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 Copyright © Paul Brook

Published August 2021

No portion of this book or illustrations may be reproduced in

any manner without written permission of the copyright owner.

Inner Truth Productions Limited

Highbrook House | Strath | Watten | Caithness | KW1 5UQ | Scotland

Introduction: Paul Brook Page 4

The Effect Page 6

Methodology Page 9

Final Thoughts Page 24

Citations and References Page 25

By Paul Brook

Sometimes creating a powerful routine isn’t as much a case of discovering a

new method or presentation, but one of combining existing ones in a different
way; this is very much the case with ‘The Cracker’.

There are two main methods in play, a number force and multiple outs.

Any number force can be used as long as the process seems fair and justified.

In the past I have successfully used the 1089 force as found in ‘202 Methods of
Forcing’. 1

Those familiar with the method may be aware that there are a few instances
when the numbers don’t work and the force number is not achieved.

The solution is to give yet another instruction to the participant. While this
solves the problem of an error occurring, it raises the issues of increasing the
procedure length, and places more emphasis on the number generation. The
more restrictions you apply, the more restricted in choice the participant will
feel, or will feel ‘lead’.

In order to get a definite result, I decided to add the additional instruction.

While not 100% happy with this, it meant the method was watertight.

Then, in 2004, I got ‘Banachek’s PSI Series’ and there, in the second volume,
was the solution I had been looking for. His effect, ‘Number Reversal’ 2, a
rework of his effect ‘Reversal’ 3, 4, uses just the first half of the 1089 force.

Instantly, I knew the procedural element of would be cut in half. Brilliant! This
came at a price, though. Now instead of one definite outcome, there were now
nine possible outcomes.

This may seem like a backwards step, until it is realised that by knowing only
one number from the total, you know the number the participant is focusing

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on. Some deviously clever ways to do this have been created by Banacheck and
Richard Busch. 5, 6

The additional outcomes in this new method soon showed themselves to be a

positive, rather than a negative, as I first thought. If the participant, after the
fact, assumes that the process might generate the same number, they can try
again and will likely get a different outcome.

This is a massively powerful alteration as it helps to hide the method and

creates a stronger impact for those who are ultra-sceptical.

I have spent many years refining this mathematical principle so that it has the
fewest procedural actions and the most entertainment value, but more on that
later.

With regards to the multiple outs 7, 8 any system can be used. Quite a lot of
gimmicked wallets will contain an indexing system that can hold your multiple
outs.

Equally there are a number of ways to implement multiple outs if the

performer wanted to turn this into a larger stage effect.

For those new to mentalism or those on a budget, I have included a way to

make an indexing system to hold multiple outs for very little money, in the
methodology section.

Once you create the required components for ‘The Cracker’ you will have a
very powerful routine to carry with you at all times. Let’s dive into the
performance.

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The performer takes out a wallet and opens it. In the wallet (aside from the
regular things you find) is a folded sticky note.

Performer: “Do you know what that is?”

The participant has no idea.

Performer: “It’s the combination code to the padlock I use for my gym
locker.

I’m on the sixth one so far this year. I forget the number
and then have to have the lock cut off in order to get
changed.

You may think that I have a bad memory, but it’s more a
case of being overly security conscious.

To increase my security I change the code every week and

never use the same number again. I can remember all the
numbers I have used, but which one is in use, that is the
issue.

I’ve gotten around this in the easiest way possible, the time-
honoured method of writing it down.

But a friend of mine suggested a method that seems to

work, I wonder if it will work with you. Can you open your
phone and go to the calculator app.

I would like you to imagine you’re in the gym locker room.

You go up my lock and put in a three digit number, where
all the numbers are different.

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 Whatever that three digit number is, type it into the
calculator.”

The participant secretly types the number into the calculator of her phone.

Performer: “When I would do this, I was sure I had the right numbers,
but the padlock wouldn’t open.

Then I would think that I had the correct numbers in the

wrong order, so do this.

Press the subtract button and then put in the reverse of

your number. If you were thinking of 123, then press minus
and then 321.”

The participant does this.

Performer: “The lock still wouldn’t open. But the process somehow
cleared my mind. Having done this, the number would
come to me,

Press the equals button.

In the end what number would you be trying in my gym

padlock?”

The participant says that the final number would be 198.

Performer: “Oh man, my friend is going to be really smug about this.

His method seems to work really well.

Take a look at the sticky note and unfold it.”

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The performer motions to the participant to remove the single sticky note.
After doing so it is unfolded, written in pen on the inside are the words “Lock
Code: 198”.

