Matt Johnson’s study on the open prediction plot comes with four versions of the same routine, with different methods. Some involve an easy-to-make gimmick and others can be done with a borrowed and shuffled deck. The download costs $25 and is almost 38 minutes long.
The entirety of the video is shot with Johnson sitting on a couch in what is likely his den with a single camera on a tripod. Just because this is a clearly self-shot and self-produced video with little to no post-production investment, should not deter you because the magic taught is really strong and worth learning.
Basically, the performer takes a card and places it face-up on the table. The spectator then apparently picks any card and places it face down on the table and when it is revealed, it is the mate of the open prediction. It is not as direct as that, but that is what your spectator may recall happened.
The ad copy described the trick as follows:
“The performer borrows a deck of cards and has the spectator thoroughly shuffle the deck. The performer then makes a prediction by placing a single playing card face up on the table so it’s face can be seen right from the start of the effect, let’s say it’s the five of clubs.
The deck is then handed face down to the spectator who is instructed to start dealing cards from the top of the deck onto the table by turning each card face up.
At any time the spectator can stop on any card and without turning it over deals it face down on the table next to the face up prediction made moments ago.
The spectator may now keep dealing cards face up if they desire to prove there are no duplicates.
When the face down card dealt by the spectator is flipped over it is seen to be the five of spades and matches the predicted five of clubs perfectly!
The deck is now handed back. It’s normal. Nothing was added or taken away and the trick can be repeated instantly!
Read all of that again because every word is a true description of “The Open Prediction” by Matt Johnson!
CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING TRUE STATEMENTS ABOUT THIS EFFECT!
THE DECK IS NORMAL AND BORROWED!
THE SPECTATOR SHUFFLES THE DECK AND THE MAGICIAN DOES NOT ALTER THE ORDER!
A SINGLE PREDICTION CARD IS REMOVED FROM THE DECK AND PLACED FACE UP ON THE TABLE WHERE IT STAYS THROUGHOUT THE PERFORMANCE!
THE SPECTATOR DEALS THROUGH THE CARDS AND STOPS ON ANY CARD THEY WISH. THEY PLACE THIS CARD (SIGHT UNSEEN) NEXT TO THE FACE UP PREDICTION!
THE SPECTATOR CAN KEEP DEALING THROUGH THE CARDS AFTER THEIR FREE SELECTION PROVING THERE ARE NO DUPLICATES IN THE DECK!
THE FREELY CHOSEN CARD IS FLIPPED FACE UP AND MATCHES THE PREDICTION PERFECTLY!
NOTHING ADDED OR TAKEN AWAY FROM THE DECK!
EASY TO DO!
INSTANTLY RESETS!
3 VERSIONS TAUGHT IN THIS DOWNLOAD. 2 VERSIONS WITH A BORROWED AND SHUFFLED DECK AND 1 VERSION WITH A GIMMICKED DECK GIVING YOU MULTIPLE OPTIONS FOR THE FINALE TAUGHT IN DETAIL FOR ALL PERFORMING SITUATIONS!
WORKS IN THE REAL WORLD EXACTLY AS YOU SEE IT NOT JUST IN THE DEMO!”
Because not every version taught uses a borrowed and shuffled deck, some of the claims above are not accurate such as “nothing added or taken away from the deck.” There is a version with a gimmick that cannot be inspected and that in a sense is added and taken away during clean up.
The first version demonstrated and taught by Johnson on his couch (there are no live performances at all and I wish there were) can be done with a borrowed and shuffled deck and uses sleight of hand. This version has some serious angles and is not so easy to perform out of the gate. It will require a fair amount of practice and even still it can be tough to execute, in my opinion. Even during the instructional portion of the video, Johnson flashes something that gives the trick away and does not execute perfectly. The moves here are very cool, but I think this is not such a practical method for accomplishing this effect – although I love the thinking and will practice this over and over again. This method can repeated as any card can be selected.
The second version taught uses a gimmick that you will need to create at your local Staples or copy center for just a dollar or two. Unlike the first version, there is a force card and you can only repeat this routine if you have a different gimmicked card. The routine requires a few steps and some sleight of hand, but not as much as the first method.
The third and fourth versions taught use a borrowed and shuffled deck and will require a bit of practice. One version uses the deck to make the magic happen and the other does not need the deck to pull off the miracle. Although I think that a critical eye may question a move that is needed, perhaps I am just being too much of a non-layman.
Johnson credits Paul Curry for the open prediction concept at the very end, which is appropriate to give homage to a great creator.
Overall, I am very happy with this download and appreciate Johnson’s study and varied approach on the open prediction. Anyone interested in this classic plot should absolutely check out this download.
This awesome piece of magic can be found at any Murphy’s Magic online dealer.