Da Vander Code

 

R ic ic k M e r r i i r s D a V a n d de er

ode

  y G ene Taylor I have personally seen Rick (and his friend Brian VanderKolk) fool many magicians with this technique. I believe it is the framing of the

fall into two categories: 1) A verbal system where the words spoken communicate the information. 2) A non-verbal system where

Double Chin-TWO. Three - A n EY EBRO W is touched. Mnemonic: Tracing one eyebrow from the

trick that gets under their skins. They believe it to be a certain kind of magic trick, when in fact itit is som ething else completely different. The devious disguise of the method within the trappings of another supposed method sends magicians off on the proverbial garden path. Unfortunately, they can never quite get back on track and the secret has stayed safe. At least until now...

the placement of objects in a certain area, say a tabletop. communicate the information. In this case. Brian VanderKolk is the primary author of a system much like option number two, but in this case, the "tabletop" is completely portable since it consists of the body of the communicator. Rick and Brian honed the details of this code over many trips together to a variety of magic conventions. The specifics of who came up with what are lost, but both agree the idea was sparked by mutual conversation and that Brian came up

side of the face, down to the bridge of the nose, and then over the other eyebrow, forms the shape of a THREE lying on its side.

with the first version of the code. S o,  the key aspect

of the trick is that an unsuspecting ally must see the card selected and communicate it to the performer. A secondary aspect is that the boldness of the method is best disguised by an alternative procedure. In the Rick Merrill at FISM 2006 winning the Grand Prix Close up. description, this procedure takes on the look of other "Impossible The magician, with his back turned, has a

Four - A YAWN is covered by the hand. Mnemonic: You're bored at a Golf match: "FORE " Five - The HAND is placed on a table or down at your side. Mnemonic: FIVE fingers on the hand. Six - An imaginary SPECK of lint is picked at and removed from your clothes. Mnem onic: Picture a speck of lint in tthe he shape of a SIX. S even - The NECK is touched. Mnemo nic: The base of the SEV EN is shaped like the back of a neck. Eight - The EAR is touched. Mnemonic: The inner folds of the ear look like an   EIGHT Nine - The FINGERNA ILS are touched. Mnemonic: The rock band NINE Inch Nails. Ten - The top of the HEAD or HAIR is touched. Mnemonic: Perhaps picture the hair of Bo Derek in the movie   Ten Jack - The EYE is rubbed. M nemonic: One-eyed JACK. Queen - The RING or RING FINGER is touched. In the case where it is the major suit, the thumb of the appropriate hand touches the open ring finger or ring if present. If a minor suit, your thumb is poked partially through the

spectator take their own deck, shuffle it, and select a card through a seemingly logical, but complicated procedure. He has them cut the deck into three piles. They are instructed to pick up one of the piles and cut it any number of times. When they are satisfied, they look at and remember the top card. They return the card anywhere into the packet, shuffle this packet and place it between the other two packets. They can give the deck a riffle shuffle. The magician turns around , takes the deck, spreads through it and removes the selection. This trick is framed as an inscrutable type of impossible location, possibly based on some

Location" procedures based on the glimpsing or placement of a known key card.

second and third fingers in the "I've got your nose" gesture.

The code itself communicates card values and is as follows: 1.  The color of the card is communicated with a Right hand for RED or the Left hand for BLACK. If a RED card, then the -R' in Right serves as the memory aid. 2.  The suit is communicated as Major or Minor with an Open or Closed hand. Therefore, an open Right hand means HEARTS, whereas a closed Right hand means D IA M O N D S . A n op open en Lef Leftt hand m eans S PADES , and a close closedd Left hand means CLUBS.

King - The TEETH are touched. The lips will also work. Mnemonic: Crowns are worn by KINGS and could also be on your teeth. If for some reason the value of the card is not communicated, a pass of one hand through the hair cleans the slate. If the sender did not see the card, a pass of their hand through their hair means the performer is on his own. If the receiver did not see the code, a pass of their hand through their hair means the sender should re-transmit the value of the card.

This routine is presented with the per

sort of advanced key card work. In reality, it is nothing of the kind. It is a subtle non-verbal two-person code. That is, one person who knows the card cues another who does not. While two-person cuing systems have existed for some time, it seems that they mostly

3 .  The value of the cards is communicated by what the closed or open hand (left or right) touches. Ace - The NOSE is touched. Mnemonic: O N E N os e. Two - The CHIN is touched. Mnemonic: A

mission of Gene Taylor and Antinomy Magic. Readers who appreciate first rate material are urged to subscribe to   nt mony  at www.antimomymagic.com. Rick Merrill can be reached at www.rickmerrill.com.

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November 20 2006 06