Safe Wager

Effect:

Three audience members are asked to participate in a telepathic gambling demonstration.

The good news is that they have already won!

Three poker chips of different colors, a stack of cash and three “Payout Slips” are displayed.

Each participant secretly selects one of the poker chips, noting the color and puts it in their pocket. Next, they each take one of the “Payout Slips” which show each player how much money they’ve won based on the color of the poker chip they’ve selected.  They each take their prize money from the stack of bills and hide the bills in their pockets. The performer has his back turned or looks away while the chips and bills are taken.

Now, with no fishing or questions asked the performer is now able to reveal exactly who has which chip and how much money each participant has!

The participants never say a word, and no one cues the performer.

SAMPLE PRESENTATION

“Did you ever notice that some people always seem to win when gambling? Some people say this is because gamblers only talk about the times that they win and never mention the times they lose.

I’d like to show you how a mentalist can always win. The good news is, three of you will have a chance to win some cash!

I have three poker chips and three Payout Slips here. Your prize is based on the color of the poker chip that you have. John, take these chips and hold them behind your back, mix them a bit and take one for yourself and hand the remaining two chips to Steve, keeping your chip behind your back for now.

Steve, take one for yourself and hand the last chip to Dan.

Dan, you didn’t have a choice, you just got the remaining chip. So, if you’d like, you have the option to switch chips with either John or Steve.

Great, now all of you secretly note the color of the chip you have and put it in your pocket.

Now you get to find out how much you’ve won! One of you mix up these Payout Slips. Good, now you each get one (performer hands one to each participant, face down), look at how much you’ve won, and take your winnings from the prize money…make sure you count it twice to ensure you get all of your winnings! When you have the right amount, put the money and the Payout Slips in one of your pockets.

Remember, as of now you are all winners! But to show you the advantage a mentalist has in a game like this, I’d like you all to focus on the color of your chip. If I can tell you the color of your poker chip, I get my money back!

“John, you have the red chip and one dollar, Steve you have the green chip and four dollars and Dan has the blue chip and twelve dollars! If I’m right, please take out your chips and show everyone!”

Of course, the performer is correct. (You could, of course, opt to let the participants keep the money or offer some type of consolation prize for helping.)

Full Disclosure: this is based on the method used in my effect Up the Ante.

• Includes PDF with printable props

• No fishing

• No questions

• No peeking

• No math

• Suitable for close-up, parlor or stage