Unlocking the Mystery of the 'Open Prediction'

For over sixty years, Paul Curry's 'Open Prediction' has stood as a cornerstone challenge in the world of card magic. It's a problem that has captivated the minds of legendary figures from Marlo and Dai Vernon to Martin Gardner, Bill Simon, and Stewart James, each striving to create the ultimate, seemingly impossible solution. Why does this effect continue to ignite such passion and relentless pursuit among magicians? It's the intrinsic impossibility, the snap inside us when conditions are so defined that, even with our insider knowledge, the trick still feels genuinely impossible. This pursuit of perfection often overshadows the fundamental truth: it's a trick, and compromise is inherent.

David Gemmell's Innovative 'Hands-Off' Solutions

In this compelling ebook, David Gemmell invites you on his personal journey through the 'Open Prediction', presenting a curated collection of his own unique solutions. Moving beyond conventional methods that often require intricate handling, Gemmell concentrates on largely 'hands-off' techniques. This innovative approach is key to subtly 'rewriting history' in the minds of your spectators, crafting an illusion so seamless and bewildering that it transcends mere trickery. You'll explore methods steeped in genuine passion for the art, offering fresh perspectives and practical applications on how to elevate the spectator's experience and create truly inexplicable moments.

Beyond the Destination: A Journey of Magical Thought

As Marc Paul eloquently highlights in the introduction, tackling problems like the 'Open Prediction' is less about finding 'the' perfect solution and more about the profound journey of magical thinking it inspires. These types of card problems serve as an initiation into understanding yourself as a performer and a magical thinker, learning to artfully cover compromise, and creating truly impossible conditions within the spectator's perception. This isn't just a collection of tricks; it's a catalyst for introspection, encouraging you to develop solutions that are 'perfect for YOU'. Whether you adopt David's ingenious methods directly or let his ideas inspire your own creative path, this ebook promises to deepen your appreciation for the artistry and psychology of magic.

Original Specs

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This is a collection of solutions to the famous 'open prediction' problem posed by Paul Curry.

From the introduction by Marc Paul:

Ever since Paul Curry first posed his now famous card problem magicians have sweated over the idea of creating the perfect Open Prediction. It seems that the first published solution appeared in Phoenix magazine (December 1949) in a letter from Gerald Kosky to Bruce Elliott. Since then the list of people who have offered ideas and solutions is huge and includes the likes of Marlo， Dai Vernon， Bill Simon， Martin Gardner， Peter Warlock， Francis Haxton， to name but a few， and of course Stewart James and his infamous 51 Faces North.
So why is it that after 60 years this effect is still capturing the imagination of performers?

Well， I personally think it has something to do with intrinsic impossibility. When we hear about or witness first hand an effect in which the conditions are so defined that even with our own inside knowledge the effect is still clearly impossible something snaps inside of us. We go just a little bit crazy and for some of us that’s it， we have to find the PERFECT solution. We have to solve the puzzle. What we forget is that what we are trying to solve is not perfect…it’s a trick. In order for the trick to work there MUST be compromise. After all we are not real magicians! So hundreds of solutions are created some are better then others some adhere to the conditions better than others but they ALL have compromise. It bugs us we want to eliminate the compromise so more solutions are created etc.etc.

I know exactly how this feels I’ve been there， and this is what I have learnt. Sometimes it’s about the journey and not the destination. The Open Prediction and Any Card at Any Number are THE two effects that provide an initiation into a new realm of magical thinking. By working on these card problems we stretch ourselves and learn about who we really are as performers and magical thinkers. We learn about covering up compromise and creating impossible conditions in the minds of our spectators. This is what great performers have always known， but sometimes we just don't listen and we have to find our own path. Forgive me if this sounds a bit mystical but in a way it is. It is not about seeking THE perfect solution it is about finding a solution that is perfect for YOU.

Which brings me to what you are now reading， a collection of Open Prediction effects from David Gemmell. This is a monograph of David’s personal journey and he takes a very interesting path. He concentrates on methods that are largely hands off which means that it becomes easier to re-write history in the minds of the spectators. The methods have a lot of merit and it is obvious that David has a passion to find his own perfect method. BUT you never know in these pages you may well find a solution that is perfect for YOU. If not then let David's ideas inspire you to start your own journey.

So now sit back， relax and let David lead you into his world of Open Predictions..

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