If you love doing simple psychic magic tricks that are so simple that it is impossible to break them, you have come to the right place. This is a classic trick that has been around for as long as I can remember. (And I’ve been here for a while!) Works great on adults, kids, anyone who can add and subtract simple numbers. You can even set this up for a David Blaine-style “reveal” at the end.
Here is the basic trick. I will ask you to do the same things that you will ask the people you are cheating on, so you can see how it works. First, think of a number between one and ten. After that, take the number and multiply it by nine. If the number has two digits, add them. Now subtract five. I understand?
Now take the number and match it with the corresponding letter of the alphabet, with A = 1, B = 2, etc. I understand? Excellent. Now choose a European country that starts with that letter. I understand? Okay, now move one letter forward in the alphabet. I understand? Now think of a circus animal that begins with that letter. OKAY? What color is that animal? Okay, now, you are most likely thinking of a gray elephant from Denmark, right?
This works because whatever number you start with, it will always end with four. Try this with all the numbers from one to ten and you will see. As long as you specify a country in Europe, most people will choose Denmark. And as long as I go up one more letter (E), most people will choose elephant and, obviously, gray.
There are several ways to reveal this cheat. The best way is to write “Gray Elephant from Denmark” on a piece of paper, fold it up and give it to the person you are cheating on. Then ask them to tell you their answer and ask them to take the folded paper out of their pocket and read it aloud.
This is a great party trick to do when you pick one person to do the trick and have everyone else see it. Unless the person knows this trick and is deliberately trying to mislead you, they will almost always end up with a gray Danish elephant. This works especially well with children, and ask them as a group to think about the country, the animal, etc., before they unfold the magic sheet of paper. Have fun with this.
