Can't beat psychological stop for impromptu. OOTW. Probably the best impromptu effect ever is Mr Osterlind's 'Miracle thought projection'. Possibly the strongest card mentalsim ever.

Simon

I completely agree with psychological stop. Also Kolossal Killer.

Scarne's 4-aces.

I don't do many tricks with cards but one that I return to again and again is Ceremony Of The Immortals (by Camirand Magic). The reason I like it is it requires no sleight of hand, almost foolproof and therefore allows me to concentrate fully on presentation. I won't go into the details of the trick here, because an internet search will give you all you need to know, but each time I perform this it stuns the audience. I've even done this for experienced magicians who are looking for methods and it has fooled them. It's best worked in a close-up or small informal setting. It's good.

Terry

Using it without cards makes it even stronger. Lets keep this quiet.

As for completely impromptu, the effects I mentioned above all may use a borrowed shuffled deck.

Out of this world rules

And sorry to mention his name (again!), but the Derren effect from Devil's Picture Book where he asks a girl to think a card, and a guy to pick one, then predicts both (can't remember the name). That is a killer for me everytime too.

My Any card at any number
Anything using a force
And the overlooked You-Do-As-I-Do with up to 3 phases!
Among others...

Do As I Do, Stop!, and a couple of 'tricks that can't be explained' that I do that you just need to be thinking fast on your feet.
I'll also do a Lazy Man Card Trick with a bit of a mentalism spin.
Sometimes I'll do Bannon's Discreptancy City as an impromptu B'Wave

Greg

Paul, I believe its called 'Doublethink'. It is very nice, especially if you 'hit' with the first spectator (which does happen, especially if you use a simple psychological force (eg QH, 7H).

Magic by George, which are you referring to?? I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts (PM?)

Simon

I was refering to Osterlinds effect without cards and the effects I mentioned of Redfords with a borrowed pack.

How do you handle that - go through the usual 'script', then rather than having them name the card - you simply say the card you want them to think of first, elimination having to turn it over? Am I following you right?

Simon

Brian Caswell's "Trilogy" from Alakazam.