Devin Knights – Dumbfounded

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A remarkable coincidence that transcends the classic ACAAN effect.

Effect: The magician presents a blue deck of cards, shuffling it until they intuitively decide to stop, genuinely unaware of the card order. The deck is placed back in its case and handed to a participant to hold, with the performer never touching it again. A red deck is then introduced and shuffled by the performer. A second participant is invited to freely select a card from this red deck, with no restrictions on their choice. A number is also generated randomly, with no mathematical calculations or forces involved.

Once a card is selected and a number is determined, the performer suggests that an astonishing coincidence has occurred. The participant, not the magician, retrieves the blue deck from its case. Having held the blue deck prior to the card selection, the participant deals the blue-backed cards face up until reaching the chosen number. When the card at that position is revealed, it astonishingly matches the selected card from the red deck! This jaw-dropping coincidence is sure to leave your audience in disbelief, which is why it’s aptly named “Dumbfounded.”

Throughout the performance, the magician never touches the blue deck after handing it to the participant. This is a standard 52-card deck with no duplicates or gimmicks involved. There are no deck switches or multiple outs; the outcome is consistent every time. The spectator always deals from the blue deck to the chosen number, ensuring the card is precisely at that position, not just the next card on top.

Three distinct methods are provided to achieve this effect. One method is self-working, while the other two involve simple sleights familiar to most magicians. Notably, one method allows the magician to never touch either deck at any point, with the spectators handling everything.

This effect includes tips for instant reset, making it ideal for strolling magic performances.

All three methods are straightforward and guaranteed to astonish any audience. Watch the video to witness how impossible this effect appears.

1st edition 2012, 8 pages.