Effect
Two sets of ESP cards are introduced, one of which is handed to your spectator. You begin by placing one of your cards sight unseen onto the table, and the spectator follows this by placing one of their cards next to yours. This is repeated with the four remaining cards; each time the mentalist’s card is placed down first. Despite the odds the mentalist appears to have predicted the exact order that the spectator would deal their cards.
Method
Use of marked cards. You put a card down, then the spectator puts one down. Your next cards always matches what the spectator puts down. If you can't match it (because it was already placed down), stop, pick up the cards on the table, secretely move the bottom to the top them present them. The spectators will match.
For sake of explanation imagine the cards are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Possibility 1: First card Spectator puts down is the same as yours (You and spectator put down a 1).
Stop and turn the cards over revealing they are the same. Start over telling them to try a different card this time. You put down the 1 again and they put down a different card. This takes you into the other possible scenarios.
"So lets just see if we are in tune"
Possibility 2: Spectator puts down your initial card as the second card they put down.
See Derren Brown video as one possible method.
Possibility 3: Spectator puts down your initial card as the third card they put down.
Possibility 4: Spectator puts down your initial card as the fourth card they put down.
For your last card simply turn it over and see if it matches the spectators last card (which it will). Then with the packed on the table switch the bottom card to the top or present it as if it came from the top.
Possibility 5: Spectator puts down your initial card as the last card they put down.
Simply switch the bottom card to the top or present it as if it came from the top.
Derren Brown Script
So this is a classic test of psychic abilities, which I thought I'd do with you. You may have seen this before. I don't think any of this is psychic, I think what makes this work is much more interesting than the idea of psychic ability. But look, these are five symbols, alright you've got a circle, square, wavy lines, star and a cross. So, that's one set, I have another set here and I'm going to try and send one of the thoughts to you, don't look at them for the moment.
I will take out one, ok, that one. (places card on table). Now I placed that face down. That's my choice. Here's what you mustn't do, don't try and think, oh, he thinks that I think he wants me to think of this. It's not. It's about, what your looking for is that feeling like, if you got it wrong then your like "oh! I was going to say that" It's that feeling, but try and catch it now rather than later. So it's like a gut sense of "well I knew it was that." Try and get it now and then take it out, don't let me see it and put it face down.
(Kelly acts dramatic then puts card down)
(Derren puts another down) Ok, look, I'm taking out that one. Don't overthink it. Look at me. Try and get it up here first then just take it out rather than looking through the cards to take it out.
(Kelly puts down second card)
(Derren turns his two cards over) You changed your mind with that last one, it really threw me
(Turns over Kelly's top card to match it, then turns over her second card to match it)
You didn't! I really thought you changed your mind on the last one...
Impromptu
This could probably be done impromptu with business cards by simply nicking the corners in a way similar to the mindfx card markings.
Derren Brown Performance
Derren Brown Performance 2
ESPionage - by Charlie Frye
Paul Draper starts his interview with this routine, going very well
See:
Rhine's Revenge (video)
Jazz Mentalism (written)
