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Poker Faced by Jon Thompson

The Effect

Imagine the ability to tell which is a spectator’s card from nothing more than fleeting, unconscious reactions to seeing it amongst several others. This is exactly the illusion you create with “Poker Faced”. Though this mind-twisting feat of psychological magic is 100% impromptu, success is always guaranteed, leaving you free to develop your performance. Presented as a legitimate psychological experiment, this effect will quickly become a regular feature of your close up mental magic routine, with spectators clamouring for a turn.

Cost

$8.99 (approx. £4.50) from Lulu.com, or follow the link from one of Tomo's posts.

Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)

1. It's all in the presentation.

Review

This is a self-working effect that relies on maths to do all the hard work, but it is the presentation that really gives the effect its magic.

I have to say that I really like this effect. It is very versitile, and will happily fit in with anyone's magical style - from "straight" magic to mentalism to bizarre, with just a little imagination you will find a suitable angle to allow Poker Faced to fit right into your routines.

The ebook comes with several suggested presentational styles (including the poker angle that gives the effect its name). I have over the past few days used this effect using all the presentational styles suggested by Tomo, and have also developed a more bizarre presentation using tarot cards. All presentational styles have been well received. Poker Faced is now already a regular effect in my close-up routines.

One other point I have noticed - if you're performing close-up and you are suddenly confronted with some blokes who want to "see some magic", Poker Faced (incorporating the poker angle) is ideal. It's a self-worker, the poker angle makes it a bit blokey, and they'll never figure it out. I had just this situation over the weekend, and where as my usual psychic presentation would have been inappropriate perhaps for a dozen lads on the booze, Poker Faced was absolutely spot-on and I was hailed as a genius. Thanks Tomo!

Overall

10/10 Let your imagination run wild, find your own angle, and enjoy!

Well there is no doubt that it is a very good trick. However, there is a little flaw. The fact that the spectator has to hand you the packet with their card in makes the performer's watching of their expression rather redundant at this point. What exactly is the performer supposed to be looking for on the spectator's face when the spec is looking for his card?

It's a lovely trick but I am having trouble finding justification for this in the presentation.

Mahoney wrote:Well there is no doubt that it is a very good trick. However, there is a little flaw. The fact that the spectator has to hand you the packet with their card in makes the performer's watching of their expression rather redundant at this point. What exactly is the performer supposed to be looking for on the spectator's face when the spec is looking for his card?

It's a lovely trick but I am having trouble finding justification for this in the presentation.

I used to worry about this too, but believe me, in what must be 200 performances, no one has never questioned any part of it. For them, it's not a trick but a real experiment, so they're concentrating hard on trying to beat you by remaining poker faced.

Just downloaded it. I love tricks like this where you think "surely they're going to see right through this!"... but they never do. Just like 'OOTW', so simple but fools 'em every time. The sort of trick that makes you chuckle to yourself every time you perform it. Thanks Tomo.

Mahoney wrote:The fact that the spectator has to hand you the packet with their card in makes the performer's watching of their expression rather redundant at this point. What exactly is the performer supposed to be looking for on the spectator's face when the spec is looking for his card?

If I understand the problem correctly - could you not say (if called on it) that you are trying to establish a norm...so that when they deviate from it you know that is their card? Perhaps the expression they made when they saw the pile with the card in is what you are looking for, but on a much smaller level?

Mahoney wrote:Well there is no doubt that it is a very good trick. However, there is a little flaw. The fact that the spectator has to hand you the packet with their card in makes the performer's watching of their expression rather redundant at this point. What exactly is the performer supposed to be looking for on the spectator's face when the spec is looking for his card?

It's a lovely trick but I am having trouble finding justification for this in the presentation.

With the poker presentation, use the spec looking for his card as a way of them practising their poker face. Kind of a dry run before the main effect when you divine the card from their final hand.

My bizarre-esque tarot presentation uses the line "You have looked at the cards and you have chosen one. Now it is time to allow the cards to look at you."

Finding a reason for doing something that really shouldn't be necessary is what magic is all about. The whole thing is a sham. Like I said in the original review, take what Tomo has given you and use your imagination.

This is a really great application of math and magic! The simplicity of this effect allows you to really concentrate on the presentation and build up the whole idea of an 'experiment' and would fit well with other 'paranormal' experiments like Kioku or Reflections from Outlaw Effects (http://www.outlaw-effects.com), or the BIP book from Alakazam (http://www.alakazam.ac.uk). The pseudo-scientific angle plays well with the audience and this effect is a great addition.

Hats off to Tomo for more great stuff!

I purchased this a lil' while back as an impulse buy when purchasing Fully-Scripted Naked Book Test. Damn you Tomo, damn you!

This is an easy to learn, easy to perform trick that is worth every (insert low currency denomination like a penny here). As mentioned previously in the thread, it's math magic so simple you'd think they would see right through it but it hasn't happened yet. I think they get so caught up in being a direct part of the trick themselves that they don't worry about the "how" of the trick but focus on following directions. Spectators love handling the cards themselves.

This, along with The Piano, are my go-to impromptu tricks when put on the spot.

Thank you so much for the review, I'm definitely picking this up.

.:Ham:. wrote:Thank you so much for the review, I'm definitely picking this up.

You will not be disappointed!

Cheers chaps!

There's no real possibility that the spec might see through the effect because it strongly invokes the illusion of control. The spec doesn't question it or think too closely because they believe it's a real experiment they can beat by simply following the rules. Their sense of control comes from a confidence in their ability to hide their responses (or in grimacing wildly as a few people do!) If they try to cheat, they only rob themselves of victory, and you'll always be able to detect it anyway for an unexpected kicker.

downloaded yesterday, gonna try it out tonight.

I must say this goes down extremely well. The scripting is excellent. Seriously considering NM. Thanks Tomo.

Did this with a stack of photos someone had lying around yesterday.

I told them to pick a picture they had some kind of emotional connection to because emotions can be read if you kow how to....

I got it right 3 times in a row, got it wrong (deliberately) on the 4th time and went into a pretty bit of cold reading involving the photo.

Beautiful.

Tomo, if I wore a hat, I'd take it off to you

I know this is an old thread but I have just come across this from another source.
I perform 2 very similar effects, one of my own making, another from Card College, one involves a set up and the other a force, any similarities here?
The effect is the same where you divine the specs card from a packet of random cards.