Ice-berg by Daniel Johnson from MindFX cover art

Ice-berg by Daniel Johnson from MindFX

Ice-berg by Daniel Johnson from MindFX

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 Okay, so I’m here to talk about Daniel Johnson’s Ice-berg from MindFX. Honestly, this thing was a huge hit when I first saw it at Blackpool! As a mentalist, I’m always trying to make effects simpler, you know? The magic world has tons of card tricks, but most just don’t feel like pure mind-reading. That’s why I love this so much: it takes that amazing “any card at any number” plot and makes it work without ever needing a full deck of cards. That’s taking a complicated card trick and making it super sleek and sophisticated!The Effect and ImpossibilityHere’s the deal: I show a single, folded card that’s been isolated right from the beginning. You can put it anywhere, in their hand, clipped to your shirt, maybe even in a shot glass, just like Daniel does it. It’s in plain sight, and that isolation is the first layer of impossibility.Then, the spectator just thinks of everything: the card value (Ace through King), the suit (Hearts, Clubs, whatever), and the position/location it would be in an imaginary deck. They get total freedom in their head, making three huge choices! I use a “very clever little method” and open the isolated card. Boom! It not only names their thought-of card but also shows the exact location number, matching their mental selection every single time.I noted that the presentation even has this brilliant joke where the card initially looks like that funny, classic “52 cards on one” gag. That’s fantastic! It gets a quick laugh, makes them drop their guard, and then I hit them with the true, specific prediction. It’s a killer piece of mind-reading that just hits incredibly hard.Difficulty and MethodLet’s be honest, Ice-berg is not hard to do at all, especially compared to the sleight-heavy card versions of this plot. The video instruction is awesome, it’s like an hour and a half of pure gold. They teach you the whole routine, covering the handling, presentation, and even a small sleight-of-hand move. I really appreciated that they start with the trickiest version first, so you get the hard part done and dusted.Now, the secret sauce: you need an index, a four-card index to be exact. This little piece of gear is what makes the switch so clean and hands-off. They don’t show you how to build one, but they do show Daniel’s setup. I recommend grabbing a good index system, maybe one from Read My Mind called LPI, so you can keep it discreet and always ready in your pocket. Daniel also shows his own hand made version so you can use that idea quickly. The index is the engine that lets me focus purely on the audience, knowing I can access the right outcome instantly.What’s Included: A True Value PropositionI was seriously impressed with the quality and the fact that they give you a ton of extra stuff in the package. I think all creators should do this! It shows MindFX knows that us working magicians need durability and options.The package includes:Lots of cards: You get plenty of the gimmick cards, and they’re tough, not flimsy.Backups Galore: You get backups in two different colors (blue and burgundy). This is genius! I can perform the blue deck version for one group and the red deck version for another, which means I can basically reset instantly for a different table.Multiple Formats: You get versions for the pocket index (the pro version), a two-card version that I carry in my Himber wallet (super visual switch), and a single card version for my regular wallet. The only bummer is that you only get one of the single-card ones. I wish they’d thrown in a few more, since they’re perfect for quick, casual moments!Versatility and PresentationThis effect is super versatile and I can do it over and over again. Since people are freely thinking of different numbers and suits, the outcome is never the same twice, making it impossible for anyone to figure out. The video instruction is packed with great tips on how to handle all sorts of situations:Switches: They teach a really clean switch so you can end up totally clean.Wallets: They cover using a Himber wallet or even Tyvek envelopes. That means the prediction can be sealed inside an envelope, which looks incredibly fair and isolated.Alternatives: You learn ways to use equivoque (wordplay) or other tiered selection processes with the cards themselves. This is great for making it feel like a completely new trick, or you can use the double-sided cards to compress the effect into a quicker routine.Marked Cards: Oh, and the cards are cleverly marked on the back for me. This is just for the performer’s comfort, so I can instantly know the suit and focus totally on connecting with the spectator.ConclusionLook, I totally recommend Ice-berg. I mean, guys like Lloyd Barnes were blown away by it, and I agree! I call it a “beautiful effect that’s simple, classy, but BAM, it hits people so hard.” The video is detailed, and the props give you tons of options, wallets, switching, a direct approach, whatever you ...
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