(Hank) Moorehouse 1934 – 2011 - The Society of American Magicians

QUICK LooK BooK NooK
will have to do this twice if none of the three pairs match. The
third pair always matches, once any necessary adjustments have
been carried out with the first and second pairs, so these last two
coins are simply set down.
If this explanation seems complicated, please go through the
procedure two or three times and you will discover how easy it is.
All that is required of you is that you do the glide whenever you
think, “No Match.”
Phase ii – five matches
The second phase translates Hen Fetsch’s method for ESP
cards to an equivalent one for coins. Instead of a hidden extra
card, we use a shell to perform the same secret function. Pick up
one set of five differently colored coins, including the one wearing
the shell.
First place one of the coins colored-side down on the table –
then apparently change your mind. Pick it up, allowing it to be
seen on both sides without mentioning the color. Replace it in
your hand and set the shell on the table instead. The innocence of
the first coin is transferred psychologically to the shell.
You will again rely on the one-behind principle. For example,
if your helper pushes her blue coin forward for her first selection,
you set your blue coin out, colored-side down, as your second
target. If your helper then pushes forward her red coin, you lay out
your red coin for the third target. Let’s assume she pairs this with
her green coin. As she considers and makes each of her choices,
you turn her previously chosen coin colored-side down and stack
it with your target coin.
While this procedure seems
identical to that used in the first
test, there is a small modification
that seems inconsequential
if it is noticed at all. As you
stack the first pair, you set your
coin (the shell) over hers, rather
than the reverse. In addition,
when you set the shell onto her
coin, don’t let it nest; rather, let it
rest on the coin, overlapping it while
one edge stays in contact with the table.
Stack the other two sets of coins as you have
before, hers on top of yours. You may leave these pairs arranged
similarly to the first. The important thing is that your actions look
entirely fair and casual.
Set out your green coin (as her last choice was green) for the
fourth target. While your helper is making her fourth decision,
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casually assemble the previous three pairs of coins, as you did in
the first test. As you stack the second pair onto the first, squaring
the coins, the shell automatically slides over the bottom one,
covering it. No one ever notices there is one coin less in the pile
than there should be. Then set the third pair onto the others.
By this time your helper will have set down her fourth coin.
Ask her to turn it colored-side down, put it onto your fourth coin
and place the pair on top of the stack.
Everyone believes you have only one coin left in your hand.
In fact, you have two. As you focus your attention, and everyone
else’s, on your helper’s stacking of the coins, slip one of your
remaining two into right-hand thumb palm. You can then casually
flash the silver side of the remaining coin in your left hand.
The woman’s actions provide exceptionally strong misdirection,
during which you place the coin in your left hand either
under or over the thumb-palmed one. The order of these last two
coins is determined by the color of your helper’s last coin. The
top coin of the two you are holding out of sight must match this
color. Immediately but casually set both coins onto the stack, as if
they were one. When you do this, slide the top coin slightly out of
register with the rest, making it look as if you’ve set just it on top.
This furthers the impression that you’ve deposited only one coin,
although there should be no suspicion of anything else.
Ask your helper to place her final coin on top of the others.
Now remove the top two coins as a unit and place them well to
the right on the table. Take off the next pair and set them slightly
to the left of the first pair. Continue to remove the coins in pairs
from the stack, forming a row. The final pair, the bottom coin of
which wears the shell, is not moved. Arrange matters so that the
others form a straight line with this pair. Now ask your helper to
turn over the top coin of each set and place it in front of its mate.
When the coin over the shell has been taken off, casually place
your left fingers on top of the shell for a moment. Simultaneously,
place your right fingers similarly on the corresponding coin at the
right end of the row.
Slide both coins forward an inch or so, while pressing your left
fingertips down firmly on the shell. It should look as if you are
tidying up the display.
When you raise your left hand, the shell will stick momentarily
to your fingers and is secretly stolen away. This works perfectly
if your fingertips are slightly moist. Move the shell into classic
palm before it can fall, or simply curl the fingers loosely, letting
the shell rest on their tips.
You are now ready for a dramatic revelation, after which everything
can be examined.
The Magician –August/September 2006