THE 4-1-2

PREDICTION
INTRODUCTION
 A local magician performed this effect for me. The person did not know the source
nor the name of this effect.
 Here is my presentation.

EFFECT
 The performer tells a spectator that in order to be successful, one must never give
up. He wishes to test this philosophy with this spectator.
 On the back of his business card, he writes the words: “FOR ONE TO SUCCEED,
ONE MUST NEVER EVER GIVE UP.” He asks the spectator to read aloud this
message.
 On the printed front of another business card, he writes something which he does
not let the spectator see. He turns this card over so that the blank back shows. He
writes these 4 digits on it: 1, 2, 3, 4.
 He asks the spectator to read aloud once again the message he wrote on the back
of the first business card. He now asks her to point to one of the 4 digits.
 She points to “3”. He crosses out the digits 1, 2 and 4. He turns the card around
and reveals what he wrote earlier on the printed face – it was a large “3”. He has
predicted correctly which number the spectator will choose.
 He then reveals how this was accomplished. When the spectator read the message,
it planted the numbers 4 (FOR), 1 (ONE) and 2 (TWO), and the words “GIVE UP” on
her mind sub-consciously. Therefore, she gave up the digits 4, 1 and 2 and chose 3!
 The spectator is left wondering whether the entire experiment is believable to her!

THE SECRET
 The “message” is a con – a “red herring”. The effect works on magician’s equivoque
to force the number 3.
 Ask the spectator to “point to” any one of the 4 digits. Never use “choose” or “select”
because you may want to interpret her choice as either selection or elimination.
 (A) – If she points to “3”, cross out digits 1, 2 and 3 and finish as described.
 (B) – If she points to 1, 2 or 4 (say she chooses “2”), ask her to “point to” one more
digit.
 (BA) – If her second choice is “3”, cross out 1 and 4. Say that this leaves her 2 and
3. Ask her to concentrate hard on these 2 digits 2 and 3, and point to one of them.
 (BAA) – If she “points” to “3”, cross out 2 and end by saying that she made her own
choices not once but 3 times, and this ensures the fairness of the selection process.
“3” is ultimately left behind. Finish by referring to the effect of the message.
 (BAB) – If, at step (BA), instead of pointing to 3, she points to “2”, cross 2 out,
leaving “3” as the ultimate selection. Finish as described earlier.
 (BB) – If, at step (B), her second choice is not 3 but either 1 or 4, cross out both 2
and this digit. This leaves 3 and one other digit, and this brings us similar to step
(BA). Finish off by taking either step (BAA) or step (BAB).
 She makes all the choices, but you interpret
them accordingly as either selections or
eliminations, so that 3 is ultimately left behind.
Therefore, the use of “point to” is essential.

PROPS
 Ensure you carry at least 2 business cards.
Your business cards should have blank backs.
PRESENTATION
 This effect is best performed on a one-to-one person basis.
 Tell the spectator that you have found a way to achieving success, and that is to
never give up. Take out your business card and write the message “FOR ONE TO
SUCCEED, ONE MUST NEVER EVER GIVE UP”. Ensure that only the words
“FOR ONE TO” occupy the top line. Refer to the diagram.
 Ask the spectator to read the message out loud.
 Take out another business card. Without letting the spectator see, write a large 3 on
the printed side. Turn the card over and openly write 1 2 3 4 on its blank back.
Refer to the diagram.
 Ask the spectator to read the message on the first card out loud once again. Ask
her to focus on the 4 digits on the second card and to “point to” one of them. Using
the magician’s equivoque (described in “THE SECRET”), interpret her selection as
the digit “3”, after having crossed out 4, 1 and 2.
 Turn over this card to reveal that you had earlier written a large 3 on the printed side.
Ask her if she wants to know how you are so confident she will pick the number 3.
 She will answer in the affirmative. Refer her to the message card and tell her that
there is a reason why you asked her to read aloud this message twice. This was to
plant in her sub-conscious mind the numbers 4 (FOR), 1 (ONE) and 2 (TO) – point
to the 3 words in the top line of the message – and the words “GIVE UP”. As a
result, sub-consciously, she will “give up” the numbers 4, 1 and 2. Her final selection
will be 3!
 The spectator is left to consider whether she believes in what you said or not! If she
does not, there is no explanation how you could predict 3 as the outcome of her
choice!

ADDENDUM
 This is purely a psychological ploy. Please study carefully the choice of your words
used on the spectator.
 The use of your name cards makes this an impromptu effect. You may also have
the message, prediction and numbers nicely printed on 2 small cards.