Dominoes is a very popular game in Scotland. In this great Scottish trick, you are able to predict how your friend lays out dominoes on a table! The Effect
The Magician writes a prediction on a piece of paper, then folds it up so nobody can see it and places it in full view on the table.
The Magician then asks a spectator to open a box of dominoes and lay them out in a line by matching the numbers, as in normal play.
After the spectator has laid the dominoes in a line, the Magician asks the spectator to note the numbers at each end of the line.
The Magician then asks the spectator to open the piece of paper and read out his prediction.
To the amazement of everyone, the numbers on the piece of paper and the numbers on the dominoes at each end of the line match exactly!
The Magician then makes another prediction and offers to repeat the trick.
Yet again, the numbers on the Magician's prediction and at numbers on the end dominoes are exactly the same!
The Secret
The secret to this baffling trick is simple. The standard set of dominoes consists of twenty-eight dominoes. When these are matched number to number and laid out in a line, then the numbers at either end will always match e.g. two twos, two fours, two ones etc.
However, if you remove one domino from the set, which has different numbers on it (not a double), then the numbers at either end of the line will be the same as the numbers on the domino you have removed.
So, what you must do before you begin the trick is to secretly remove one domino from the set and remember it's two numbers.
You then write these two numbers on a piece of paper, fold the paper up, and call it your prediction.
If you then have the spectator lay out the dominoes in a line, so that the numbers are matching, then the numbers at either end of the line will match your prediction.
To repeat the trick, all you have to do is replace the domino you have removed and secretly steal another domino. You then use the numbers on that domino for your new prediction.
Replacing and stealing the dominoes can be done easily under cover of mixing the dominoes on the table before your repeat the trick.
Final Notes And Advice Remember, the domino you remove from the set must have different numbers for the trick to work e.g. 2:1, 3:2, 5:3 etc.
If you remove a double (1:1, 2:2, 3:3, 4:4 etc.), then the trick will not work.
Michael Breck is a professional Magician and runs an Entertainment Agency in Scotland called The Magic Agency. He has been entertaining at weddings and booking entertainment for weddings for over twenty years. For more ideas about wedding entertainment go to Scottish Wedding Bands in Scotland or Magical Entertainer For Weddings In Scotland.
