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4 5987596035994683740
CONNECTION
Thomas Riboulet
DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................ - 4 -
THE « BREATHER CRIMPED CARD » ................................. - 4 -
SUMMARY................................................................................ - 6 -
DARK CONNECTION.............................................................. - 11 -
HISTORY ................................................................................. - 11 -
THE ROUTINE ........................................................................ - 13 -
THE SECRET........................................................................... - 14 -
EXPLANATION ...................................................................... - 14 -
RESET ...................................................................................... - 17 -
BRAINSTORMING ................................................................. - 18 -
DARK CONNECTION 2.0........................................................ - 22 -
FIRST VARIATION ................................................................ - 22 -
SECOND VARIATION ........................................................... - 23 -
BRAINSTORMING ................................................................. - 31 -
LAST WORDS ........................................................................... - 33 -
CREDITS .................................................................................... - 34 -
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
INTRODUCTION
THE « BREATHER CRIMPED CARD »
The « BREATHER REVERSE CRIMPED CARD » is for me the best
key card. I advise you to make one for each of your decks.
To create a "REVERSE
BREATHER CRIMPED CARD",
nothing simpler, we will create a kind
of bubble, in the center of the card.
To do this, hold the card face down
FIG 1
between your thumb and
index/middle finger in the center. Thumb on the back, index finger and
middle finger on the face (fig 1). Your thumb applies pressure on the
center of the card, between your two fingers and moves towards the four
corners. You make a cross on this card (fig 2 and fig 3).
FIG 2 FIG 3
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
This bubble allows to create a ripple in the middle of the card and, thus,
visually locate it when it is in the middle of the deck.
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
SUMMARY
THUMB ON THE
FACE CUT ON THE
BREATHER BACK OF THE
CRIMPED CARD INDEX+MIDDLE
KEY CARD
FINGER ON THE
BACK
CUT ON THE
THUMB ON THE BACK OF THE
REVERSE
BREATHER BACK CARD THAT
CRIMPED CARD FOLLOWS YOUR
INDEX+MIDDLE ON
THE FACE KEY CARD
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
placing the double lift on top of the deck you will have like a bridge.
Then complete the routine and conclude. Then take the chosen card and
tell the spectators that it is unfortunately slightly folded and that you have
to make it « flat ». Then make a « REVERSE BREATHER CRIMPED
CARD ». It is important to understand that magic happens in your
spectator’s head. Moreover, we are in a weak time where attentions are
relaxed. This movement on the card will be insignificant to him. Relax
and act as if this movement is normal.
What are the problems associated with this type of key card?
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
To ensure that the key card works properly, grasp it, face down, in the
middle of its large edge between your thumb, index finger and middle
finger, the latter slightly separated. Then exert a light pressure with your
thumb. If the map has been properly prepared, you will feel and hear a
slight « click » as the map is bent. If this does not occur, replace the card
face-up on your carpet and repeat the procedure until the card test is
positive. Then test your key card in a normal game by making cuts. Once
you are used to making this type of key card, you can adjust the pattern
in « X » by adjusting the number of diagonal moves and varying the
pressure applied.
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
The deck of cards is given to the spectator to shuffle. When it’s done,
take back the deck and cut it just on the key card to pass it under the
deck. The cutting is done naturally. Just relax your fingers and lift up the
deck without thinking. If the key card is not too close to the top or bottom
of the deck, the cut will always be good.
Then a card is chosen by the spectator. Your game is in your right hand
and you then perform a one finger cut with your right index finger. Cut
about half the deck. Your left hand is picking up the cutted part of the
deck. The spectator places his card on the left hand and you cover it with
your right hand. The key card is now above the selected card.
Now place the game on the table, with the long edge facing you. Then
cut the game with your right hand at the key card level and then do an
American Shuffle by controlling the card on the top. When doing this,
the card chosen is the first one of the package left on the table. When
shuffling, check it in the first position of the deck. You are free to
imagine a revelation.
As you will have understood, the key card « BREATHER CRIMP » has
an unimaginable potential. Imagine being able to control a card, to locate
it, to force it, to guess the thoughts of your viewer. And all this thanks to
this key card, yet so easy to build.
