Destiny by Tommaso Guglielmi

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Any Card At Any Number (ACAAN), particularly the renowned “Berglas Effect,” has captivated audiences due to its astonishing simplicity. This effect is often viewed as a myth because:

• A standard deck of cards is utilized and remains visible throughout.
• One spectator names a card while another selects a number.
• A third individual deals cards to the chosen number.
• At that position, the named card appears.
• The magician never touches the deck.
• No hidden helpers or pre-show setups are involved.

After careful consideration of these conditions, I explored various methods to achieve this effect. Using a stacked deck, where the magician knows the card positions (either through memorization or mathematical principles), can lead to an impressive outcome if the spectators randomly select the correct card and number. However, this scenario is highly improbable in live performances. Alternatively, the magician could manipulate the deck while taking it back, which would violate the fourth condition. By knowing both the card and number beforehand, the magician could expand their options. My aim was to enhance the impossibility of the effect by restricting the magician’s control. Thus, my creation evolved into a unique Open Prediction, where the prediction remains concealed until the climax.

Here are the final conditions for my new effect, “Destiny”:

• A regular, non-stacked deck of cards
• Cards remain in plain sight
• The magician briefly handles the cards to demonstrate they are mixed, but the effect unfolds in the spectators’ hands
• A prediction card, face down, is always visible on the table
• The thought-of card is named only after the cards are on the table, with the performer not touching them again

The magician presents a card from his wallet, placing it face down on the table, stating: “I have often pondered if everything is predetermined. Is there a way to demonstrate the existence of destiny? Tonight, I hope to leave you questioning: Is it mere luck or true destiny?”

He displays the deck and invites a spectator to inspect it: “Please verify these cards – ensure they are exactly as they appear, and feel free to shuffle them.”

The spectator shuffles the cards.

The magician requests the deck back: “Great, I’ll just remove the jokers, and as you can see, the deck is well shuffled… correct?”

He shows the cards to the spectator, who confirms they are mixed.

The performer squares the deck and places it back on the table, saying, “I need your assistance now. Can you think of one card from the deck?”

Spectator: “Yes.”

Performer: “Focus on it intensely, but do not speak it aloud.”

The magician turns to another spectator: “Could you please deal the cards out one by one onto the table?”

The spectator complies. The dealing can be face up or face down, as long as it is done one card at a time.

Performer: “Continue dealing until you feel it’s the right moment to stop…”

The spectator deals for a few moments before halting.

Performer: “To recap: A shuffled deck has been placed on the table, untouched by me since. One person thought of a card, while another dealt the cards at their discretion. Wouldn’t it be astonishing if everything were already written, and the card thought of by the first spectator matched the one chosen by the second?”