This is a routine that can be presented as an impossible gambling skill or as a true telepathy demonstration with playing cards
The routine is semi-automatic and borders on self-working. It seems exceptionally fair to the spectator. If you can riffle shuffle a deck of cards you can perform this piece of astonishment.
A brief description of the effect is that the spectator takes a deck of playing cards that he has mixed and deals them one by one as the performer has his back turned. The spectator stops dealing every time he sees a picture card and is asked to send the playing cards identity to the performer. With his back turned, the performer can name the playing card the spectator is merely looking at. This is repeated several times until the performer feels he has a connection with the spectator and how the spectator thinks.
Stating that the number cards are harder to work with he has the spectator take the cards, select a card himself and complete the deck. The performer can then find the selection in any way he wishes.
The routine and the conditions of the effect are exceptionally fair and near impossible to reverse engineer. The routine can reset in seconds and uses an ordinary deck with no gaffs or gimmicked cards.
1st edition 2020, PDF 12 pages.