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
DARK CONNECTION
HISTORY
Dark Connection is an effect based on an old principle that was totally
unknown to me at first but which I « discovered it » myself by playing
with my cards. So, I did some research to find out the background of this
wonderful principle.
The principles with key maps are very abundant but I will dwell on the
one of « card localization » described first by Harry LORAYNE, in his
book « CLOSE UP CARD MAGIC », of 1962 chapter « THIS IS
MINDREADING? ».
Following the writings describing the principles behind the key cards,
many other magicians have taken up this idea to propose their
presentation. Here are a few of them:
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
The idea of my routine was to move the key card away from the selected
card in order to give the illusion that it was impossible to locate the
chosen card.
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
THE ROUTINE
The magician shows a normal deck of cards, turns his back on the
audience, puts a blindfold on his eyes and asks the spectator to pick up a
small pack of cards from the deck. The spectator shuffles the cards and
when he wants, looks at the top card. Then the spectator takes a larger
deck of cards from the deck and covers his selection. The magician asks
him to cut the deck as many times as he wants in order to shuffle the
deck and lose his card among the others. The rest of the deck, still on the
table, is placed on the cards.
The magician turns around and, always with the blindfold in front of his
eyes, explains to the spectator that he will take the deck, and show him
the cards one by one. During this sequence the spectator is invited to
only look at the cards scroll and say STOP in his head as his card passes
in front of his eyes. Without ever having seen the spectator's card,
without saying a word and always with the blindfold in front of his eyes,
the magician clearly shows all the cards of the game. Magically or by
telepathy, the magician finds the chosen card at the very moment when
the spectator thought STOP.
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
THE SECRET
The secret results in the key card principle. This one will be the Joker
card. It is important to understand this principle. This key card will allow
you to cut at a specific location to control a certain number of cards. The
secret is therefore to be able to locate the card without never having seen
it when the deck has been cut off by the spectator time and again.
Impossible, you might say. Let's move on to the revelations!
EXPLANATION
To prepare the effect, simply take 23 normal cards from the deck and
place the joker and the rest of the deck. With a face down deck on the
table, starting from the top, we have: 23 normal cards, the joker (key
card) and the rest of the deck. It is important that the joker is always in
24th position (fig 6)
FIG 6
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
Then ask the spectator to pick up a small pack of cards, such as about
ten or fifteen cards. It is very important that the spectator doesn’t take
the joker in this package. Then ask them to shuffle the pack and stop
whenever they want. He'll look at the first card in this pack.
Second important point, ask him now to take a bigger deck of cards, from
those left on the table, and put it on top of the deck he already has, a little
more than half. a little more than half. Why? Because now the spectator
must take a pack containing the joker. From this point, the trick becomes
automatic. You ask your spectator to cut the deck and complete the cut
as many times as he wish. To resume the situation, the spectator has a
deck of cards in his hands and there are still a few cards left on the table.
▪ You locate the key card in the middle of the deck. This is the
perfect situation (fig. 7).
▪ You locate the key card on top or bottom of the deck. Here it is
necessary to ask the spectator to cut the deck one last time to put
the key card back in the middle (fig. 8)
FIG 8
FIG 7
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
Now take the spectator's cards and cut the deck to the key card. The deck
ending with the joker is placed first on the table, followed by the rest of
the cup and finally the rest of the cards on the table (fig. 9-10-11-12).
Believe it or not, the spectator's card will always be the 30th card in the
deck from the top (deck face down on the table). From that moment on,
all you have to do is count the cards up to 30. You will always find the
spectator's card without ever seeing it. Ask the spectator to think
« STOP » as he sees his card passing. In the construction of my routine,
I refer to the existence of invisible links. The experience is very
surprising for the spectator. Mark down times when passing cards. This
will reinforce the idea of a connection between you and the spectator.
