“Imagine” is Paul Richards’ take on Cameron Francis’ “Chop The Monte”.

Here is the effect.  The performer asks a spectator if she is good in her imagination.  She answers in the affirmative.  The performer shows her 4 cards: 3 are Jokers with blue backs and a Queen of hearts with a red back.  He asks her to keep track of the Queen of Hearts.

The performer takes the red back card and places it in his pocket.  He tells the spectator that this is all in her imagination.  He did not put the Queen into his pocket.  When he counts the cards, the red back Queen is back in the packet.

The performer takes the red back card and places it in his pocket one more time.  When he counts the cards, the red back card is back together with the 3 other blue back cards.

Once again, he places the red back card in his pocket.  He shows that he now has 3 blue back cards.  He makes a gesture from his pocket to the packet of cards.  Magically, a red back card appears among the 3 blue back cards.

He asks the spectator to indicate where the Queen is.  The spectator points to the red back card.  The performer turns the red back face up to show a blank.  He turns all 3 blue back cards face up as well to show that they are all blanks.  There are no Jokers and no Queens.  The spectator has imagined all this herself!

You are supplied with all the necessary cards and a link to a 17-minute video tutorial.  Paul Richards gives you 2 bonus endings.  One is where I you end up with the 4 Aces, instead of the 4 blank cards.  And the second bonus is when the 4 cards are turned over to reveal the 4 letters G, O, N, and E.

There is one main sleight and it is the Elmsley Count.  Paul Richards goes into some details in teaching you how to properly do the Elmsley Count.

This is a multi-phase effect and is suitable even for a stand-up performance.  It has a great theme, takes up very little space in your pocket, and plays really big.  (Rated 5/5 stars)