BIG BEN

This is probably one of the most effective tricks you will do. Have fun with it and feel free
to ad lib where you think you can get extra chuckles. You will need to know the 13th card
from the bottom of the deck. Just for example, we will say it is the Ace of Spades. Before
you begin the trick you will write the name of this card on a sheet of paper and place it in
full view of the audience as a prediction. “Here is a prediction of something that is going to
happen. During this experiment I will ask you to keep one eye on the deck... one eye on
me... and one eye on the prediction.”

Hand the deck to the spectator. “Please turn the deck face up and place it on the

table. By the way, have you ever done any traveling? Where have you been? Have you
ever been to England? I'm sure you must have heard about Big Ben.” (Look into audience
and pretend to have heard someone.) “No, madam – not Uncle Ben; it's Big Ben, the
famous clock on the tower. Sir, will you try to picture Big Ben in your mind. Can you see it
there with its large numbers? Picture an hour on the clock – one, two, three, four, or any
hour at all. Have you got this picture in your mind? Good.”

So far nothing has happened and the deck is lying face up on the table. “I will now

turn my back. Please take as many cards from the face of the deck as the hour suggests.
If you chose three o'clock, take three cards; six o'clock, take six cards. Have you got the
idea? Put the cards in your pocket when you've taken enough.”

Turn back to face the spectator. “You are now thinking of an hour on the clock face.

We will need twelve cards to draw a picture of the clock.” Pick up the deck and deal twelve
cards onto the table, one at a time. (This will reverse the order.) Place the rest of the deck
aside and begin to lay out the cards in a clockwise circle, beginning with one o'clock. Each
card will represent one hour. “I now have a better picture of the clock. I wont' ask you what
time you chose, but I must know if it was morning or afternoon.” No matter what the reply,
continue:

“Do you have a clear picture? That's unusual because London is generally quite

foggy. Let me look at the clock.” Look for the Ace of Spades. It will fall at the exact hour
the spectator chose. If, for example, it sits at six o'clock, it means he has six cards in his
pocket. Make the announcement as though reading his mind. “I believe the hour you
thought of was six o'clock. Is that correct? Please remove the cards from your pocket and
count them onto my palm, one at a time.” At this poin the trick seems to be over, but you
will now make it a miracle. “Now, will you please look at my clock on the table and see
what card falls at six o'clock.” He will name the Ace of Spades. “If you remember, before
we began our experiment, I made a prediction of somehting that was going to happen.
Please look at the prediction and read it aloud.” He will read “THE SELECTED CARD
WILL BE THE ACE OF SPADES.”

(Magic with cards)