Our group used to have an occasional poker night, now abandoned because of Social Distancing.
None of us have kids as carriers but wear masks, wash everything and avoid going out much at all. We solved the problem.

I am from Nevada originally and still have a couple of casino friends. So, I got a box of 40 decks of used cards, all sanitized by the casino's ultraviolet process.
Out heavy chips are easily sanitize and we play around a ping-pong table. We use each deck once and toss it away, so no one ever touches anyone else's cards.
For shuffling and dealing the cards are placed on the table and mixed under a plastic cloth. Each player then picks out their own random cards from the spread.
No one is ever closer than three feet from another. Poker time!

Naturally, I was pondering how to use this weird arrangement for a bit of Mentalism. Several of the players consider themselves very good at "reading others" and "spotting tells."
I chose a variation of a method I call "Grandma's Choice" since I learned it by watching her control chore assignments 65 years ago.

During a break I selected five chips, one for each player: $1, $5, $10, $25, $100 as Orange, Blue, Red, Green and Black in my set.
I placed these on the table and covered with the cloth and mixed them up through the material. Each played reached under and chose a chip, leaving me one.
They each held their chip close to chest and secret from all others.

We then took turns at making "Intuitive Guesses" as to which player held which chip, as, James said, "I feel that Andy has the Blue chip."
Andy would then say yes or no and only reveal his chip if correct. Then another would guess. A good test of their claimed intuition/reading ability.
Of course, with each correct guess the choices became easier, and wrong guesses allowed for some mental calculations of the Clue Game variety.

BUT - I was able to guess correctly every time and sometimes announced what all the other players held. Years of practice being magical, right?
The test was repeated six times with a different results every time. With some coaching by me, each became better at the guesses,
with one round having each player be correct. Impossible? Amazing?

They all felt that somehow I had intensified the skills they already had and accepted that I could do such a thing,
which is true as I could often know who held what and chose to have others reveal it instead. I did not want credit. I wanted pleasant conviviality and respect.

What is the secret? Actually, I have been surprised over the years as to the number of Karotsuki or psychrometry effects are sold, each very limited in presentation.
Also telepathy or clairvoyance effects in which numerous people select objects for a later reveal. Most involve some gimmick or electronics to justify the price,
and use strange objects, bags and boxes. Why make it so complicated?

I can use any found objects, similar yet distinctive: chips, buttons, stones, dominoes, candy -- all "found" at the site. No gaffs or preparation.
I can use a cloth covering as above, a pouch or purse, or a shawl gathered up like a bindle - whatever is impromptu and allows a hands-off selection.
Many different demonstrations are possible based on your secret knowledge and wisdom gleaned on the fly.
You can repeat the demonstration many times as the result is always different.
I have never seen the GrandMa Choice method described in any book, but I have not read that many. Bob Cassidy did not know of it in our discussions.

So, I am willing to teach this to earnest performers, but pondering whether I should. I have no desire to sell it either.
Too many people performing it can mess it up for others, especially if the do it carelessly are attempt to make of themselves some guru or wizard.

How do I find those who will perform this with respect, minimum ego, keep method to themselves (no marketing), only use it when conditions are right, etc.

The Café population has dwindled and this may not be the best forum. Ideas welcome as posts or private to ken@eversway.com

or, there may be no interest at all - OK too.

How about the ones that care enough to comment here get sent a copy

Sounds great to me

Madison

That is a start.

write me ken@eversway.com and tell me of yourself

This kind of effect sounds like something right up my alley! I don’t know your criteria for worthiness, but I’d love to cast my lot!

passes the first test, You responded and did not say any judgmental, mean or irrelevant.

I'll wait for your eMail.

Email sent. Truly look forward to talking with you more. Thank you.

-jhs

Email sent. I think this would dovetail well with some other poker chip effects I have ..

mG

Hi funsway, very interesting reading indeed. Is this related to your other work included in the Shared Folder Project?

Yes - same basic method. The interest there and in the PK Stone piece Coloradar cause me to write up the more elaborate explanations.

I had not focuses on the use of poker chips until the Covid sequesteriing.

There are now many chances for mental based effects "at a distance," and also because folks might pay more attention due to entertainment deprivation.

Great thinking! I love the way you think and, especially, the way you write.

Email sent and note for colleagues that this would work well with Jon Thompson's Poker Faced...

Sounds great! I sent an email.