Duplicity by Tommaso Guglielmi
"Great effect, very clever thinking. I really like the double aspect to the effect. Well done!" – Marc Paul
Duplicity – a double holy grail ACAAN – is an exceptional variation of ACAAN that introduces a structured sequence where every action is first performed by the magician and then mirrored by the spectator. This sequencing creates a clear and logical flow, reinforcing the illusion of a true mental connection.
The strength of the effect lies in its methodical and structured process, making the final revelation feel inevitable and astonishing. The use of an app is justified as a means of tracking / remembering multiple pieces of information (four in total). It's also justified in the context of avoiding confusion during the revelation (knowing which card corresponds to which number).
The immediate repeatability, hands-off handling, and lack of gimmicks make it a highly practical and versatile routine, suitable for both formal and impromptu performances. The perfect balance between psychological presentation and mechanical precision ensures maximum impact and a deeply engaging experience for the spectator
Here is a complete effect description (with nothing left out):
The magician introduces an experiment that blends imagination and reality. After displaying an ordinary deck of cards and asking the spectator to cut it a few times, the deck is set aside and never touched again by the magician.
The magician begins by thinking of a card and a number (1-52). He then secretly records his choices in an app. The spectator is then asked to do the same – mentally selecting a card and a position, then secretly recording their choices in the app as well.
Next, the magician imagines taking his thought-of card from the deck, holding it, and swapping it with the spectator's thought-of card. He then envisions placing the spectator's card at his thought-of position in the deck. The spectator then follows the same mental process, where they imagine taking the magician's card and placing it at their thought-of position in the deck.
Now comes the revelation: first, the magician verbally announces his thought-of card and number out loud. Then, he asks the spectator to confirm this by asking them to click "show" next to the section of the app where the magician previously recorded his choices – indeed, when the spectator clicks "show," the same card and number that the magician verbally announced are displayed. The spectator then does the same – first verbally revealing their thought-of card and number, then clicking "show" next to the section of the app where they previously recorded their choices.
After having done that, the spectator picks up the deck that was set aside at the beginning and not touched by the magician since. Then, they themselves count through the deck to discover their card at the magician's number and the magician's card at their number. A double miracle!
Conditions:
- The deck used is completely regular; there are no duplicates, gaffs or gimmicks.
- The deck is placed on the table before the effect begins, and it can be cut multiple times by the spectator.
- The magician never touches the deck again after introducing it. The entire effect is 100% hands-off.
- The spectator's choice of card and number is completely free. There are no restrictions whatsoever.
- The effect can be immediately repeated.
- The effect works 100% of the time.
- And here is perhaps the most important and startling condition (which is also evident in the description above): The magician records his card and number first, followed by the spectator recording theirs. Likewise, at the revelation, the magician verbally announces his card and number first, followed by the spectator verbally announcing theirs. If the spectator had recorded / announced their choices first, then they may think that the magician simply recorded / announced the appropriate card and number to bring the trick to a successful conclusion. This is precisely what's eliminated as a possible method from the spectator's mind when the magician records / announces his choices first.
