rED

INDIAN
INTRODUCTION
 This is my presentation for Jean Pierre Vallarino’s “Coup d’Etat”. I have no
idea why he calls this effect by that name. I now name my presentation
“Red Indian”. Do not ask me why I choose this name either.
 The differences between my presentation and his are:
o My combination lock has only 3 numbers, not 4. 4-number
combination locks are hard to obtain and they are expensive.
o I find it un-meaningful to “lock” a folded prediction inside a “paper”
envelope. I use a metal coin box instead to contain the prediction.
o Jean’s handling is quite hands-off, letting the spectators do most of
the work in spreading and riffle-shuffling the cards. I have
eliminated the possibilities of the spectators making an error and
mixing up the arrangements of the cards by changing the handling
of the cards.
o I have added a comical moment with the combination lock.

EFFECT
 Performer asks 3 spectators to help him. He displays a small metal coin
box which is secured with a small number combination lock.
 He unlocks the coin box, and from inside it, brings out 2 small envelopes.
One he hands out to Spectator no 1 seated on his right, and the other one
to Spectator no 2 seated on his left. He also brings out a deck of cards
from the box’ The only item left in the box is a folded card. The coin box
is closed, and the lock is put through the hasp. Spectator no 3, the one
seated in the center, is asked to scramble the number combination so that
the lock is closed shut. He is told that the folded prediction inside this
locked box belongs to him.
 The performer takes the cards out of the case and spread them face
upwards to show that the cards are in no particular order. He then hindu-
shuffles the deck and ask the Spectator no 3 to cut the deck. Not
contended with this, the performer splits the deck into halves and riffle
 shuffles them together. The cards are spread face upwards once again to
show that the cards are all truly mixed up.
 He takes off 12 cards and gives them to Spectator no 1. Similarly,
Spectator no 2 also gets another 12 cards, leaving Spectator no 3 with
more than half the deck. All 3 spectators are told to separate their cards
into red and black cards.
 Spectator no 1 has 6 red and 6 black cards. When she opens her small
envelope, inside it are exactly 6 red buttons and 6 black buttons. Similarly,
Spectator no 2’s envelope contains 7 red and 5 black buttons, exactly
matching her 7 red and 5 black cards.
 It is now Spectator no 3’s turn. Nobody has taken note of the number
combination of the lock before he scrambles the numbers. Now, no matter
what numbers are tried on, the lock refuses to open.
 The performer then uses the numbers from Spectators no 2 and 3. They
are 6, 6, 7 and 5. The combination lock has only 3 numbers. So the
repeated number 6 is dropped to just one 6. The number “675” is tried on
the lock and it opens! This is a WOW moment.
 The folded prediction inside the metal box has R = 13 and B = 15.
Spectator no 3 exactly has 13 red and 15 black cards! All 3 predictions
are proved to be correct!

SECRET
 The deck is stacked in a certain way. Although the cards are genuinely
riffle-shuffled, the mathematical principle “The Gilbreath Principle” ensures
that the number of red and black cards of the front and last batches of the
cards remain the same as the original set-up. This in turn ensures that the
middle portion of the cards has the same numbers of red and black cards
as in the original set up.
 Subterfuges are used to create the illusion that the deck is genuinely
shuffled and the cards are mixed up.

MAKING THE PROPS

 You need the following items (refer to the diagrams):
 A small metal coin-box with latch and hasp.
 A small number-combination lock with 3 numbers.
 2 small fancy envelopes.
 13 red buttons and 11 black buttons.
 A small piece of stiff paper with the prediction “R =13, B = 15”
written on it, and folded in half.
 A deck of playing cards.
 Arrange the cards as follows (note that the Ace of Hearts is a short card),
from the top of the deck face downwards:
(7D)R B RR BB R BB RR B

B R BB RR BB R BB RR

(AH)R BB R BB RR B RR B

B RR BB R BB RR BB (7H)

SET-UP
 Put 6 red and 6 black buttons inside one small envelope, and 7 red and 5
black buttons inside the other small envelope.
 Place all the items inside the metal box, ensuring that the first item to go
into the box is the folded card prediction.
 Place the lock onto the latch and hasp of the box, but do not scramble the
numbers of the lock.

