Does anyone know of a good worker's method to create a magic square. I'm especially looking for somthing, which lets you fill in the square row by row starting in the upper left corner. This is, as far as I can tell, different to the standard method where you follow the order of the numbers....

Thanks,
Milan

Most of the standard methods available, I detail in my Grand Unified Square Theory post (click highlighted text for link).

Craig Snader had a routine called "Mind Square", now unfortunately out of print, in which the audience randomly called out squares, and you gave the number to put in that square. It may be possible to adapt his approach to doing the squares in order.

I also teach a simple magic square, to which a little creativity could be applied to get the "in order" magic square for which you're looking.

Is there a reason you would like to see it done from left to right and top to bottom? Most presentations I've seen for the magic square do their best to avoid looking like they have to be done in order.

While I've worked with magic squares for many years and in many ways, the simplest method I've come across is the one sold by Chuck Hickok called The Diagonal Square. Unfortunately, when I went to check the price I found out it was a limted edition of 250 units that is sold out. It was called the Diagonal Square because you began by filling in the left to right diagonal first using numbers provided by participants. After that, you are able to complete the square at an amazingly rapid speed and with ease. Not only that, you'll always have a different square because you are basing your numbers on the four provided by the participant in the beginning.

I won't go on because I hate to tout the wonders of something out of reach. It is possible that some other similar methods exist out there created independently by other mentalists. Take this as a hint and be relentless in your search.

Sticky for magic square links?
Sticky for memorization links?

Jack Shalom

Would you like to really to do it or would you like to do it the 'magician' way and cheat?

I just posted a possible solution for you under the 'Sukoku' thread.

There is a whole chapter on this in "Greater magic" including a square with numbers contain the digits 1, 6 ,9 ,8(like 81,66,98..) that can be sum to 269 .

The cool part is that it's work even if you turn the board upside down!!!

This is very impressive.

All you need to do is to mentally force this number.


Any nswers?

Have fun
ROi

Actually, the upside-down magic square totals 264 in every direction.

Man, Scott, you're a genius.
Thanks for info....

I've seen many of them, including Lorayne's and yours, Scott, and although all are good, I have to agree with Bill that Hickock's is the cleanest and easiest (although every once in awhile somebody notices repeating numbers and calls you on it, but hey the all add in every direction and that is most of the presentation). I have the blank on the back of my business card and put people's birthdays into a magic square for them to cherish forever. (right!)

Harry Anderson lectured on his way to do the Magic square at the World Magic Seminar and it was SPECTACULAR (and simple). But, what I use is Harry Lorayne's and I have a cue card on my marker.

What makes the Anderson method better than the Lorayne method?

Milan-

I do a version based loosely on Chuck Hickoks, but also an Irish Magician-cant remember the name!! with the 4 rows filled in then the
final 4 key nos based on whats called out -as long as the 2 digits called are between 1& 9 are above 35
as you write them down

All the horiz,vertical, rows, 4 nos in the middle, 4x4 squares as well as diagonals
& all 4 nos on all 4 corners add up to the 2 digits called out by the audience-different every time

I can fill in the square with no repeat nos in about 12-14 seconds its that easy-

Really goes over well with audiences!!

Also suggested to me by the Irish Chap was have on hand some photo copies at the back of the hall your performing in
with a really tough hard version virtually impossible magic square to give to people -theyll never do it!!
but makes you look like a genius to them-even further enhances your reputation

Cheers

Harry Lorayne's Memory Magic Square makes the title of the book ("Reputation Makers") truth in advertising.

The extremely creative Stephen Tucker also published a very simple method printed in Close Up Files by Jerry Mentzer

Pete - genius idea! Thanks

Hey Lawrence:

Just checked out the Tucker piece, and technically it is *not* a magic square in that the rows, columns, etc. add up to one number. It is certainly related in that fact that it uses a four by four grid, but functionally, the spectator fills out the whole grid and before they finish filling out the grid you can tell them their "lucky" number which they can confirm after they have filled out the grid. Added as a convincer is a neat use of the Mel Stover "calendar" force...

Certainly interested in any other references you might have...

Thanks,

Andrew

Although I edited and illustrated Chuck's Diagonal Magic Square, and so am obviously a fan, I hasten to point out that it is not a traditional magic square effect. In the latter, a number is somehow arrived at, and the entertainer creates a square in which all the rows, columns, diagonals, etc. add up to that number.

In Chuck's version, the audience provides four numbers, and the entertainer then fills in the remainder of the square such that all the rows, columns, etc. sum to the same total as the initial set of four. As described in the manuscript, the initial four numbers are written on one of the main diagonals; the method can easily be extended, however, to permit the first four numbers to be written in the four corners or the centre block of four, with the same elegant properties that are in Chuck's version.

Squares like these can be particularly appealing to readers, as the initial set of numbers can be a participant's birth date or some other numerologically significant set. Richard Webster was the first (to my knowledge) to point this out, but it has been used by several others since; Richard used a more conventional square, but Chuck's approach is better suited to this ploy.

I developed an Excel spreadsheet tool that shows the original Hickok square, and three other more generalized symmetric squares (of which Chuck's is a specific instance). It also illustrates squares by Richard Webster and Millard Longman, and the two squares recently described by Harry Lorayne in one of the magic magazines (no explanation is included for these latter four methods). I'd be happy to make this available to anyone who has an original copy of Chuck's manuscript; contact me via e-mail <ddyment@oratory.com> if you want one.

I picked up some Chuck Hickok Lecture Notes last week and was very impressed with the content. One in particular is 'Einstein's Demise'. Although I have always shyed away from 'Math Magic', this easy to master (cheating) 'Magic Square' has me completely hooked.
I now intend getting 'Educating Archer', just to watch John Archer's 'Tragic Square' and see how to keep it light hearted by injecting a little humour.

Paul Mc.

I have created a 'multi-tasking savant' type routine where I complete the MS on a clear dry erase board.I fill in the numbers in 'mirror image'while reciting the alphabet forwards and backwards at the same time.
With the clear board the audience views the numbers filled in in the correct direction.

Rich

There is also a simple one in one of the Magic Menu books, it was designed to be drawn on a disk of some kind. Pretty easy to remember the order.