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Brainwash by Anthony Owen

Created by: Anthony Owen

Brainwash is an impossible card prediction effect that can be performed with a borrowed deck, making it a versatile trick for close-up magic. The magician marks the back of a card in a borrowed deck, mixes it up so the card is lost, and then shows a predicted card in their wallet. The participant names any card, and when the deck is spread, the marked card is revealed to be the exact card they named. The magician then retrieves the predicted card from the wallet, showing it matches the named and marked card, before returning the deck to its original state. This trick requires minimal preparation and a card-to-wallet style wallet for full effect.

Key features

  • Can be performed with a borrowed deck

  • Minimal preparation required

  • Versatile for close-up settings

  • Includes a card-to-wallet reveal for added impact

Pros

  • Highly versatile and adaptable

  • Strong, impossible effect for spectators

  • Minimal setup and preparation

  • Can be performed impromptu with the right wallet

Cons

  • Requires a specific type of wallet for the full effect

  • Some light arts and crafts needed for preparation

Effect

The trick Brainwash by Anthony Owen is an impossible card prediction effect. A magician borrows a deck of cards, marks one card secretly, and mixes the deck so the marked card is lost. The magician then shows a predicted card inside their wallet. A participant names any card freely, and when the deck is spread, the marked card matches their selection. To heighten the impossibility, the magician reveals that the card in their wallet is the exact same one the participant named. The borrowed deck remains completely ordinary, with no switches or gimmicks.

Full Details

  • Preparation: Requires a wallet capable of holding a card (card-to-wallet style) and a method to mark a card discreetly.
  • Performance: Works with any borrowed deck, making it highly practical for impromptu settings.
  • Method: Relies on a clever principle that allows the magician to control the outcome without forcing a card.
  • Reset: Minimal reset needed, making it repeatable under the right conditions.

Who Should Consider the Trick

  • Close-up magicians who want a strong, impromptu card prediction.
  • Mentalists looking for a card-based effect that feels like genuine mind reading.
  • Performers who enjoy borrowed-deck magic with no suspicion of prearrangement.

Difficulty

  • Skill Level: Intermediate. While the method is not overly complex, it requires smooth handling and natural misdirection.
  • Practice Needed: Proper execution of the marking process and wallet handling must be rehearsed to appear effortless.
  • Presentation: The trick benefits from strong scripting to enhance the impossibility of the effect.

What Magicians Say

EruditeMagic describes Brainwash as "completely impossible" and highlights its versatility with a borrowed deck. They note that while some light preparation is needed, the effect is highly deceptive and leaves no room for suspicion. The trick’s ability to work with any named card makes it particularly strong for impromptu performances.

The reviewer also mentions that the routine can be expanded with additional layers of impossibility, making it adaptable to different performance styles. Overall, Brainwash is praised as a hidden gem from Anthony Owen’s Secrets, offering a powerful and practical card prediction.

What people are saying about Brainwash

EruditeMagic says...

The trick is called brainwash and it's a very clever predicted card type effect with a borrowed deck [...] it's a very clever predicted card type effect with a borrowed deck so with a little bit of preparation you can go over to a friend's house you can ask to borrow a deck you'll Mark the back of one of the cards and then mix up that deck so that card is lost you'll show them your wallet that inside your wallet you have a predicted card you'll then get your participants to name any card and it really can be any card they want and then you'll spread through the deck and show them the card that you marked previously which is the exact one that they named.

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