Learn an Amazing Mindreading Trick in Less Than 30 Seconds

Ever wish you had the power to totally impress your friends, your coworkers, even strangers? Learn this deceptively simple but absolutely incredible mindreading stunt, and you'll be the center of attention. Without any skill on your part. Or practice. Or performing ability of any kind. Really? Yes, indeedy.

Graphic courtesy of MagicTricks.com created under Creative Commons License

Imagine that you are having a conversation with a friend. Casually mention that you have been "developing your psychic abilities", and would like to show him something amazing. Most people will be intrigued and curious, which accomplishes half your trick right there! Ask him to concentrate on your words as you give him some simple instructions. In just seconds, you will have him secretly thinking of a number, an animal and a country. Without hesitation, you can correctly name all three!

It's a very simple routine to learn. The trick actually works all by itself. All you need to do is remember a simple formula, which you can learn in less than 30 seconds!

Before revealing how the trick works, I'd like to perform the trick on you first. Yes, I will read your mind right through the computer!

This is what I want you to do:

1) Think of ANY number

2) Multiply that number by 2

3) Then add 8 to that total

4) Then divide that total by 2

5) Then subtract your original number from that total

6) Remember the resulting number- that's your Secret Number

7) Count on the alphabet until you get to the letter that corresponds with your secret number (Number 1 is the letter A, Number 2 is the letter B, etc.)

8) Think of a country in Europe that begins with that letter

9) Go to the next letter of the alphabet

10) Think of a large animal that begins with that letter

And now, let me read your mind...

(There should be a drum roll here!)

(Really.)

(Are you ready?)

You are thinking of the number 4... and an elephant in Denmark!

When a magician performs a trick, what he says is called "patter". Many times, good patter is actually more important than the trick itself. People want to be entertained, not just fooled. It's all in the presentation. Add drama by talking more slowly and deliberately, as if you are really putting mental effort into reading their minds. You will be amazed at how startling this trick can be!

So this is what I say when I perform this trick: "I've been working on developing my mindreading skills, and I'd like to try something out on you. Would you secretly choose a number and remember that number? It can be any number at all, but you might want to make it a one or two digit number, as I'm going to ask you to do some basic math with it. Got your number in your mind? Great. Now multiply that number by 2. Now add 8 to the new number. Got it? Okay, now divide that number in half. Got a new number? Good. Now subtract your original number from that. This is your secret number. Now, I want you to count down to your secret number in the alphabet. If your secret number is 1, then your letter is A. If it's 2, your letter is B and so on. Do you have your letter? Good. Now, think of a country in Europe that begins with that letter. Got it? Now go to the next letter in the alphabet, and think of the name of a large animal that starts with that letter. Concentrate... wait a minute, I don't think there are any gray elephants in Denmark!"

And incredibly, your spectator was thinking of the number 4, Denmark, and elephant!

The beauty of this trick is that it actually works itself. That's right! It's a purely mathematical trick. No matter what number the person initially chooses, the mathematics of doubling the number, adding 8 to it, cutting it in half and subtracting the initial number forces the resulting number to always be "4". Thus, when the person counts on the alphabet to the number 4, it corresponds to the letter "D". There is only one country in Europe that starts with the letter D, and that's Denmark. The next letter is E, and 95% of the time, people will think of an elephant. If the person chooses emu or another animal, you are still naming the correct number and the country, and two out of three is still really impressive!

If you want to learn more easy mindreading tricks, come visit me at MagicTricks.com!

Graphic courtesy of MagicTricks.com - which is me!

Every performer needs an audience, and every spectator needs a performer to watch. Which are you?

Want to amaze your friends? Here are some tried-and-true, foolproof, inexpensive and easy pocket magic tricks that you can do. Great for kids, too! These tricks, and more, are available from my online magic shop, MagicTricks.com.

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