The Trick That Fooled Einstein

[True-Gossiper]

Check out the PDF here: The Trick That Fooled Einstein (http://www.joesmagic.co.uk/E-BOOKS_FREE/EBOOK_EINSTEIN.pdf). It's a free ebook anyway..

I've been playing around with it a couple of times, and I found that it works magically BUT ONLY when few cards are used, like under 20 cards. When the cards taken by spectator are more than that number, the trick would fail. Is that correct?

Is there a way to solve this problem, I mean, to make it not limited just to under twentycards.

Thanks.

[Garrette]

The link's not working, but my knowledge of TTTFE is that it involved quarters. I've never performed it because (a) it doesn't fit my style and (b) it is tortuous with the language to make it work

[rustypouch]

There's a version of it in Penn and Teller's "How to Play in Traffic."

[Bob Klase]

The link's not working, but my knowledge of TTTFE is that it involved quarters.

You have to remove the ')' at the end of the link to make it work.
http://www.joesmagic.co.uk/E-BOOKS_FREE/EBOOK_EINSTEIN.pdf

[Bob Klase]

and I found that it works magically BUT ONLY when few cards are used, like under 20 cards. When the cards taken by spectator are more than that number, the trick would fail. Is that correct?

Is there a way to solve this problem, I mean, to make it not limited just to under twentycards.
You ask the spectator to cut off about a quarter of the cards
The only requirement is that you get more cards than the spectator.
The second statement is not completely accurate. You must get a relatively significant number of cards more than the spectator- that's why you have them cut about 1/4 and you cut closer to 1/2. If you only have one card more than the spectator then there are 2 problems- the biggest is that unless you have very good eyesight and estimating skills, you won't know if you do have more cards or not. (The second is that you won't have enough cards to make the 3rd statement meaningful).

If you want to do it with more cards, mix 2 or more decks together.

[Brown]

Is there a way to solve this problem, I mean, to make it not limited just to under twentycards.The solution is simple, and the link itself provides it:

Use something other than playing cards.

Richard Osterlind, for exmaple, uses a big bowl of nickels. Instead of counting the number of coins, he expresses things in terms of dollars and cents. This little touch adds to the deception.

[Bob Klase]

Barrie Richardson published two versions (or variations) on the the trick in Theater of the Mind.

[True-Gossiper]

@ Brown, thanks for the idea. Yes, I just found the coin version here (http://www.trickshop.com/newsletter_archive/subtle_sorcerer_no4.html).

A very interesting trick with language deception. I wonder if there are more effects that rely primarily on this type of method.

[deBergerac]

BTW
Does anyone know if it really fooled Einstein? If there is a true story behind the name it would be interesting to know about it.

[Garrette]

Barrie Richardson published two versions (or variations) on the the trick in Theater of the Mind.That's where I learned it and where I decided it doesn't fit my idea of entertainment.

[Mercutio]

Ok, I've read through it on two sites, at least twice per site, and I just don't get it.

Not asking for an explanation (unless someone wants to PM one to me), but just an answer to this question: Do the links to the trick actually explain it, or do they just describe what it looks like to the observer? Should I be able to figure out this trick just from the linked descriptions, or may I feel better about my sanity and intelligence, knowing that the real trick is still not revealed?

[Jekyll]

Ok, I've read through it on two sites, at least twice per site, and I just don't get it.

Not asking for an explanation (unless someone wants to PM one to me), but just an answer to this question: Do the links to the trick actually explain it, or do they just describe what it looks like to the observer? Should I be able to figure out this trick just from the linked descriptions, or may I feel better about my sanity and intelligence, knowing that the real trick is still not revealed?

It's all there. You could try performing it on yourself and it should work.

You'll kick yourself once you work out why though ;) .

[Mercutio]

I just kicked myself when I realized it. Haven't done it yet--I'll try with my family later.

Good thing I can console myself with Einstein's company...

[Brown]

The trick is so simple. Ridiculously simple. Obvious, even. When I first learned about it, I scoffed, "No one would be fooled by that!!"

And yet, people do get fooled by it. The trick plays upon the inability of people to think mathematically (particularly to quickly work out the simple addition of quantities that are called by different names), so it does amaze some people. When told the secret, it is not uncommon for them to utter some expletive and be amazed that they were tricked by something so obvious.

Also, the trick goes by other names. I first learned of it from "Scarne on Card Tricks," where it is presented as the "Quickie Card Trick" (trick no. 92), a favorite of Milton Berle. Yes, that Milton Berle.

[firecoins]

I have seen this trick kill.

[Cain]

I think the story goes that Al Koran fooled Einstein with this trick not once but twice (using nickels in a bowl). Most stories such as these strike me as apocraphyl.

I had a similar reaction to some here when I first learned this trick awhile ago. I thought, how can anyone find this even remotely amazing. Then I did it to myself a couple of times, and somehow it felt more and more incredible each time. A wry smile cross my lips as I muttered, "How can anyone not find this amazing?" Shortly after messing around with it I did it once, in the car while dropping my parents off at the airport. Played well.