 18) Now take a red from All red cards another part of the fan and place it face up on the black pile. Take a black from near the top (this is your last chance to eliminate a black from that section) and place it face up on the red pile. This is exactly as in the original version. I usually say, "Let me give you a bit of diversification here. Now you'll place the cards you think are red - here, and the ones yo u think are black - here. I just don't want you to get too over-confident, etc. Close the fan and shuffle the remainder of the deck, retaining the top stock. The only shuffle I'd use is the jog shuffle - and if you can't do that so that it really looks as if all the cards are being shuffled - don't do anything! While shuffling, patter: "You may think that so long as I hold the cards, I have something to do with all this - which, of course, is impossible. You're in complete control. Here, just to prove it to you - you take the shuffled cards and place them where you think they belong - yourself, etc." Hand him the deck and let him place them as in the original version. A 'bit' I've always used: - when he's dealt three or four cards on each leader, I wait until he deals one onto the black (in this example) pile. I grab that card, turn it over to show that it's red and move it to the other pile, saying, "Oh, oh - that's your first mistake! But that's okay again, it'll keep you from getting overconfident. Anyway, otherwise you're doing fine! One mistake you're entitled to — etc., etc." This is always good for a laugh - and they're impressed, because so far as they're concerned there is no way you could have known he'd made a mistake! Let him continue until you estimate he's dealt out the stock of red cards. (Of course, you could count the reds on top before you give him the deck, and then count the cards as he deals - but I never do! It's just as easy to approximate or estimate, and anything that may look as if I have anything to do with the whole thing - is no good.)

When you feel that the 15-17 cards have been dealt (See Fig. ISA) —stop him by taking the remainder of the deck and ribbon spreading it face up on the table. Say, "Well, I'm sure you'll agree that you couldn't possibly have known, consciously, which were reds and which were blacks." Indicate the mixed situation in the spread deck as you talk. This is a very strong point — don't leave it out! "Now, let's see how well you've done!" End by showing that he's been 100% successful just as in the original version! Incidentally, re: the ending. I've seen too many magicians make the 'wrong pile look like a 'move.' That's not necessary at all. I've always done it like this: — Show the 'right' pile first — no problem here. Leave all the cards face up on the table. Now simply take the two leaders of the 'wrong' pile, one in each hand, drop them onto the other face up cards — as you say, "Isn't that amazing? Well, let's see how you've done here." Square all the cards of the 'wrong' pile slowly and obviously — "I won't shuffle these, or do anything to them. I just want to show you that you actually did separate all the reds from all the blacks!" As you talk, turn the packet face up, and spread, slowly showing that what you say is true. When you've spread the reds (or blacks), drop them on the table — then spread all the blacks (or reds) — and drop them on the table, as you end the sentence. That's all you have to do. No fancy flip-overs — or moving -of the leader cards — are necessary. Do it as I've just explained. The colors come out, as they should — and nobody will ever see anything wrong with this straightforward, nonchalant, handling! All the cards are left face up on the table and you've finished doing Impromptu Out Of This World!! Afterthoughts: Not only is this done with a shuffled deck, but also it takes less time to perform. It isn't necessary, you see, to go through the entire deck. And — as I've already told you — don't leave out the part where you ribbon spread the remaining cards, showing the colors mixed. If you didn't already know this routine, I think it should be well worth the price you paid for this book! There's nothing more I can tell you about it. Any 'pieces of business' that you use for the original version can be used with this. Oh — and you realize I'm sure, that although I told you to remove blacks until there are about 15-17 red cards left on top — there may be times when there are only, say, three blacks among the reds to begin with. In that case, of course, it would be silly to stop after removing only those three blacks! You'd keep going, taking blacks from anywhere, until at least 5 to 8 cards have been placed on each leader. Then — continue, as explained. Most often, after you've removed enough blacks to leave all reds on top — you'll have had enough blacks placed on the leader cards. Just use your judgment. And one other thing — when I take the (say) blacks out, one at a time, I cover the fact that I'm taking certain cards by 1) Doing it nonchalantly, and 2) occasionally saying,

"Here's a tough one" — or — "Let me find a tough one . . . what do you think this one is, etc." And — since I'm usually facing the spectator while performing this — I work away from myself toward him, as I place the cards. This is a minor point, but nevertheless, important. You want him, and the rest of your audience, to see exactly what's going on at all times.