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Sudo Nimh Inner circle 1866 Posts |
As promised, here is an in-depth description of my routine.
EN PASSANT PHASE ONE: On the table rests a small wooden box. The performer opens the box and inside the box (which is just large enough to hold the pieces) are 5 Chess pieces: A Rook, a Knight, a Bishop, a Queen, and a Pawn. A small envelope is also visible. The performer removes the 5 pieces and explains that the envelope will be important later. It is explained that each of the pieces in a game of Chess are represented - save the King. The reason? Well, if the King is captured in an actual game of Chess...the game is over! Therefore, the King is not represented here. The performer then begins to relate how experienced Chess players can determine a great deal about the personality of their opponents based on how they play within just the first few minutes of the game and are therefore reasonably able to anticipate that player's future moves and reactions. Overall, the game wonderfully mimmicks real-life. For example: Some players are very aggressive and offensive while others are more defensive. Some might tend to favour certain pieces over others, bring their Queen out early, or play a flurry of attrition tactics while others may play a game more dependent on gambits and risk-taking. Some rush in foolishly without fully preparing their long-term strategy, while others are extremely cautious or overly-prepared and may take a very long time in their decision-making processes. Some are very good in the opening phase and getting things started, but weak in their end-game play and just can't seem to get things finished. While with others - the opposite is true. Proposing a psychological test to determine what type of personality the participant has, the performer chooses two of the pieces and asks which of the two pieces the participant would capture if it were his turn in a game of Chess. The participant "captures" the piece he wishes, setting it aside. The performer now asks the participant to choose two pieces for him to choose from, and the performer "captures" one of these two. This mini-game continues back and forth with each removing a piece each round until one piece remains. For the sake of explanation, let's assume that the "surviving" piece is the pawn. This piece is placed in front of the participant. Turning attention to the 4 removed pieces, the performer explains that if these pieces were placed in a straight line that there are 24 possible ways that they can be arranged (true!). The participant is now asked to freely place the 4 pieces in a straight line - in any order that they wish. When they have finished, the performer then asks the participant to open the box and remove the envelope. The participant removes the contents of the envelope - a piece of paper, and is asked to read it aloud. They read: "Though you could have easily captured the pawn if you had chosen to at any point, you did not. This is hardly a surprise though, as most people will take the more powerful pieces first and leave the pawn for last. Therefore, it is no surprise to me that the PAWN is the survivor of our little game! What is more interesting, is that when I selected you tonight, I deliberately chose a person whom I had observed earlier and whom exhibited certain mannerisms and behaviours that matched what I was looking for. If you are indeed the type of personality I believed you were, and are, then you will have arranged the 4 remaining Chess pieces in this EXACT ORDER: Bishop, Rook, Knight, and Queen. Thank you for playing." Indeed, the performer's forecast is 100% correct! (**NOTE - this order is just an example. It is in whatever order the participant actually places the pieces in and is therefore subject to change performance to performance!) PHASE TWO: The performer now explains that each of the 5 pieces can be related to basic personality types. PAWN: "The PAWN is a piece that is often mistaken as not "overly-important". Though the PAWN may appear this way, the fact of the matter is, that PAWNS actually *do* play a very important role in the grand scheme of things, and let's not forget either that the PAWN also has the potential for promotion or elevation to a more powerful role. Perhaps you might see yourself as being considered not "overly important" in your job or other areas of life by others, when inside you know that you actually have a massive potential that just has not yet been fully developed or is waiting for the right circumstances to align so that you can become more fully realized. For this reason, you might choose to identify yourself with the PAWN". ROOK: "The ROOK represents practical and grounded personality types who are firm in their convictions and beliefs in the world. With these people, things are typically "black and white" and there is little room for grey areas. These people are generally very dependable with a strong work ethic and typically have a very clear sense of purpose. If this describes you, then you might view yourself as being represented by the ROOK". KNIGHT: "The KNIGHT is the very epitome of chivalry, courage, honour, and sacrifice. Perhaps you are the kind of person who thinks of others before themselves and can be relied upon to be dependable - even to the point of detriment to yourself. You may fancy yourself as being extremely courageous or dedicated to a "higher purpose". Or, you may instead see yourself as a person who can often catch people in unpredictable and surprising ways. KNIGHTS are notoriously effective when coupled with other supporting pieces, and for that reason are also considered to be excellent "team