The participant can’t believe it.

Then the performer slowly removes a set of keys. On the set are house keys, a
car key, a lanyard and a small three digit combination lock.

Performer: “Here is my gym padlock.

Try out a few numbers, so you know it’s a legit padlock.

Now put in the number you randomly thought of in the

end.”

The participant tests the padlock for legitimacy and finds no cheat. Upon
placing in the three digit number she randomly generated, the lock clicks
open.

At the same time the lock hasp opened, amazingly so did her mouth!

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With ‘The Cracker’, you will have a fast paced effect taking just a few minutes
that has a definitive hard-hitting outcome. Best of all you can make all of the
props for this effect very cheaply, and may even have all that you require
already.

If you already have an indexing system that you are happy with then all you
need is ten stick notes. Onto which you will write the following:

After writing each note, fold it into quarters so that it is still in the shape of a
square.

For those who do not have an indexing system already, or are not happy with
the currently owned one, I will now explain how you can make your own
indexing system.

This will be in the form of my ‘BI-FAW: Billet Index For Any Wallet’ 9 originally
published in November 2010 in my book ‘The Book Of Lies’. If you do not own
it, there are over 45 effects, ideas and presentations covering a whole array of
performance styles and arenas.

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So if you enjoy the ‘BI-FAW: Billet Index For Any Wallet’ bit may well be a
book you want to read.

With

I adore gimmicked wallets. My wallet of choice as of writing this book is the

‘Hideout’ wallet from Outlaw. It has the most ample space for billets as well as
a devilish peek.

Billets don’t seem to be en vogue at the minute, but I find that there are many
amazing things to do with an ample index. One of the essential items that I
recommend to any budding mentalist is a wallet with a billet index. However, I
hear lots of ‘reasons’ as to why pupils will not buy one.

Often wallets are vastly overpriced for the mentalist who is starting out, or for
a person wanting to try out a gimmicked wallet.

Other times the student will have a regular wallet that was very expensive to
buy, or has sentimental value. Therefore, he will not want to place his wallet
into a drawer in favour of a gimmicked one.

Both of these points leave the mentalist without a strong tool that can be
carried with them wherever they go.

So a few years ago I set about creating a way to index billets in any wallet. That
means that you can use BI-FAW in your expensive or sentimental wallet. If you
are young and don’t want to carry an old style wallet, then you can BI-FAW
your trendy wallet.

Even if you have an index space in your wallet, BI-FAW will enable you to have
even more billets available. This gives you a greater scope for storing billeted
information, or enabling you to have two billet effects in one wallet.

The best thing about BI-FAW is that it will cost you around £4 (GBP) to make
and will last you a long time.

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In theory it should work with every wallet in the world. I have yet to see a
wallet that this principle would not work with. But I am reluctant to say it will
work in every wallet as I will end up with an email from some weirdo sending
me photos of his wallet. If that is you, please stop!

 4 x very thin circular neodymium magnets, 1cm in diameter.

 1 x business card from an accountant, lawyer or other professional.

 Double-sided sticky tape.

 Either regular Sticky Notes or indexing/reference marker Sticky Notes,

depending on how many billets you want the gimmick to hold.

 Your wallet. If you do not have your wallet, please stop reading this book
and contact your local police station! Or wait for your wife to come
home from shopping and take it back off her.

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The basic premise is that the billets will be stuck to the back of the business
card using their own repositional glue. The card will be held in place with the
use of the small magnets.

You will display one billet in a section of your wallet and explain that there is a
prediction on it. Close the wallet. When the participant answers, you open the
wallet lifting up the business card and taking the relevant billet from it.

I will take you through the construction step-by-step. Hopefully this will enable
you to understand how you will be able to apply this method to your own
wallet.

Take the business card and stick two of the magnets to it using the double-
sided sticky tape. Make sure to stick the magnets on the non-writing side of
the business card:

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Place the business card on the right-hand side of the wallet, central but slightly
biased to the right. Make a note of where the magnets on the business card
are and place the other two magnets in the card pockets of the wallet so that
the business card will be held in place magnetically. Stick the magnets to the
wallet using the double-sided sticky tape. Make sure that both magnets are
attracting their ‘partner’ and not repelling them:

Magnets will be inside the card pockets, as highlighted in the above image.

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All that you require now are the billets. You will need to fold the Sticky Note in
a certain way in order for only one side of the folded billet to be sticky:

Take off a new post-it note and hold it so that the sticky line is along the top,
but at the back of the note.

Now fold the note as if you were closing a book.

