David Gemmell’s Solution to the “51 Faces North” Card Problem

Discover David Gemmell’s innovative approach to the renowned card challenge known as “51 Faces North,” originally conceived by Paul Curry and later explored by Stewart James.

History of the Card Problem

• In the 1940s, Paul Curry first envisioned this effect but lacked a practical method to realize it.

• By 1949, Ed Marlo learned of Curry’s concept and introduced a method in the 1953 edition of Cardician.

• In 1953, Stewart James and Howard Lyons exchanged ideas on this topic.

• Stewart James contributed various techniques to Ibidem during its early years, where he outlined the stringent conditions for the effect, dubbing it “51 Faces North.”

• In 1969, Jon Racherbaumer launched Hierophant magazine, featuring a discussion on the Open Prediction by Ed Marlo.

• In the late 1970s, Karl Fulves tackled the “Open Prediction / 51 Faces North” challenge.

• Recently, Thomas Baxter introduced the OP Project, adding to the legacy of this classic effect.

Over the years, numerous variations of this classic have emerged, but only a select few adhere to the rigorous standards established by Paul Curry and Stewart James.

The Basic Effect

The effect involves making an open prediction visible to all. A spectator deals cards from a deck in a stud fashion, placing one card face down either aside or within the pile. The dealing continues until the spectator exhausts the deck, at which point the face-down card is revealed to match the initial open prediction.

Explore David’s solution, which requires only two spectators and a deck of cards. You won’t handle the deck yourself; your role is simply to guide the spectators. It’s that straightforward!