players". If you feel that any of these traits closely matches how you feel about yourself, then you would choose to identify with the KNIGHT". BISHOP: "BISHOPS are first and foremost, representative of those people who place their religion or spirituality above all other things in life. They often place little importance on material things and are not usually interested in most things that society, as a greater whole, often deems as necessary. They are typically very independent types who are often known to have unique "angles" on subjects that are very different from the staus quo. Generally speaking, the BISHOP is associated with spiritual types and those with an artistic slant. Who knows - maybe this describes you? Only you know for sure if this piece is the one that you identify with most". QUEEN: "The QUEEN is a force to be reckoned with. It demands respect and attention with it's very presence - without needing to ask for it. What is most interesting about the QUEEN is that while the game revolves around the importance of the KING, we all know that it is the QUEEN who is the one that really holds the power, doesn't she? She really is the most powerful piece on the board. She can move in any direction as far as she likes while simultaneously strengthening and supporting all the pieces around her, helping to solidify and unify everybody. Perhaps this is you? Maybe you are happy to let somebody else "appear" to hold all the power and ultimate say in things when it is really YOU that is the one that is silently in control of everything behind the scenes and holds the REAL power. Regardless, the QUEEN represents REAL power in every and all forms and those who achieve power by realizing that REAL power comes from letting go and relinquishing control instead of trying to control everything. And for this reason, you may be the kind of person who identifies more closely with this piece - regardless of gender". When finished, the performer asks if the participant has identified themselves with one of these pieces in their mind. They have. The performer proposes one last test. Turning his back, he asks the participant to line up all FIVE pieces in a row in ANY order that they wish (true!). The performer simply asks them to focus their gaze on the one piece that they have identified with... With his back still turned, and with ZERO knowledge (true!) of how they have arranged the pieces or which one they have mentally selected, and with ZERO questions - the performer immediately reveals exactly where the selected piece is located in the line! He then gives a 10 second character reading (based on the piece they mentally identified themselves with) and ends it by not only revealing the location of the piece, but the actual identity of the piece as well! So...that's it. That's "En Passant". |
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Waters. Special user 703 Posts |
Sudo,
As always, your routine sounds great! |
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marc_carrion Special user 639 Posts |
Hi Sudo, I agree with Sean, the routine sounds great, no idea how to accomplish it except the first part of the first part, and then I'm not sure I would use the sentence "Though you could have easily captured the pawn if you had chosen to at any point, you did not", because they only pick a couple of times, right, and if the method is the one I'm imaging, that sentence may raise a flag... "uhmmmm, no I didn't because you..." but, since it moves immediately to the reveal of the order, that may not give them time to even think about it
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Sudo Nimh Inner circle 1866 Posts |
Thanks Sean.
I knew my brothers would be following along at the beginning and then suddenly hit the "wait a minute.....what?" moment. LOL As for the wording on the prediction, it hits like greased lightning. The mini-game is downplayed and I point out that nobody ever takes the pawn - which makes sense to everyone. I've never had anybody ever get snagged on that yet. They are always too gobsmacked in trying to figure out just how I could have known in advance precisely how they would arrange those remaining pieces... |
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Sudo Nimh Inner circle 1866 Posts |
Weird...not sure what happened or WHY, but a few posts were suddenly removed and my last post (above) was also edited in a strange way...
It reads now: Thanks Sean. It read before: Thanks Sean and Marc. |
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Sudo Nimh Inner circle 1866 Posts |
Quote:
On Oct 15, 2017, RCP wrote: Not a worry Craig. I assumed this from the beginning with anybody contributing source routines here. The main thing I am interested in is just seeing what is out there in this area - good or bad. |
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marc_carrion Special user 639 Posts |
Quote:
On Oct 15, 2017, Sudo Nimh wrote: RCP made the point that this routine is too good to be discussed in the open, I agree, and I asked my post to be removed in case someone would read exposure in it |
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Sudo Nimh Inner circle 1866 Posts |
Ah, I see. I figured it must've been something like that.
There's no need to speculate anyways - I'll be sharing this with all of you who have taken time to reply and offer references etc. FWIW - I'll also be disbanding my website soon too. It'll simply boil down to sharing for the sake of sharing, which is all I ever really wanted to do anyways. |
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Steven Keyl Inner circle Washington, D.C. 2630 Posts |
Just to be clear, I'm interested!