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 Fold the note in half again, but this time downwards to form a square.

This will leave you with a square billet that has only one sticky side. Write
whatever you want on the billets and stick them to the back of the business
card using their own repositional glue strip.

For now let us assume that you have written the numbers 1-10 on ten billets
and stuck them to the card.

Notice (in the photographs on the next page) how I have allowed the billets to
overlap in the same way that roof tiles overlap. There is a section on the sticky
side of the note that is not sticky. This is the section that overlaps onto the
other billet. Make sure that none of the sticky touches the other billet as this
will impede the removal of the billet.

When removing the billet the area that you will grab will be the rounded edge.
This overlapping will also allow you to remove a billet by feel alone as you will
be able to know which billet you are touching by counting the notches as your
finger moves over the billets.

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 Portrait View

Landscape View

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An extra billet is required and will be tucked in, but on show, on the left hand
side of your wallet. On this billet will be one of the choices. In this example it
will be the number 9.

So we have the numbers 1 to 11 indexed in our wallet. We open our wallet and
point out the single post-it note that is tucked into one of the pockets on the
left hand side of the wallet.

You explain that on that post-it note is a number between one and eleven, and
that you know it is the number that the person will choose.

The wallet is closed so that she cannot peek and cheat.

If she names the number nine, then you can open the wallet and let her take
out the single billet by herself. However, she names the number four.

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This requires you to use the BI-FAW. You open the wallet so that only you can
see inside. As you open the wallet, your thumb comes into contact with the
business card and lifts it up along with a side of the wallet.

Thumb picking up the business card

The outside edge of the wallet screens the deception

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With the selection of billets looking you right in the face you reach over and
grab the billet that corresponds to the number four and remove it. From the
participant’s point of view you are removing the billet from the exact same
side as she expects it to be on.

The wallet is closed. You hand the participant the billet. The deed is done!

One of the very cool extra benefits of the BI-FAW is that it is completely
detachable from your wallet. So if you do not want to carry it everywhere with
you, then you do not have to.

Equally, if someone were to try and call you out, and ask if he can see your
wallet. You can, with your hand in pocket, thumb off the BI-FAW in the same
instant that you remove the wallet from your pocket. It could then be fully
inspected.

You will remember that at the start of this segment I mentioned to use a
professional business card for this effect, such as a lawyer or accountant.

The reasoning for this is that when the wallet is opened to display a loose
business card, it should look as though you have perhaps just had an encounter
with a professional who has given you his card. This card has just been
deposited into your wallet for the time being. This is how it should appear. This
is the subtext of what people are seeing.

To add to this subtext, write a price or telephone extension number on the

face of the business card in pen. This is the reason for keeping the card in the
safety of your wallet. But get a friend or relative to write the information so
that it does not match your handwriting. Although, it is feasible that you would
have made notes on the business card, it is more feasible that the owner of the
card has done so.

Obviously, the numbers one to eleven would be a pretty crap way to use a
billet index. The possibilities for this index are as limited as your imagination.
Oh, and if you use smaller indexing/reference marker Post-It notes, you can get
anywhere from sixteen to twenty four billets on the BI-FAW!

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At this point you either have an indexing system with the ten options for the
lock codes, or you at least know how to make one.

With the ability to display a single billet yet be able to easily exchange it for any
of the multiple outs you are ready for the next stage of the methodology: the
number force.

It is such an old mathematical construct, that despite my extensive research I

am at a loss as who I can credit. I have found its use in magic goes back to the
early 1930s, but I would imagine its use in mathematics vastly predates this.
But it goes like this:

 Think of any three digit number where all the digits are different.

 Now reverse these digits.

 Of these two three digit numbers, take the smaller number away from
the larger number.

If this is followed, the answers will always be one of these ten:

099
198
297
396
495
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 594
693
792
891
990

Just take a look at those numbers. The middle digit is always the number nine
and the digits either side add up to the number nine too.

To make things clearer I added a zero in front of ninety-nine, however, this

zero would not be present in the participant’s calculation.

While this is the traditional procedure, I have found over countless

performances that there is an aspect that can create a moment of confusion
and potential error; “Take the smaller number away from the larger number”.
I’ve had people think I mean the smallest number within the three digits, the
smallest number from all six digits, etc. It also places undue attention on the
mathematical side of things, when it supposedly doesn’t matter what is
occurring.

So why is this required?

The reason for this added bit of procedure is to make sure that the participant
is not thinking of a negative number. But here’s the kicker…it doesn’t matter if
the number is a negative number, it still matches the nine totals.

