“Rough And Ready” is not a magic trick per se. It is a con game out of the Old West.
The performer tells a story about a con game played in old time mining camps. A large green bandana is laid out on the table. A grid of playing card pips is printed in the middle of the bandana. Using 8 playing cards and a small coin, the performer invites a spectator to try his luck. Everything seems so fair, but the spectator always loses!
In the first phase, which is a trial run, the performer studies the 8 cards and takes one card and places it face down on the bandana. The remaining 7 cards are mixed by the spectator and then placed face downwards in a pile on the table.
Using a small coin as a counter, the spectator places it on a black “L” grid if he is left handed, and on a red “R” grid if he is right handed.
The top card in the face down pile of cards is turned over. It is, say, the 4 of clubs. The spectator moves 4 grids north, south, west or east according to the direction given in the bandana.
The new top card is turned over and the spectator continues moving his counter northwards, southwards, eastwards or westwards according to the value and suit of the card.
After the 7th card, the spectator’s coin lands on a particular grid with a card suit and value, say, the Ace of spades. When the performer turns his face down card over, it is the Ace of spades. Of the dozens of different pips, the spectator ends on the grid with the performer’s card pip.
The spectator now makes his bet. This time, he mixes the 8 cards and removes one card unseen and places it face down on the table. He carries out the same procedure as the trial run. If his coin ends up in any other card, he wins. But his coin ends up in the grid with the exact pip of the card he places face down unseen at the beginning. He loses.
In the third phase, the spectator places the 8 cards inside his trouser pocket. He takes out one card at a time from his pocket and moves his coin accordingly. The last card inside his pocket is found to match exactly the grid stopped at by the spectator.
In the fourth and final phase, the performer changes the rules a little. This time, 2 cards are taken out of the 8 cards and placed face down on the table. The performer shows that there are many grids on the bandana that have 2 card pips instead of 1. As long as the spectator does not end on a grid with the 2 card pips that match exactly the 2 cards he set aside, he wins! This seems to be a guaranteed win for the spectator this time! In the end, the spectator ends on a grid with 2 pips that match exactly the 2 cards he set aside at the beginning.
If you like telling stories and showing unexplained mysteries, you will like “Rough And Ready”. There is nothing to memorise. Just tell the story and follow the instructions – the effect works by itself!
You receive the large green bandana, measuring 20 inches X 20 inches. In the middle of the bandana is printed a 16 X 14 grids = 224 grids. You have to supply your own 8 playing cards and the coin. The instructions come in a 4-page printed sheet. This is a new type of con game. The bandana itself will create much interest when it is shown. “Rough & Ready” is both a mystifying and entertaining effect. (Rated 4.5/5 stars)
