McCOMB-ical Deck
Type: close up, parlor, stage
Skill Level: 
Retail Price: $24 Jumbo, $15 poker-size
Effect: The magician explains that he is about to make a prediction. He holds a fan of assorted cards, and selects one. This is shown to the audience but not the spectator. The spectator sits on the card. Another packet with different color back is shown to the audience with the comment that the spectator is going to have a completely free choice of the cards as they are passed from hand to hand. (All the cards are the same.) As the cards are passed from hand to hand the spectator says stop. The "stopped-at" card is placed face down in the spectators hand. The spectator is asked to call out the name of the card at which he stopped. Opps. It turns out to be completely different than what the audience saw ... and what the magician predicted. But when the card selected by the magician on which the spectator sits is revealed it matches the spectator's selection.
Performance Time: about 3 minutes
Reset Time: 30 seconds
Angles: 
Quality: The jumbo size we looked at is produced by Royal. The poker size is produced by Hampton Ridge. Both are good quality. The Hampton Ridge poker-size cards are Bicycle brand cards. The single sheet instructions are adequate with both products.
Mike Maione: This is a classic comedy card effect by Billy McComb. It is real simple to perform and plays well. I think it's a natural for an MC who needs something funny and just the right length of time to give the stage crew time to set the next act back stage. The jumbos make more sense than the poker-size cards, because I think the trick plays better as a stage or parlor effect where the larger size cards help. I also like the instructions that come with the jumbo set a little better. They include notes on the origin of the trick by Billy McComb and some great tips on how to get the best audience response. The jumbos don't use a full set of cards just two small packets of cards. The poker-size version uses two full looking decks, one blue and one red. In both versions, the rough and smooth principle is used to deceive the audience and to force the selection. I like the trick and recommend it, but prefer the jumbo version.
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