The Trick That Fooled Einstein

True-Gossiper · 13th September 2006, 08:35 AM

Check out the PDF here: The Trick That Fooled Einstein (http://www.joesmagic.co.uk/E-BOOKS_F...K_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 · 13th September 2006, 08:40 AM

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 · 13th September 2006, 11:21 AM

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

Bob Klase · 13th September 2006, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by Garrette

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_F...K_EINSTEIN.pdf

Bob Klase · 13th September 2006, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by True-Gossiper

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.

Quote:

You ask the spectator to cut off about a quarter of the cards

Quote:

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 · 13th September 2006, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by True-Gossiper

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 · 13th September 2006, 04:38 PM

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

True-Gossiper · 13th September 2006, 06:50 PM

@ Brown, thanks for the idea. Yes, I just found the coin version here.

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

deBergerac · 14th September 2006, 03:23 AM

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 · 14th September 2006, 06:17 AM

Originally Posted by Bob Klase

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 · 14th September 2006, 08:00 AM

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 · 14th September 2006, 08:30 AM

Originally Posted by 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?

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 · 14th September 2006, 12:04 PM

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 · 14th September 2006, 01:13 PM

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 · 16th September 2006, 03:13 PM

I have seen this trick kill.

Cain · 19th September 2006, 03:57 AM

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.

13th September 2006, 08:35 AM	#1
True-Gossiper Student Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 32	The Trick That Fooled Einstein Check out the PDF here: The Trick That Fooled Einstein (http://www.joesmagic.co.uk/E-BOOKS_F...K_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.
True-Gossiper Student Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 32	Last edited by Darat; 19th September 2006 at 04:00 AM. Reason: Fixed link

13th September 2006, 08:40 AM	#2
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	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
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	__________________ My kids still love me.

13th September 2006, 06:50 PM	#8
True-Gossiper Student Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 32	@ Brown, thanks for the idea. Yes, I just found the coin version here. A very interesting trick with language deception. I wonder if there are more effects that rely primarily on this type of method.
True-Gossiper Student Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 32

14th September 2006, 06:17 AM	#10
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	Originally Posted by Bob Klase 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.
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	__________________ My kids still love me.

14th September 2006, 08:00 AM	#11
Mercutio Shakespeare's Sock Puppet Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Live Free Or Die Posts: 16,329	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?
	__________________ "But to see her was to love her Love but her, and love forever."

13th September 2006, 11:21 AM	#3
rustypouch Master Poster Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Belfort Posts: 2,666	There's a version of it in Penn and Teller's "How to Play in Traffic."

13th September 2006, 11:21 AM	#4
Bob Klase Master Poster Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Largo, FL Posts: 2,445	Originally Posted by Garrette 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_F...K_EINSTEIN.pdf

13th September 2006, 11:30 AM	#5
Bob Klase Master Poster Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Largo, FL Posts: 2,445	Originally Posted by True-Gossiper 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. Quote: You ask the spectator to cut off about a quarter of the cards Quote: 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.

13th September 2006, 11:54 AM	#6
Brown Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Twin Cities, Canada Posts: 9,117	Originally Posted by True-Gossiper 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.

13th September 2006, 04:38 PM	#7
Bob Klase Master Poster Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Largo, FL Posts: 2,445	Barrie Richardson published two versions (or variations) on the the trick in Theater of the Mind.

14th September 2006, 03:23 AM	#9
deBergerac New Doc on the Block Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Uppsala (Sweden) Posts: 445	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.

14th September 2006, 08:30 AM	#12
Jekyll Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: The other other place Posts: 1,589	Originally Posted by 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? 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 .
	__________________ And I looked. And behold a green horse, and his name that sat on him was death. ~Tyndale New Testament

14th September 2006, 12:04 PM	#13
Mercutio Shakespeare's Sock Puppet Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Live Free Or Die Posts: 16,329	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...
	__________________ "But to see her was to love her Love but her, and love forever."

14th September 2006, 01:13 PM	#14
Brown Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Twin Cities, Canada Posts: 9,117	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.

16th September 2006, 03:13 PM	#15
firecoins Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nyack, NY Posts: 3,065	I have seen this trick kill.

19th September 2006, 03:57 AM	#16
Cain Contrarian Join Date: May 2002 Location: S. California Posts: 3,958	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.
	__________________ Well, well, well. If it ain't the serious, elusive Leroy Green. I've been waitin' a long time for this, Leroy. I am sick of hearin' these ***** Superman stories about the "wassah" legendary Bruce Leroy catchin' bullets with his teeth. Catches bullets with his teeth?! ***** pleeze.