Steve Pellegrino - Sympathetic Split

The Sympathetic Split is a fun yet powerful effect to present. Visually it captures the audience's attention throughout, and an explanation seems impossible in the audience's mind.

You show the audience a deck of cards that is literally cut in half. Next, you and the spectator count off the top ten cards, the Ace through Ten of Spades. Then, you ask the spectator to mix their ten cards while you do the same with your cards. You and the spectator choose one card from the ten Spade cards and place it in the deck. Next, you and the spectator pick a random card from the deck and mix that card in with the Spade cards.

The mixed-up packets of Spade cards are placed back on each half of the deck. Then, one at a time, you turn over each half at a time, and the two halves match, including the randomly selected card you both chose from the deck - all ten cards match.

The plot, commonly referred to as The Sympathetic Clubs has been around for over a century. This new version with a deck of cards cut in half serves two purposes; it adds visual interest by creating a novelty card effect. It also makes the routine practical by eliminating a second deck.

You will not require specially printed cards as in other versions. The method is simple. If you can pick up a small packet of cards from the table, you have the necessary skill to present this effect.

1st edition 2022, PDF 14 pages.
word count: 2766 which is equivalent to 11 standard pages of text