To the performance it makes no difference if after the calculation there is a

negative symbol at the start of the numbers. This makes the “Take the smaller
number away from the larger number” totally irrelevant for our needs and
allows a strong potential risk to be completely removed from the process.

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My process of this procedure now follows thusly:

 Open up the calculator on your phone as this will speed up the process.

 Think of any three digit number, and make all of the digits different.
Then input that into the calculator.

 Now press minus.

 Reverse those numbers, so if you were thinking of 123, you would now
be thinking of 321. Then put that into the calculator and press equals.

It is simple, straightforward and as fool proof as it can possibly be. Since

adopting this way of performing the procedure, I have only ever had two
failures, and that was due to me not stressing that all the numbers have to be
different.

As a side note, technically only the first and last digits have to be different.
However, giving that instruction would feel a little weird. I mention it here just
to give you extra confidence in the process. Even if the participant goes ‘off
script’ the odds are still in your favour.

After inputting the simple process into the calculator, there is genuinely no
way for the performer to know what the total is. It is one of those ten
outcomes, but which one is not known yet.

You simply ask what, “In the end what number would you be trying in my gym
padlock?” and the participant will tell you.

All you need to do is reach in and take the billet that matches the number
named by the participant.

When you are getting used to the index and the order you have placed the
multiple outs in, you may want to look over and see if you can read the number
on the phone before it is mentioned. This will give you a little extra thinking
time as to where the billet will be.

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I would suggest putting an easy-to-read dot marking on each of the billets so
that you can easily see which one you are grabbing. It takes the guesswork out
of the process.

It’s time to talk about the single billet that you are going to leave on display to
show at the start of the routine. Obviously, if that out is the final selection, you
have a very strong ending to the routine as the wallet can be opened and the
participant can remove the billet.

While it feels like it should be an equal share of the ten outcomes for each
number, I tend to find that the number 198 is frequently the final number.
Some performers have also echoed this, while others say that 297 occurs more
for them.

Have a little experiment, and whatever final number you find occurring more,
that’s the billet you display alone, out of the index.

Ah yes, the lock. There are a couple of options open to you.

You can either set the number to be the same as the stand alone billet that is
on display. Or you can set it to another number.

If you set the number to match the stand alone billet, then you are building on
the impossibility of the effect and cancelling out any idea of different outs.
While this is an extremely nice subtlety, it will only occur when that one
outcome is selected.

Setting the padlock code to a different outcome will allow two powerful
outcomes. Firstly, the participant takes the stand alone billet with one
outcome. Secondly, billet is given to the participant and then the number is
confirmed by opening the padlock.

The choice is yours, all you need to do is find a small travel combination
padlock and change the number to match the outcome you desire.

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If you are new to using mathematical forces, don’t be deterred by the
numbers. These types of forces, when disguised by performance, can be
exceptionally powerful indeed.

The swift nature of ‘The Cracker’ and the potential for a double impact ending,
make it a great opening effect for the close-up mentalist.

It takes very little work to turn this into a substantial quick opening routine for
stage or parlour. Of course, hiding multiple outcomes on a stage setting is
much easier to do.

Even after reading ‘The Cracker’ some may not be comfortable using
mathematical forces. So even if you don’t use this routine, hopefully, the
sharing of my previously published ‘BI-FAW: Billet Index For Any Wallet’
should have easily provided enough value. Although, with this book being
provided free of charge, that isn’t difficult.

If you are ‘on the fence’ about using a mathematical force, simply give it a try a
number of times, you may surprise yourself with the impact it can have. The
key, as with this routine, is to make the numbers meaningful to the process
through the performance dialogue.

Now get out there and do some interesting things with ‘The Cracker’!

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1 – Annemann, Theo. (1932). [202 Methods Of Forcing] p.28

2 – Banachek. (2004). [Banachek’s PSI Series Vol 2., Number Reversal]

3 – Banachek. (1998). [Psychological Subtleties, Reversal] p.45

4 – Banachek. (2010). [Psychological Subtleties 1, Reversal] p.83

5 – Busch, Richard. (2002). [Number…Please?. Reversal Of Fortune] p.11

6 – Banachek. (2009). [Psychological Subtleties 3, Subtle Numbers]

7 – Unknown. (c. 1600s). [Sloane 424, Pieper Translation] p.155

8 – Unknown. (c 1700). [Asti Manuscript, Pieper Translation] p.63

9 – Brook, Paul. (2010). [The Book Of Lies, BI-FAW] p.48

Graphics by Paul Brook

Editing and proofreading by Paul Brook and Jennifer Brook

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