S.H.I.EL.D. – SelfWorking Honestly Impromptu Effect: Card Location in the Deck

S.H.I.EL.D. is a groundbreaking collection of four innovative card magic effects, all designed for effortless performance. These effects require no advanced techniques or manipulation, making them perfect for impromptu situations, even with a borrowed and shuffled deck.

The first and last effects, “Say My Name!” and “The Final Countdown,” are fully automatic and can be executed in a “contactless mode.” After handing the deck to the spectator, the magician provides simple instructions and does not touch the cards again until the effect concludes. The only effect needing slight preparation is “Game of Life,” which is performed openly and is integral to the overall presentation.

Each effect is a true magician’s fooler, having amazed fellow conjurers who provided valuable feedback and suggestions.

Here are the four card effects included:

Say My Name!

The spectator shuffles a deck of cards and cuts it into three piles as instructed. They then select a card and lose it in the deck. By forming four bundles from different points in the deck, the spectator chooses one card from each pile. By spelling out the chosen card’s name and matching each letter with a card from the top, the spectator astonishingly reveals their own card!

Assistant & Magician

Using a borrowed shuffled deck, the magician selects one card to represent the spectator as an assistant and another for themselves. The spectator cuts the deck into three packets, memorizes the top card from the middle pile, and loses it back in the deck. The assistant eliminates half of the deck with their card, allowing the magician to find the chosen card through a series of clever discards.

Game of Life

This effect features 16 cards, including picture cards and aces, symbolizing the four elements and various life forms. The spectator selects a card to represent an attempt to create life from chaos. Despite shuffling and dealing, they will astonishingly sort the cards by color and suit until they reveal the randomly chosen card!

The Final Countdown

A spectator shuffles a borrowed deck and cuts it into three roughly equal piles. After selecting a card from the middle pile and losing it in the deck, the magician claims they can find the card solely through “body reading.” The spectator is asked to remain impassive while the magician reveals cards one by one. The magician humorously admits that the spectator’s subconscious will betray their expectation of the chosen card. As a demonstration, the magician counts down to zero, and upon reaching that point, asks the spectator to announce their chosen card, which turns out to be the exact card revealed!