How to Perform the Envelope Prediction

Contributor

By Eric J. Seidman
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating:

(0 Ratings)

Another trick involving a forced card, the Envelope Predictor is basically a self-working trick. The magician removes an envelope, sealed, and places it aside. He then shuffles and has the spectator cut the deck. The spectator removes a card that just so happens to match the card in the envelope! Follow these steps.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Envelope
Card from a different deck

Step 1

Begin by setting everything up. First, choose the card to eventually be forced on the spectator. We will use the 8 of Spades.
Step 2

Place the 8 of Spades from Deck #2 in an envelope and seal it shut.
Step 3

Prearrange Deck #1 so that the 8 of Spades is on top of the face-down pile.
Step 4

Using either the cut deeper force or the cross cut force, both of which have their own eHow tutorials (see Resources below), make sure that his chosen card is the 8 of Spades.
Step 5

Both of these forces seemingly reverse the order of the deck, making it seem like the spectator has a free choice. In reality, he is choosing the top card, the 8 of Spades.
Step 6

Have him reveal the chosen card. Now bring back the envelope.
Step 7

Open the envelope and remove the card, face down, to add suspense. Eventually, turn it over to reveal it is the same card.

Tips & Warnings

The card in the envelope need not be from a different colored deck, but it makes more sense that way.
An interesting way to do this trick is to start by placing the card to be forced in the envelope and hanging it up, and then going into a routine using the forced card from the regular deck, ending it all by revealing the envelope card.
Do not perform too many tricks involving the cut deeper force in succession--or else people may start to catch on.

Resources