Deceptive Decisions by Jeff

Created by: Jeff

Deceptive Decisions is a close-up mentalism trick where spectators choose colored chips and move them across cards representing life themes (love, money, etc.), culminating in a predicted final selection. The trick uses the Martin Gardner parity principle for a fair prediction, making the outcome seem impossibly fair. It's a blend of prediction and mentalism, with props that are functional but could be upgraded for a more polished look.

Where to buy

Monster Magic	Deceptive Decisions by Jheff	£25.99	🇬🇧 Shop
Alakazam Magic	Deceptive Decisions by Jheff	£26.15	🇬🇧 Shop
Magicbox	Deceptive Decisions by Jheff	£26.64	🇬🇧 Shop

Key features

Uses the Martin Gardner parity principle for a fair prediction
Blends prediction and mentalism for a strong effect
Includes magician’s choice, taught clearly by Jeff
Props are functional but could be upgraded for a more polished look
Allows for customization with different tokens or predictions

Pros

Strong mathematical method makes the prediction feel impossibly fair
Includes clear teaching on magician’s choice
Allows for customization with different tokens or predictions

Cons

Props could be upgraded for a more polished look
The magician’s choice aspect might put some people off

Effect

The trick Deceptive Decisions presents as a mentalism routine where the magician predicts a spectator's final choice after a series of seemingly free decisions. The spectator interacts with colored chips and cards representing life themes (love, money, health, etc.), moving the chips freely before landing on one card. The magician reveals a written prediction that matches the spectator's final selection, creating the illusion of foresight or influence over their choices.

Full Details

Deceptive Decisions uses the Martin Gardner parity principle, a mathematical concept that ensures the prediction remains accurate regardless of the spectator's decisions. The routine includes two phases:

Initial Prediction: The spectator selects a colored chip (red, yellow, or blue), and the magician reveals a correct prediction of their choice.

Final Prediction: The spectator moves the chip across the cards, changing direction freely, before stopping on one. The magician then reveals a second prediction that matches the final card.

The props consist of five theme cards, three colored chips, and an envelope containing the predictions. The method is self-working, relying on the mathematical principle rather than sleight of hand.

Who Should Consider the Trick

This trick suits:

Mentalism performers who want a structured, interactive routine.
Close-up magicians looking for a compact, prop-based effect.
Beginners due to its self-working nature.
Those who enjoy psychological presentations, as it can be framed as influencing decisions or pure prediction.

Difficulty

Deceptive Decisions is easy to perform. No advanced sleight of hand is required. The method hinges on proper handling of the props and clear presentation. The included instructions teach the routine thoroughly, including a brief section on magician’s choice (equivocation), though this is optional.

What Magicians Say

Alex Kirk of Monster Magic highlights the trick’s strengths:

"The mathematical method makes the prediction feel impossibly fair."
"The two-phase structure builds strong audience engagement."

He notes the props are functional but suggests upgrading the chips and cards for a more polished look. The routine’s fairness and interactive nature make it a reliable choice for performers.

Deceptive Decisions offers a blend of simplicity and impact, making it a versatile addition to a mentalism or close-up set.

What people are saying about Deceptive Decisions

Alex Kirk says...

Strong mathematical method (Gardner’s principle) makes the prediction feel impossibly fair. [...] Props (cards, chips) are functional but could be upgraded for a more polished look.