Steven Keyl - The Human Whisperer!
B2B Magazine Test! Best impromptu progressive Ace Assembly ever! "If you ever find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause, and reflect." --Mark Twain |
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Sudo Nimh Inner circle 1866 Posts |
Nice to meet you, Interested.
Sorry - I couldn't resist, Steven. |
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Francois Lagrange Veteran user Paris, France 380 Posts |
Le Cavalier Vagabond is an effect that relies on electronic. You can find its description in Claude Klingsor’s book: Les secrets de la magie electronique which is a work solely on electronic effects. It was published in 1985, so I reckon most of it is out-of-date as far as the electronic components go.
Some will say that I am nit-picking, but I don’t believe “En Passant” is a chess effect. It uses chess pieces but besides that it has nothing to do with chess. Leaving the King out of the set by explaining that the king’s capture would end a chess game is inaccurate. In a chess game the king never gets captured. A check-mate is not a capture. Finally, “En passant” is probably not a relevant title for this effect as capturing “en passant” requires two pawns in a specific situation. I don’t mean to disparage the effect as it reads quite interesting, but meant to make a few personal observations.
Protect me from my friends, I'll deal with my enemies.
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Sudo Nimh Inner circle 1866 Posts |
Well, there goes my ENTIRE list then since NONE of the Chess effects I listed have anything to do with how the game is actually played either!
Also, "En Passant" is *actually* a fitting title - especially when you don't know the method. But that is neither here nor there anyways. I mean, I could have called it "Helicopter In the Closet" if I wanted to, right? Does that mean it would REQUIRE the effect to be about helicopters? Being a chess player AND Canadian (where French is a second language), I'm well aware of what "en passant" means. Perhaps the words "in passing" has other connotations beyond a specific action on a chess board, no? Perhaps I should have called it: "Je vais te battre au jeu des échecs", or "Tu ne peux pas me battre aux échecs" or "N'avez-vous pas encore pris votre café du matin?" |
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Francois Lagrange Veteran user Paris, France 380 Posts |
You’re probably correct. The two effects I know of, among the ones you listed ,(1 & 3), and yours, are not chess specific and could use 5 indifferent objects instead of chess pieces would work as well with an adapted patter.
Vice versa, many effects could be turned into “chess” effects by using chess pieces and patter. The KT is a genuine chess effect as it requires a chessboard, a knight and knowledge of chess, i.e. how to move a knight. Granted the KT is not playing chess, but it’s still very much related. Anyway, thank you for welcoming my remarks so graciously and not being defensive in the least. Honestly, I have no choice but write in English (though I'd love write in native language), and I would urge you to stick to English too
Protect me from my friends, I'll deal with my enemies.
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Sudo Nimh Inner circle 1866 Posts |
LOL. Are you speaking Parisian French?
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Francois Lagrange Veteran user Paris, France 380 Posts |
Pourquoi? Es-tu canadien?
Protect me from my friends, I'll deal with my enemies.
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Francois Lagrange Veteran user Paris, France 380 Posts |
Sorry, I missed out one of your answers. You're Canadian. Peace. Yes, I'm Parisian.
Protect me from my friends, I'll deal with my enemies.
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Sudo Nimh Inner circle 1866 Posts |
Oui!
I thought so! We get that comment a LOT from Parisian French speakers. My mastery of French is far from perfect. We are all taught it here in school, though most people I know who are "native english" speakers typically forget it shortly after high school. Parisian french-speaking counterparts are always aware of the differences - almost painfully so sometimes. Very similar to the British reaction to American english, but possibly worse. |
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Steven Keyl Inner circle Washington, D.C. 2630 Posts |
Quote:
On Oct 15, 2017, Sudo Nimh wrote: Bah-dump-bump (after the rim shot, in the distance we hear a gentle chorus of crickets).
Steven Keyl - The Human Whisperer!
B2B Magazine Test! Best impromptu progressive Ace Assembly ever! "If you ever find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause, and reflect." --Mark Twain |
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Sudo Nimh Inner circle 1866 Posts |
And frogs. Don't forget the frogs.
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robvh Elite user Calgary, AB 440 Posts |
Very intriguing, Sudo!
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