Two In The Hand

Effect: Someone thinks of one of two items, you predict which.

Secret: Give someone any two items. They could be coins, cards, buttons – anything you like. He holds one in one hand and one in the other. While your back is turned, ask him to think of either object – he has a free choice. To help him concentrate suggest he holds the chosen object up to his forehead. After a short while, ask him to lower his hand and you then turn round.You know which he chose as the hand holding it will be lighter than the other. Holding it up causes blood to drain from that hand.

Sum Trick!

Effect: You predict the total of a sum.

Secret: Write 1089 on a piece of paper, fold it and place it on your table. Ask someone to choose any three digit number. All three digits must be different and the first must be higher than the last. Get them to reverse the whole number and write that underneath the first. If, for example, he chose 983 he now writes 389. The lower number is then subtracted from the other. The answer (which, in this example, is 594) is then reversed and this time the two are added together. Open the paper – your prediction is the same as the spectator's total. In fact, if the calculations are done correctly, the answer is always 1089!

A Capital Prediction

Effect: A capital city is chosen. Inside an envelope which has been on full view is a paper naming the city selected.

Secret: Write a capital city on a piece of paper and seal it in an envelope. Capital cities are called and you write them down on slips of paper which are folded and dropped into a box. In fact you write the same name on every slip – the name of the city in the sealed enveloped. Someone picks a slip and calls out the chosen city. The envelope is opened to show you knew which city would be chosen.