Question regarding JREF Challenge/trickery

[Skepiroth]

I was wondering how the JREF screens out trickery. This question arose last night when I was showing my girlfriend the "11th card trick". The mathematical reasons for why this trick works can be found here http://www.mualphatheta.org/Mathematical_Log/Issues/Fall_02/MAO_Math_Path_Fall_02.htm
Granted, this is a somewhat bad example because most rational people, upon seeing this trick realize that something is up with the numbers. However, proving exactally why this is trickery requires a knowledge of linear algebra. It seems to me that in order to expose a trick which works due to some manipulation of science/math, that an organization would need to have a host of experts in various fields, which I assume would be somewhat expensive. Do applicants ever submit claims of paranormal powers that utilize scientific/mathematical manipulation and if so, how are they exposed?

[T'ai Chi]

If the like math-related card tricks

http://www.spelman.edu/~colm/cards.html

Enjoy. :)

[drkitten]

Originally posted by new skeptic
I was wondering how the JREF screens out trickery.

The quick answer is that Randi himself is an expert magician with literally decades of experience, and so is familiar with most of the methods that people are likely to use for trickery -- and will design the protocol to prevent them.

In the specific case you mention, the card trick is extremely well-known and Randi would instantly identify it and reject the protocol. In the more general case where someone claimed to be able to manipulate a deck of cards such that a person's chosen card always appeared to be on the top, Randi (not being an idiot) would want to know more details about the purported manipulations. And he has a rather large staff of volunteer experts spanning the globe if he feels he needs specialized expertise in linear algebra (or any other scientific discipline).

But if you're good enough to come up with a trick that Randi can't detect (and good *****' luck on that one, squire), and you can do it twice without him tipping wise, then you can win yourself a cool million dollars.