PRESENTATION
Introduction
 Invite 3 spectators to help you. Bring out the small metal coin box with the
combination lock.
 Take out the lock and open the box. From inside the box, take out the
small envelope containing the 6 red and 6 black buttons and place it in
front of Spectator no 1 seated on your right. Take out the other envelope
and place it in front of Spectator no 2 seated on your left. Take out the
deck of cards and show to the audience that the only item left inside the
metal box is a folded card.
 Close the lid of the coin box, and put the lock through the hasp of the box.
Approach Spectator no 3, the one who is seated in the center, and ask him
to scramble the number combination so that the lock is closed shut. Place
this box in front of Spectator no 3 and tell him that this box contains his
prediction. Like the other 2 spectators, he is told to guard this box, to
ensure nothing goes in or out of it.
Handling the Cards
 Take out the cards from its case. Ribbon-spread them face upwards to
show that the cards are in no particular order. Close the spread and then
false hindu-shuffle by taking a stack of cards from the bottom of the deck
and placing it on top. Continue doing this is in a fast pace. It appears you
are hindu-shuffling the the deck, but you are actually subjecting the deck
to a series of running cuts. The original order of the cards is retained
except that the starting point of the order is displaced. Place the (shuffled)
deck in front of Spectator no 3 and ask him to cut the deck and complete
the cut. Spread the cards out face upwards to show that the cards are in
no particular order. It is actually in the same state as before but with the
starting point displaced. Look for the double red 7’s. Slit the deck
between the 3 red 7’s and complete the cut. The deck is back in its
original arrangement. Turn the deck face downwards.
 Appear to be not contended with this shuffling. Cut the deck at the short
card. Riffle-shuffle the 2 halves together but do not push the cards
completely together. Spread the cards face downwards and show that the
cards are interlaced in a haphazard manner. Ask Spectator no 3 to
carefully push the 2 halves together. This is the Juan Tamariz’s Subtlety.
Spread the cards face upwards to show that the cards are mixed-up in no
particular order. Close the deck face upwards. Count off 12 cards face
upwards and place them in front of Spectator no 1. Turn the deck face
 downwards, count off 12 cards face downwards and place them in front of
Spectator no 2. Give the remaining cards to Spectator no 3.
 Ask all 3 spectators to separate their stack of cards into red and black
cards.
Revealing the Predictions
 Turn to Spectator no 1. Ask her to pour out the contents of her small
envelope. She will find 6 red and 6 black buttons. Ask her to count her
red and black cards. She finds exactly 6 red and 6 black cards!
 Turn to Spectator no 2, and ask her to do the same thing. She finds you
have correctly predicted that she has 7 red and 5 black cards!
 It is now Spectator no 3’s turn. Ask him to unlock the metal box. It is now
that you “realise” nobody was asked to actually note the combination of
the numbers that open the lock in the first place. Spectator no 3 tries
several numbers but the lock remains shut!
 You are looking for number clues. Suddenly, you “notice” the number of
red and black cards of both Spectators no 2 and 3. They are 6, 6, 7 and 5.
But that is 4 numbers – we need only 3 numbers. So you “conveniently”
reduce the repeated number “6” to only one “6”. You ask Spectator no 3
to try the number “675”. It opens the lock! This is WOW moment for the
audience.
 Spectator no 3 takes out the folded prediction and opens it and read “R =
13, B = 15”. He counts his own stack of cards: he has exactly 13 red and
15 black cards! Everything turns out right!

ADDENDUM
 You must sell the fact that the cards are hopelessly “mixed up”.
 You must act the part that nobody was asked to take note of the numbers
of the lock. Suddenly the number of red and black cards contain numbers
that might help in the opening of the lock.
JEAN PIERRE VALLARINO’S “COUP D’ETAT”

Left Spectator

R=7

B=5

Middle Spectator

R = 13

B = 15

Right Spectator

R=6

B=6

Arrangement of deck (from top, face downwards):

(7D)R B RR BB R BB RR B

B R BB RR BB R BB RR

(AH)R BB R BB RR B RR B

B RR BB R BB RR BB (7H)

Lock combination:

6 (6) 7 5