DIEMENTO
By Richard Robinson

The magician introduces a small, draw string bag. Opening the bag he tilts it towards the table and a dozen dice tumble out.

He asks a spectator to select three of the dice. Once the selection is made the remaining dice are returned to the bag.

The magician turns so that his back is toward the table. The spectator is instructed to take up the three dice, shake them, then toss them out on the table.

"Add up the spots on the top of the dice," instructs the magician. "Now take my hand and guide it over the dice," he continues extending his arm toward the table. The spectator does this and the magician picks up one of the dice. Turning the die in the spectator's direction, the magician says, "Add the spots you see to your total and then take the die."

Once the spectator is holding the die, the magician gives his final instruction. "Toss the die on the table and add whatever the spots are on the top of the die to make your final total number."

This done the magician turns toward the table again. He ponders the dice for a moment, then tells the spectator his number.

Props & Setup

A half dozen or more dice. These do not have to match in size or color, in fact it might be best if they are seen as an odd lot.

A container such as draw string bag, although this only adds atmosphere and has nothing to do with the working.

Performance

Display the dice. Have the spectator select three.

Turn your back or, if you're feeling like Mr. Mental, have yourself blindfolded.

Tell the spectator to roll the dice, then add together the top spots of the three dice.

Extend your arm toward the table and have the spectator guide your hand over one of the dice. Pick up this die so that it is almost completely hidden by the fingers, then turn it toward the spectator so that the side opposite what was the top is showing (aka the bottom.) Tell the spectator to add this number of spots to his total.

Hand the die to the spectator and have him roll it again. Tell him to add the top spots to his total.

Now turn around, look at the dice and add up the top spots of the three dice. Add seven to your total. You're done and your number matches his.

Performance Notes

This is a self-working effect which I first encountered in a magic book for children ('The Real Book about Magic,' Joseph Leeming, 1951) although the principle had apparently appeared in earlier works. I've since tarted it up a bit to enhance the presentation and further obscure the working to the point where knowledgeable magicians are taken by surprise when the revelation is made.

Bizarre magicians might use just three dice plus a small glass ball or cat's eye marble. These objects are taken (reverently) from the draw string bag while the performer explains how the odd object is able to track the movement of the dice.

The revelation of the number can be done as a prediction (with a nail writer or pocketed pencil) or matching prediction if the spectator previously writes his total, folds it and places it under the dice.