Hello y'all,

I'd love to hear more precise takes on the technique used in The Mentalist (or the Derren episode for that matter). I could hasard guesses but I'm new here, are we allowed to quote techniques (as long as it doesn't infringe the copyrights on a book or video) ?

Lol. That's a funny image

George Tait has a good live one!!!! The best I've seen....

Hello. I published several ideas on this in my newsletters. One method I tried and still believe in is to actually play the game and put your hand out in a half-fist...you've only half-opened your hand. As you observe the opponent's hand you try to see what he's forming as early as possible and finish your opening up of your hand with the winning position. Granted, I haven't been working on this lately but mention it as having promise. The other idea was to make a card game of Stone Paper scissors with drawings on double-blank cards, with a Sharpie, of the various hand positions. Since I am an art teacher by trade now, I can pull this off but you may have a friend that can draw. Then, you figure out all the ways to cheat at this like a card game. The possibilities are endless.
Regards, Gregg Webb

This is an idea I used many years ago. I put it in my Lost In Thought book. It's a one time type of idea:

ROCK/PAPER/SCISSORS ONCE
A few of my fellow mentalists also started working with the premise of this simple game. Most want to be able to win at it every time. I’m sure it’s possible, but I came up with a way to always win the first time. See what you think.

The performer states that he always wins the first round of Rock/Paper/Scissors and he will show this feat.

He puts his hand behind his back and says, “I have my prediction ready so whenever someone decides to play then let’s go, but I promise I will win the first time with my prediction.”

A game is played and on the first attempt the performer wins. Here’s how:

Take a small piece of paper and write the word SCISSORS on it then crumple up the paper so the word is on the inside. Have this little ball somewhere on you where you can easily get access to it.

Start the game by saying that you always win the first round with the prediction you keep behind your back. Put your hand behind you back and steal out the paper ball and keep it in your closed fist. Now play the game… once.

As soon as you are told to bring out your hand, come out in a closed fist. If the person has Scissors showing you say, “I have Rock and that always beats Scissors.”

If they have Rock then open you hand to display the paper and say, “My prediction is always Paper and paper always beats Rock.”

If they have Paper showing then open you hand and start to unfold the paper as you say, “I always write one word as a prediction: Scissors. And, you know, Scissors always beats Paper.”

Cute, but gets the job done.