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I really like to perform this effect, and sometimes I do it almost exactly as originally writtem - ie. as a straight forward two-deck prediction - and sometimes I have the revealed card with "you will stop here" scribbled on.

The problem I have (because I'm a perfectionist) is that I'm finding it hard to find a suitable reason for cutting their card into the middle of the second deck. I know the method suggests patter such as "We'll cut it into the middle for safe keeping", but to me that's a bit dodgy (safe keeping?!), because it's not like a cocker spaniel is going to leap out of the nearest vaccum cleaner and eat it, surely. It's just a card on a table, no "safe keeping" required.

I'm sure I'll come up with a better and more logical reason for the cut on my own, but I was just wondering if any of you have your own little patter-tweaks that you might be willing to share.

I'm really just trying to concoct a version of the effect that leaves absolutely no room for doubt in a skeptical spec...

I don't know the effect but I assume their card is either at the top or the bottom of the deck for you to 'cut' it into the middle. That being the case you could play to their scepticism by saying something like 'With your card on top of the deck it wouldn't be too difficult for me to take a quick peek at it, so just to ensure I cannot do that we'll bury it somewhere near the middle!'.

Just say something along the lines of "I'll put it into the middle of this pack to make sure that I can't tamper....." this reinforces in their minds the impression that you haven't had access to the card throughout the set.

yddraig wrote:Just say something along the lines of "I'll put it into the middle of this pack to make sure that I can't tamper....." this reinforces in their minds the impression that you haven't had access to the card throughout the set.

Though surely by saying "So i may not tamper..." and then picking up the cards and cutting them - well, does that not also give you ample time to tamper?

I would suggest not saying a word, and cut the devil and be done with it. They won't even remember you doing it. Cutting a deck is a very natural thing. You do not need to give a reason for doing something like that in my opinion. It's like when i hear someone say "And here we have an ordinary deck of cards...all 52 are different..." No, no and no.

Duplicity wrote:
Though surely by saying "So i may not tamper..." and then picking up the cards and cutting them - well, does that not also give you ample time to tamper?

It’s a magic show, they know it’s an illusion, they just don’t know how (for a lot of people that’s part of the fun, and I don’t mean those loud hecklers who shout out, I mean the customers who have come to be entertained). Most of these will remember what they think they saw. While I agree

Duplicity wrote:when i hear someone say "And here we have an ordinary deck of cards...all 52 are different..." No, no and no.

But if you say ”.....a deck of cards, you’ve all seen them either in the flesh or on your work PC....” then they will leave thinking “He took an ordinary deck of cards and....” Plant a seed of the truth they think they already know and let them fill in the rest from their own experience, their reality contains standard playing card and so they are more likely to take ”.....a deck of cards, you’ve all seen them...” and fill in the fact that they are a normal deck because they don’t have any experience of gaffed cards / decks. Those that do know of gaffed decks will think that anyway. But yes, you’re right,

Duplicity wrote: an ordinary deck of cards...all 52 are different..." No, no and no.

overlabouring the ordinary, 52 cards, all different will make them think “.....ordinary? maybe not” “52? Well what if there are only...?” “All different? What if.....” It’s about getting a balance from reading the people involved.
Just my humble opinion, may well be whistling up the wrong tree. I’m sure are many more experienced performers (yourself included?) here and I will bow to accumulated experience.

I agree with Duplicity, just get the card where you want it, and cut the deck. To say, I'll cut it to the middle, or any other silly statement is totally unnecessary and causes suspicion.

Its silly comments like those mentioned above that make you feel guilty about what you are doing, and give things away to spectators.

Your card is now lost in the deck so I'll just give it a little shuffle

You placed your card in the deck so I'll just do 5 shuffles and 6 false cuts

Have confidence in what you are doing and just do something simple, so very naturally They are not stupid.

Thanks for the replies, folks.

I wonder how many people who've replied are actually familiar with the effect in question, though. Because most of the advice is based on the premise of "just do it, the specs won't question it", but in A Bombay Prediction you are using two decks and getting a spec to place a random, unseen card on the table from a blue deck, and then you cut it into a red deck, and later reveal it in a ribbon spread.

That's where I have problems justifying it. To me it seems illogical.

But I have come up with a solution anyways, which I've not yet road-tested. I'll let y'all know if it works. I intend to give equal billing to both the prediction card and the reveal card, placing one underneath the box or a glass or something, and then the other into the opposite deck. That might flow a little better.

I have used the effect, and I completely agree with the cutting sequence making little sense. I struggled with a variation that could possibly eliminate the need to use the second deck in such a manner. I came up with one, which I've been using since. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter. PM me if you're interested in talking about it.