This is one of my most fun routines to work... if anyone out there has this and has any questions about the working of this routine... now is the chance...



Ask away...

Gee Doc,

I’ve been using this routine for years now, it really is alot of fun, not only to perform, but just to watch the reactions of people.

I did four shows a night at a local Pizza Hut for over a year, I never did a show without using it.

I had so many regulars coming back wanting to either see it again, or for me to show a friend, that I had over ten different decks handy, including a blank deck (a real kicker)

Be prepared I always say!



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There will always be those that wish to rain on your parade, so never leave home without an umbrella...

I have played with the blank deck a couple of times but I found that the reaction was stronger using a deck that was printed... i.e. all queen of clubs...

the blank deck got stunned silence but the printed deck got screams of delight.

At one point I put together a deck of all jokers and had the card be the king of hearts... that got a stronger reaction
(I feel) than even the all QC (for example).

I would be interested in other peoples thoughts on whether different cards get different reactions...

is a deck consisting of all face cards funnier than spot cards... is the joker deck significantly funnier than a regular card deck..?

Hi Doc

Pardon my lack of knowledge but what is the basic effect with this routine, both Steve and yourself have me intrigued.

Joe

Hi Doc me again

Please ignore that last post I have just been to your website. Looking good!

Joe

Joe thanks for using the web site as a resource... but for those who still have no clue what we are talking about ...here is the description:

The Impossible Opener Version 2.0

This upgraded version contains instructions made clearer with Earle Oakes illustrations plus a bonus routine that doesn’t require a table and allows you to do this wonderful routine while strolling.

This acclaimed routine leads ’em down the garden path and then you turn the hose on them! I open every set of card tricks with this trick.

One red backed prediction card is shown. From a blue deck, a spectator freely selects any card. The two cards miraculously match (for example, the 9S). Here is the garden path… when it begins to dawn on them that all the cards must be the same, you show them that they are all the same… the KD! They will howl with laughter!

This is a great crowd pleaser that not only fools but has great entertainment value. And if that isn’t enough, included at no extra charge is The Upgraded Comedy Card ID kit, a $2.00 value from the minds at Presto Magic. It is the perfect segue into the next trick with a real deck. These labels are guaranteed chuckles.

(Labels available for $2.00 if purchased separately.)

Sold! I love it! I will get one asap! Nope, I take that back, I just Ordered this and the Anniversery Waltz!



I must have heard about it before, because this sounds a bit familiar but I had no idea what it was, or how to get it. And just knowing that it comes from you certainly validates it all the more.



Thanks for sharing that, and for being here this week. We are all richer for your appearance and unselfish participation here!



BroDavid







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If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything.

Hey Doc,

it just so happens that one of the decks I use is all Jokers, and you are correct, people are just blown away!

Tell me what you think of the reaction to the blank deck?

The blank deck goes over well for me, as I explain to my spectators that the machines at the card company must have gotten messed up, because they only printed one card, and left the rest blank.



Funny that one card matches my prediction card. Who would have thunk it?

I really like the idea (I think it’s on your first (not L&L) video, where you pull out the deck again and have the spec take a card, then tell them what they picked. Then as you show them the deck, it slowly dawns on them... they’re (still) all the same card!

This is quite a comical moment... (and frankly one I had forgotten about...thanks for reminding me about it..



doc

I have been working on using it as a mentalism trick. The chosen card is an e.s.p. card with a matching Bicycle back.



I tell the spectator that I want to test his intuition, they end up picking the e.s.p. symbol out of a regular deck.



I think it's a nice way of introducing the e.s.p. symbols.



Thank you Doc!

Just received impossible opener form you Doc. Love it! Can't wait to try it out at my next gig.



What do you think about the idea of having a small table that you'd carry around with you at a restaurant gig - I find there is rarely much space...



Dave

Hi doc!

I have been using your Imposible Opener for almost 2 years now. What I was wondering was where I would get an all joker deck? Or do I need to piece one together from all my decks of cards?



Thanks



_________________

Yours In Magic

Mike

I’ll answer the last two in this one post.

I sometimes use a tray jack stand from the restaurant to use as a table side performing area. Better than that however, would be to zero in on tricks that can be done table to table that don’t necessarily need the dining table.

Re the joker deck question... if you have a bunch of jokers lying around from your decks... then you have what you need... if you don’t have that many ...then call me (or email me) and I can see if I can put together one here in the “warehouse”.

I got an all joker deck from Haines House of Cards. They sell one-way decks. You can specify what you want for the face as well as what color backs.



Mark V

I found my stash of jokers and so if anyone out there wants to try this trick using the joker deck... specify it when you order...



doc

Hi There.

I use the "In the hands version," and it always goes down brilliantly. The version I have has a 5 of spades prediction, and 5 of hearts as the rest of the pack. Now at least 50% of the time someone says "Those cards are all 5's". and I think "I love my job!!"

Thanks Doc
Andy

Hiya, Doc!



I've been using Impossible Opener for ages. Your description of the audience's reactions are spot on.



I too was curious about why the change in deck changed the audience reaction. I look at it this way: If you show all the cards the same, this gets a "sucker" trick reaction. However, if you reveal a blank deck, they reason that you had a card selected and then "magically" blanked the deck. This is a very serious piece of magic and at odds with a light hearted piece.



I know it sounds silly, but remember, from the audience perspective, their hypothesis is that cards are all the same (and NOT blank). In the original presentation, the result is they are all the same, but not the same as the selection. In the blank deck presentation, they were all the same, but after the selection, you blanked the deck.



As a result, I find the joker decks work best with a light hearted approach. However, I also do a blank deck presentation as follows. I classic force the card, and have it signed and replaced in the deck. I then have the deck given to a second spectator who doesn't know the value of the card. I turn to the first spectator and ask them to telepathically send the name of their card to the second spectator. However, to send the signal, they must make their mind blank and think only of their card. I repeat "Blank except for your card" I then turn to the second spectator (who is holding the deck) and ask them to name the first spectator's card. Sometimes (1 in 10) they get it right. Either way, I turn to the first spectator and ask if they have any telepathic powers. I then reveal the deck.



Bye for now



Harold