View Full Version : Episode 49 - Easy card trick called The Spelling Bee [Discussion]
marilee
02-19-2009, 05:23 PM
It's rare to find a trick that you can actually fool yourself with...and that's exactly what you get with this episode!
Watch or download now! (http://revision3.com/scamschool/spellingbee2)
Does this trick work in any language as long as there's a 2 letter word and a 5 letter word or is it English only?
thejbug
02-19-2009, 07:02 PM
Does this trick work in any language as long as there's a 2 letter word and a 5 letter word or is it English only?
The trick is all about keeping track of where the card is. Spelling out the word of the value, then the "of", then the suit, followed by a four or five letter word is just an easy way to pull it off. I've been doing this one for years, and so long as you remember where the card is, you could use anything. I did it once in front of a few friends, and as soon as I told them to make three piles of three one of the guys at the table balked and said he knew exactly what I was up to... So I got them to add a 4th pile of three and spell out some funny words. It made keeping track of the card a little harder, but it's totally doable with a little practice.
As a good, simple variant to this one try:
1. Card Value
2. "O-f"
3. Suit name (Plural, of course)
Then make up some bs story about not having a magic wand:
4. "M-a-g-i-c"
5. "W-a-n-d"
At this point, your mark's card is at the top of the 9-card deck. Feel free to end the trick here - it's a little more impressive to have it at the top of the deck, then the top of the discard. Not to mention that the two additional words makes it look harder.
I've been known to have the mark spell their name following the "magic wand" bit, too. Once the card's at the top of the deck, ANY word (Well, any word with less than 9 letters) will bring it to the bottom. This works especially well when someone else nearby has seen the trick before - first they're thrown when you toss two words at them instead of one - then by not using the discard - then by the card at the bottom instead of the top.
[puff of smoke]
shwooddotcom
02-19-2009, 07:07 PM
Does this trick work in any language as long as there's a 2 letter word and a 5 letter word or is it English only?
thejbug's right (welcome, BTW, thejbug!). This first two parts (spelling the value and the "of") pretty much just get the card to the middle (5th) position. From there, any number of words (as long as it has 5 letters or more), will keep in in that position. a little playing around, and it should work in your language as well!
mrpopular
02-19-2009, 08:14 PM
Love this trick, can't wait to try it out.
coldv
02-19-2009, 08:26 PM
Great trick! But I figured it'd turn out to be a "It always turns out the same" kinda thing.
Other than the great trick, this is an awesome episode! The two guys have great charisma. I couldn't stop laughing when they recreate the trick and Brian acting oblivious. Also awesome out takes!
Oh, and I can't wait to try this out on two of my friends! I am planning to use their last names, "Vozzo" and "Imrie". If I do this individually to them, I think it might just blow their mind.
rabidbadger
02-19-2009, 09:58 PM
We are getting some awesome first posts today!
yvesoft
02-20-2009, 01:32 AM
It works in portuguese. The numbers and suits have about the same amount of letters and "of" translates as "de", so it worked fine. I was really surprised!
shwooddotcom
02-20-2009, 04:16 AM
It works in portuguese. The numbers and suits have about the same amount of letters and "of" translates as "de", so it worked fine. I was really surprised!
awesome!
masherscf
02-20-2009, 02:03 PM
Brain, as you may know, I'm a Math professor. I'm writing a scholarly work about math-embedded magic tricks. You've given me quite a few. But, this one is one of the best.
I think that nearly every trick that doesn't depend on slight-of-hand probably has a combinatorial or algebraic root. Nim is one of the simplest examples.
shwooddotcom
02-20-2009, 03:46 PM
You've given me quite a few. But, this one is one of the best.
Thanks! Glad you dig it.
thorex
02-21-2009, 06:58 AM
as soon as i seen where the trick was heading i thought of this card trick, simular principle i guess.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_qJjkKDVfI
and just wondering but what kind of card tricks does everyone proffer self working ones or slide of hand based card tricks?
rabidbadger
02-21-2009, 03:50 PM
as soon as i seen where the trick was heading i thought of this card trick, simular principle i guess.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_qJjkKDVfI
and just wondering but what kind of card tricks does everyone proffer self working ones or slide of hand based card tricks?
That adds fun complexity, but also adds to your card budget!
That adds fun complexity, but also adds to your card budget!
Budget and budget. You can but a trash deck for a dollar and use it bunch of times.
/Robin
rickxtn
02-22-2009, 08:10 AM
I think I may have a cool little thing to do to make the reveal seem a bit more mystical. Like another person said, after spelling out the "number" of "suit" you can have the person spell a 4-letter word followed by another word to make the card end up on the bottom. After that last word have them put the pack of cards in your hand. Then you walk them through the process confirming that you didn't do anything to the cards, etc, etc (or whatever other dialogue you want to add). Then take your other hand and press it on top of the cards, turn the pile over and reveal the bottom card (now on top with the flip) to be their card.
I haven't tried this slight modification out on anyone yet but I'm anxious to. As my name is Rick, that's the perfect 4-letter word for the ending set-up... my name followed by their name.
Keep the good stuff coming, Brian, and maybe someday I can put on a magic show. LOL
minton
02-22-2009, 08:18 AM
4 letter word 4 letter word variation you just talked about, I have the perfect words
RICK
ROLL!!!
this is a great math based trick, if I get some time, I'll work on some variations
thorex
02-23-2009, 06:00 AM
That adds fun complexity, but also adds to your card budget!
well if you are really cheap (like me) you can take out a second set of card of a different suit instead of ripping the cards in 2. you use twice as many cards but everything is re-use-able, and poeple wont try to say you could tell what card was which from how you ripped them or something crazy like that. just to clear my point on how to change this so it doesn't cost cards: have 2 decks, deck one had from 10 to ace of hearts, deck two has the 10 to ace of spades, but make sure the order of the cards is the same or it wont work. now do the trick as you normally would, match up your cards and TA DA, you matched all the cards to the card of a different suit.
i think when you rip the cards it gives a better effect i like this version better, mainly because i do card trick when friends are waiting between card games, and you can't do a card trick that will destroy the deck your playing cards with
terrencemaxwell
02-24-2009, 02:28 AM
Does anybody out there know the artist, and name of the song played at 4 minutes and 16 seconds into the clip?
tester2006
08-03-2009, 03:39 PM
I love this trick and have used it for quite a long time but I learned it a bit differently. I kind of like this version better.
Choose any 9 cards
Have your spectator select any one of the 9 cards and remember it
Have them insert the card back in the pile 3rd from the top (casually lift 2 cards and have them insert theirs on top)
Now instruct your spectator to "lie" to you. You want them to tell you its any card except the actual one. Let's say actual card is 2 of hearts, but they lie and say ace of diamonds.
Magician spells a-c-e, places pile on top
spells o-f, places pile on top
spells d-i-a-m-o-n-d-s, and places pile on top.
Now to find their card spell t-r-u-t-h.
There is their card!