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I saw a twist on the old ashes on palm trick. Now, the 'original' is that you magician force the loaded hand. Ashes appear, trick done. I saw a new version where both hands are loaded. Then they freely choose one hand, one is left behind the back and then bam, ashes appear. But wait! The ashes also travelled through your blood stream into your other hand that we BEHIND your back the WHOLE time. No magician's force.

I am debating what would have a better result. The 'extra' effect of it appearing impossibly twice, or just using the MF.

That's really hard to say... it's sort of like the old quizzical question, "Which hand is opened first after a copper/silver transposition.. the hand in which the coin has freshly changed, or the opposite hand which hasn't been touched since the beginning, causing a visual Ping Pong effect of sorts. Both are good options, neither one seems superior to the other.

The following statement is true. The previous statement is false.

Good luck sleeping tonight .

I think it depends on whether or not you can make the second effect stronger than the first. If your showmanship skills aren't up to par (and hell, I know mine aren't...), then the single hand one would be better. You want to avoid an anticlimax.

Regarding the copper/silver, for me, it's been better to show my own coin changed and allow the spectators to open their own hand on a indirect cue.

whats the point? you only have two hands, so " forcing" it isnt in any way, shape or form a problem.

only use the left hand, and explain that you will use the hand thats nearer to the heart.

or, do something else before the ashes and observe wether they are left, or right handed .

load that hand, and then ask " are you left or right handed?".

I seem to be doing this a lot tonight (not that I don't usually agree), but Dale is absolutely correct.

I think the both loaded version is much weaker, unless everyone watching is a complete idiot with a one minute memory.

I was about to agree with Part timer, then an I idea occurred to me.

You could have them bring out the "behind the back palm" and show it empty. You then load this one as you tell them to put it back. Have them open their chosen hand to reveal the ash. You are now one ahead and can repeat the effect with the previously empty discarded hand (can you discard a hand??)

Hmm, would this work or am I rambling again?

Max Gordon wrote:You could have them bring out the "behind the back palm" and show it empty. You then load this one as you tell them to put it back. Have them open their chosen hand to reveal the ash. You are now one ahead and can repeat the effect with the previously empty discarded hand (can you discard a hand??)

Good thinking. I reckon that might work. It's not quite the same effect as originally described (giving the illusion of a free choice), but I think it's a nice idea.