Forced Focus by Richard Pinner

Effect

Forced Focus by Richard Pinner is a gaff deck designed to create powerful mind-reading and card force effects. To the audience, it appears as if the magician can effortlessly make a spectator mentally select a card from a freely shuffled deck. The chosen card then vanishes from the deck, often reappearing in a surprising location like an envelope or the magician’s pocket. The effect is clean, direct, and highly visual, making it ideal for both virtual and in-person performances.

Full details

The deck allows for forcing up to eight different cards in a virtual setting or a single card in live performances. It includes multiple routines such as:

• Forethought: Forces four different cards (one per suit) with minimal questions.
• Split Focus: Spectators select red and black cards, with the magician revealing them convincingly.
• Mirage: A standout routine where a spectator cuts the deck, places a card on the table, and later finds their mentally selected card has vanished from the deck—only to reappear as the previously cut card.

The method is reliable and eliminates the uncertainty of traditional forces. While the deck is not examinable, reviewers note that this is rarely an issue in real-world performances.

Who should consider the trick

Forced Focus is ideal for magicians who want:

• Strong, low-sleight effects with minimal handling.
• Versatile routines for both virtual and in-person settings.
• A deck-based solution for clean predictions and vanishes.

It’s particularly useful for performers who dislike fishing for information or relying on complex sleight-of-hand techniques.

Information on how difficult it is to perform

The trick is designed to be easy to execute, with minimal sleight-of-hand required. However, reviewers emphasize the importance of understanding the deck’s setup. Steve Faulkner notes that while the method is straightforward, watching the instructional video multiple times is key to mastering the initial arrangement. Once learned, the routines flow naturally, making it accessible even for less experienced magicians.

What magicians say

• Steve Faulkner (RealMagicReview): Calls it a "really strong, stable routine" and praises its reliability, especially for virtual performances. He highlights the Mirage routine as particularly impactful, though he notes that setup comprehension is crucial.
• Other feedback: Magicians appreciate the deck’s adaptability, with some using it for distanced performances where minimal contact is preferred. A minor critique is the non-Bicycle card stock, but this can be resolved by transferring the gaffed cards to a standard deck.

Overall, Forced Focus is praised for its strong method, versatility, and ability to create baffling mentalism-style effects with minimal effort.