FIG 9 FIG 10
FIG 11 FIG 12
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
RESET
This principle allows a very good effect on the spectators. Moreover, it
allows the magician to be ready without any additional manipulation to
achieve the effect again. When you reveal the spectator's card (the 30th
in the deck), the remaining cards make up a deck of 23 cards ending with
the key card. All that remains is to add the card selected by the spectator
and place this pack containing 24 cards in the first position of the game.
https://goo.gl/j68g6G
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
BRAINSTORMING
To reinforce the effect of the routine, I usually use a blindfold. This one
allows to have a vision by looking down (fig 13). This is necessary to
locate the key card and to be sure to cut on it. However, with a bit of
practice, you will be able to feel the key card without looking at it and
thus, achieve this routine in total darkness.
FIG 13
Another option of this trick is the choice of card. Let me explain: you
ask the spectator to pick up a small pack of cards (maybe 10-15 cards).
So, you can, in a small package, force a card, which you need. For
example, if you want your spectator to end up with a heart, just place the
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
13 cards from the heart family on top of the deck. This opens up many
possibilities for presentations.
Imagine placing the hearts as said above. So, you're forcing a card from
the hearts family. You can prepare a prediction with first the « hearts
shape » and then the number 30. Thus, the routine will present itself as a
joke. You make your viewer believe that you have marked the name of
the chosen card on the prediction. You reveal the family and then when
you reveal the value of the card, you reveal the number 30. The spectator
will not understand and you ask him to count 30 cards in the game and
he will automatically find his card.
*
* *
The principle can be used without the Joker but taking a normal card.
Your deck will have only 52 cards left. Let's say you choose the 3 of
diamonds as your key card. To find the card chosen in 30th position, the
cards must be placed from above to below: 22 cards of any kind, the key
card in 23rd position and 29 cards of any kind.
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
The advantages of using any key card such as the 3 of diamonds are
many:
If you take a card from below and bring it back to the top, the selected
card will be in 29th position. We can summarize this in the table below,
considering a deck set facing down on the table:
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
23 29 23 30 0
24 28 24 29 1
25 27 25 28 2
26 26 26 27 3
27 25 27 26 4
28 24 28 25 5
29 23 29 24 6
30 22 30 23 7
31 21 31 22 8
32 20 32 21 9
33 19 33 20 10
NOTA : The green highlighted line corresponds to the original layout of the cards.
The same table can be made for a 52-card deck + the joker.
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
SECOND VARIATION
THE EFFECT:
The magician shows a deck of cards, turns his back on the audience and
asks the spectator to take a small pack of cards from the top of the deck.
The spectator shuffles the cards and when he wants to look at the top
card. Then, the spectator takes a bigger pack of cards from the deck and
covers his card. The magician asks him to cut the deck as many times as
he wants in order to mix the deck and lose his card among the others.
The rest of the deck, still on the table is placed on the cards. The magician
turns around and explains that the spectator has just created an invisible
link with his card and that only he can find it. He explains then that the
deck is composed of 4 families (Spade, Heart, Clubs and Diamond) of
13 cards each and that of course the spectator's card is part of one of
these families.
The spectator is then invited to deal the deck in 13 piles. The magician
then turns his back and asks the spectator to swap the places of the
different packs in order to mix the cards again. The magician turns
around and explains that he will find the chosen card by using the
invisible link that has been created. He then takes the spectator's pulse
and passes over the packs. The magician eliminates the piles one by one,
until there is only one more. The 4 cards of the deck are placed on the
table and the magician asks the spectator to shuffle the cards again. The
magician repeats the experience with the spectator's pulse until there is
only one card left. This last one is returned, it corresponds perfectly to
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
the choice. Finally, the magician turns over and spreads out the other
cards to show a blank deck except for the cards of the same family as the
one chosen by the spectator, arranged in order (fig. 14).
FIG 14
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
EXPLANATION
For this variant of DARK CONNECTION, you will need 13 cards from
the same family (for example the family of diamonds, from ace to king),
which will be marked so that their names can be read on their backs. You
will need 39 blank cards. One of the blank cards will be a « REVERSE
BREATHER CRIMPED CARD ». The 13 cards of the same family are
marked (these cards do not necessarily need to be in order), the key card,
the remaining 38 blank cards (fig 15).
