Docguitarman- I used a normal sharpie to make up the deck, but not making it (the prediction) too large, so you can really give the face up deck a real nice wide spread across the table. I will have to find the book and take another look, because I don't remember reading about using a pencil in this effect. (I've got a terrible memory). I thought there was no need to use a pencil to erase the prediction at the end because I'm using a marker with a dried tip to "make the prediction" in the beginning. Without saying too much- how do you perform it?

Nattefrost. I used a fine sharpie also and have the prediction small and along the margin area near the index. I can spread the deck wide also. I use a regular fine sharpie during the presentation and merely .... fill in the ellipses ...

First time I showed it, to the Mrs. (for the "Mrs. test" ) as I was about to write the prediction with the sharpie she said, "Oh no! don't ruin the deck !" I told her it was okay as it was just a dollar store Maverick deck, not a Bicycle deck, lol! And I can do the trick several times per deck by tossing out the "ruined" card.

When the trick was over she was gobsmacked.

I'm going to make a second deck with same back Mavericks for the occasional time when perhaps I decide its safe to do it one more time (maybe in a walk around situation were some spec nearby may see it twice and notice the card is different).

"Scarne on Card Tricks" is one of my all time favorite card magic books. So many wonderful gems in there. Just incredible. My Signet 1974 paperback copy is well worn with circled and marked routines and marked pages all over the place.

One of my favorites is Trick Number 3 The Upside Down Deck credited to Francis Carlyle, page 9 in my copy. Nice triumph like effect. I have a revised handling of the mixing sequence I posted in Secret Sessions titled Scarne on Card Tricks - Updside Down Deck Handling.

Best, John

Time to reread this gem again.

For you Future Deck fans, occurred to me that you can make the effect instantly repeatable by controlling the spectator selection to the middle section the first time and performing a pass prior to the second performance!

Resurrect a thread that’s almost three years old? Sure, why not?

No. 21, “The Wizard,” has been surprisingly effective for me over the years, but it does require a close, trusted friend. My buddy Tom (RIP) and I had an arrangement where we’d switch off as The Wizard (depending on who was out and about, usually Tom, since I’m not a particularly social creature. We had GREAT reactions from spectators!

I look at the effects in Scarne on Card Tricks as bare bones routines just begging for someone with imagination to make them into something, well, magical!

Follow the leader and birds of a feather