Ultimate Free Choice by Alexander Herman

Effect

The Ultimate Free Choice is a card trick where the magician claims to have a prediction in their pocket. A spectator freely eliminates cards from a shuffled deck until only one remains. The magician then reveals that the single remaining card matches the prediction, which turns out to be not just one card but multiple duplicates of the same card in their pocket. The surprise comes from the unexpected reveal that every card in the magician’s pocket was the same as the spectator’s final selection.

Full Details

The trick begins with the magician introducing a prediction (or multiple predictions) hidden in their pocket. The spectator shuffles the deck, and through a series of eliminations—guided by the spectator’s free choices—the deck is whittled down to one card. The magician then dramatically reveals that the prediction matches the remaining card.

A key feature is the use of Magician’s Choice, where the performer subtly steers the spectator’s decisions to ensure the correct outcome. The method avoids complex sleight of hand, relying instead on psychological forces and structured choices. Some versions include an impromptu handling, though reviewers note that certain advertised "impromptu" methods still require a marked deck.

Who Should Consider the Trick

This trick is ideal for:

• Intermediate magicians who enjoy psychological forces and audience management.
• Performers who like prediction effects with a strong, surprising climax.
• Those who prefer minimal sleight of hand, as the method relies more on scripting and presentation than technical skill.

Difficulty

The Ultimate Free Choice is rated as easy to moderate in difficulty. The method itself is straightforward, but success depends on:

• Confidence in guiding spectator choices (Magician’s Choice).
• Timing and misdirection to conceal the method.
• Handling alternate scenarios when the ideal elimination path doesn’t occur.

Reviewers note that while the basic method is simple, mastering the subtleties—such as making eliminations feel fair—requires practice.

What Magicians Say

• UnbiasedMagicReviews compares it unfavorably to Dani DaOrtiz’s The Last Choice, criticizing its restrictive feel when eliminations don’t go perfectly: "It stinks because it feels like a restrictive magician’s choice." However, they acknowledge that when the ideal path is followed, "it looks like a miracle."
• monstermagicshop praises its deceptive simplicity: "A real fooler... the method wasn’t quite what I expected." They highlight the strong scripting and the fun, jazzy presentation.
• SeanDevine offers an impromptu alternative, noting that while the original is clever, "you don’t need what it comes with for this effect." He prefers a streamlined version using just a deck and one extra card.

Overall, Ultimate Free Choice is a polarizing trick—some love its bold reveal, while others find its method restrictive compared to similar effects. If you enjoy prediction-based magic with a strong psychological angle, it may be worth exploring.