FIG 15
The operating mode is exactly the same as for the basic routine of DARK
CONNECTION. Place the deck on the table and ask the spectator if they
want to perform an experiment. Explain to him/her that there are
countless invisible links and that you wish to demonstrate their
existence. Ask the spectator to pick up a small pack, about ten cards. It
is very important that the spectator does not take more than 13 cards at
the risk of having blank cards in his hand. Insist on the number of cards:
« Take a small pack of cards, not many, less than ten for example ». That
way you're sure he'll have the diamonds cards in his hands. Then ask
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
them to shuffle the deck and stop whenever he want. He will then look
at the first card of this pack. Now ask him to take a bigger pack of cards.
Since in this variant, the key card is the 14th card of the game, he will
necessarily take it in his big deck of cards. From this point, the trick
becomes automatic. You ask your spectator to cut the deck and complete
the cut, as many times as he wish.
Now turn around, take the spectator's cards and cut the deck to the key
card. The deck ending with the key card is placed first on the table,
followed by the rest of the cut and finally the rest of the cards (fig. 16-
17-18-19).
FIG 16 FIG 17
FIG 18 FIG 19
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
FIG 20
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13
CARTES BLANCHES
CARTES CHOISIE
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CARTES MARQUÉES
DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
The spectator deals one more card per pile. They will always be blank
cards. Each pile now consists of 2 cards.
11 22 33 44 55 66 77
88 99 10
10 11
11 12
12 13
13
The spectator deals one more card per pile. These will always be blank
CARTES BLANCHES
cards for the first 12 piles, and the 13th card will be the card chosen by
CARTES CHOISIE PAR LE SPECTATEUR
the spectator. Then take the information on the identity of the card with
CARTES MARQUÉES
the marking. In our example we will take the 8 of diamond (green card
on the figure).
11 22 33 44 55 66 77
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
88 99 10
1010 11
1111 12
1212 13
1313
8 9
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
Now all you have to do is turn around and find the package containing
the selected card (that doesn’t start with a marked card). Grab the
spectator's wrist while pretending to look for his pulse and pass over the
various piles. Remove the piles one by one, taking them in order (from
the ACE to the KING), and leaving only the packet of the spectator card
(no. 13). This way you have just assembled your sorted package in order,
except for the selected card that is missing from the set.
FIG 21
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
Take the last piles, spread the remaining 4 cards on the table and ask the
spectator to mix the 4 cards while your back is turned (fig 22). Now
locate the selected card by marking and repeat the experience with the
spectator's pulse. Then remove the cards one by one until only the
selected card is left. Ask the spectator to state the name of his or her card
for the first time, then return the last one still on the carpet. That's the 8
of diamond.
FIG 22
To conclude this routine, turn the deck around and let the spectator
discover that the deck was in fact entirely white except for the family of
his selection. The family is sorted in order, and the only missing card of
the series is that of the spectator.
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
BRAINSTORMING
During the last phase, when there are only 4 cards left on the carpet, I
make the trick in a slightly different way, which reinforces the effect
even more.
• The spectator chooses his/her card and gives you the blank card:
Place the card he/she has just given you back on the rest of the
deck and ask the spectator to place the card face up against
him/her. Then ask them to say out loud the name of their
selection and find out what card they are holding in their hands.
• The spectator chooses the blank card and gives you the chosen
card: then ask the spectator to rest the card he has just taken on
the rest of the game. Ask him/her to state the name of his/her
selection out loud and show him/her the last remaining card.
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
The final phase of this effect was inspired by John BANNON's card
routine « TRIOMPH ». The end of this routine allows an exceptional
visual and above all increases the impression of a miracle in the viewer's
mind.
https://goo.gl/6cvX2y https://goo.gl/jD4az5
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
LAST WORDS
I hope you enjoyed my work on this card localization trick. Now imagine
how many possibilities there are for you. I have shared with you two of
my routines that I particularly appreciate. Obviously, this list is not
exhaustive as evidenced by the research.
Dark Connection does not require a lot of technical and handling work.
It is therefore important to work on your presentation. Thanks to Jean-
Jacques MEYER for his advice and researches.
Thomas RIBOULET
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
CREDITS
Alan, J. (2012). Seventeen Secrets. The Sid Lorraine Hat & Rabbit
Club, "Breather Crimp" page 49.
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DARK CONNECTION 2.0 – THOMAS RIBOULET
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