NUMBER FORCES 115--134
115. Using two dice, the number 28 is easily forced. Have them rolled by anyone and
ask that the top numbers be added together. Then have the bottom numbers added to this total.
Dice are rolled again and action repeated. It will always end up at 28. Dice on opposite sides
total 7. Doing the above only once will total 14.
116. Any number may be forced by making up a packet of blank business cards bearing written numbers. Make up in pairs, each pair adding to the same total required. With writing sides down, top card of each pair is cut short. Packet may be handled freely to show every number different. When riffled from bottom to top and finger inserted anywhere (always above a short card) two cards under finger when added together will give the correct and desired total.
117. A clever force of a four figure total is by asking spectator to write the year of birth, then the year of some important event in his life, such as birth, marriage, death, next his age at present time and finally the number of years since the event occurred. They are added up and the total will always be twice the present year.
118. Rather well known but practical is the 1089 force. Any three figures are to be written. These are then reversed and the smaller subtracted from the larger. Again this remainder is reversed and added to itself, the total always being 1089. Used in book tests, spectator turns to page indicated by last two figures and counts to word indicated by first two.
119. To vary the above and force the number 18, have three figures written, reversed, and the smaller subtracted from the larger. Then add the figures of the remainder together. Always 18. Will force a page number or the 18th card of a deck.
120. To force a number from 2 to 12 use two small dice in a common match box with sliding drawer. Two duplicate dice are glued down at one end with correct faces upward. Loose dice are dropped in and shaken up. Shaken so loose dice are at empty end and then open box at other end and show total on them.
121. Any number from 1 to 28 or 31 as desired can be forced with a calendar page. Party is asked to place hand behind back and to put index finger somewhere onto page. With finger on same, it is brought into view. Simply a case of performer putting the page onto the finger at the correct place, as spectator is acting blindly. Simple and barefaced but really practical.
122. To force the number 10, use nine cards numbered from 1 to 9. Have in numerical order from back to face. Show them to be just what they are. Apparently mix by dealing into a face down row, one, two, three and four. Hand fifth card to spectator and continue dealing the remaining four on top of the first four but reversed-four, three, two, one. Spectator is asked to point to any pile with his card. He gets the pile and it can't help but total 10.
123. A kink of my own added to the above will force the number 15. Follow the above, but in showing, see that the 5 goes to bottom or face of packet. Now deal four cards from left to right and return on top of these. Say, "Which pile shall I put this odd card on and give to you?" No matter which is picked, the added card makes a three card pile that will add to 15.
124. There is a dice box on the market which has a slanting inside edge. This turns the dice over one side at a time every time the box is given a quick up and down shake. Very clever and cannot be detected. It is possible therefore to put one or two dice in this box and after giving them a few shakes, open and you have the number described. Four shakes will turn them over and bring the same number up again, two shakes will turn under side up, Six will do the same thing, etc. unlimited possibilities with a little practice.
125. When on a platform with slate or blackboard, quickly write a square of figures, ask someone to stand and indicate a horizontal or vertical row, erase the others, add the figures left and force your number. Simply a case of writing a nine, sixteen, or twenty-five magic square to give the same number in any direction. Have the figures written on black board or slate in pencil. No memory.
126. Have a small box with lid and one small die. Let anyone shake it and call the number. Take box and have them roll die to prove not loaded. During this you add to box a small flap. Take die and drop in with correct side up without showing. Place lid on and let anyone shake, remove lid and call the number. Flap is just thick enough to prevent the die from turning over as it does otherwise.
127. Use deck of numbered cards. Same as Flinch cards. Numbered from I to 50. At upper left and lower right comers are small index numbers to agree with large number in center. One end contains the correct number but other ends throughout deck are all the force number. Deck can be shuffled with faces towards audience, duplicate indexes coming behind heel of thumb. Fan them freely with fake indexes at bottom. With deck squared, anyone lifts deck a little at any spot and peeks at a card which is forced by the fake index.
128. A sure fire force for numbers 14 or 15 is by arranging a deck by values:
7 - 8 - 6 - 5 - 10 - 4-J-3-Q-2-K-A-K-2-Q-3-J-4-10-S-9-6-8-7-7-8 etc. leaving two Aces out.
The 50 cards thus arranged may be cut freely.
Two cards taken together from any spot will total 14 or 15. Use for book test by being set for both pages. Watch spectator when he looks at or counts on page selected. 14 will always be at his left and 15 at his right when book is open before him.
129. I think this an original kink to the last principle. If you take the cards by pairs, each totals the same. If you advance one card and again pair them up, they all total the other number. Set up deck first. Take top card of all pairs totaling 14 and make it a short card from center of end to right comer. Now go through deck again and make top card of all pairs totaling 15, short cards from center to left comer. Deck may be shown mixed by fanning and freely cut. Riffling end of pack, finger is inserted anywhere and two cards below taken. Force either 14 lay riffling on right side of end, or 15 by riffling on left side of end.
130. To force a number from 40 to 75 use a plain business card and pencil. Pass from one to another, and each gives a figure which the performer openly writes down as given. One under the other. After securing eight or nine of them, card and pencil are given out for someone to add and call out total, which is forced. Suppose number is to be 56. As each figure is put down, you keep adding so that you always know the total. After the third is down, leave a space and then continue. Keep getting figures until 9 or less will reach the number. Then merely add this figure in the blank space and hand the card to the last man for adding. Simple but very subtle and good.
131. The number 55 is also enchanted for forcing. Discard picture cards from the pack. Now rotate the spot cards in sets of ten, each set of ten containing all ten values, and each set being arranged in the same order as the others. Such a deck may be cut as often as desired. From any cut ten cards taken together and added will total 55.
132. Under one heading I'll mention loaded, capped, and painted dice to secure any particular number. There are a dozen dice houses in the country that supply dice of any combination and with various methods of preparation. From one to five dice can be used and if a performer needs something absolutely sure and of this nature, it is easily secured although the prices are far from being cheap.
133. I saw a cute force one time where a small decorated but unprepared box was banded around and the spectator allowed to see and examine the contents which were about two hundred half inch tags each bearing a single number. Nothing at all was wrong with them and after being mixed, the performer reached in and drew a number which he handed a spectator to call out and the book was opened at that page. All he had was a thumb tip with the correct number in it under ball of thumb and he merely reached in, produced the tag and left the tip behind. He used the first word on the page but I don't see why a second tag couldn't be carried the same way and brought out for the number to count down to.
134. Use an end opening notebook secured from the ten cent store and fill it so that it can be opened with either side up and be ready for use. Mark the cover in some way so you won't get the sides mixed. On one first sheet write an addition problem of three or four lines using different styles of writing for each line. Remember the total of this problem or have on a slate to appear. Now pass notebook around open from other side for lines of figures and, between the fourth person and the fifth who adds, the book is closed once more but also turned over so that the fake problem is the one really added.