C.H.I.P.S. by Jasper Blakeley and Alan Wong, Presented by Peter Turner

C.H.I.P.S. is a mind-reading trick that doesn't need batteries, which is great because nobody likes carrying spare AAs around just for a magic trick.

Usually, you'd rely on some gadgetry for a 'hands-off' act, but this one gets by with a purely mechanical setup. It's straightforward, and a bit baffling honestly, as it just works without any electronics.

The brains behind this are Jasper Blakeley, with Alan Wong turning the idea into something you can actually hold. These poker chips aren't just for decor, they're for showing off how well you read people.

The Effect:

You sit down with a group, claim you can spot liars, and lay out five differently coloured poker chips. Then you turn your back, and they secretly pick a chip. When you face them again, you ask everyone to say they don't have the blue chip, and somehow, you always catch the fibber. I don't know why people don't figure it out, but they don't, so there it is.

Jasper's been working on this for over a decade, but it was Peter Turner who helped tie it all together. The video instructions and live performances, along with Jasper and Peter's new ideas, mean you'll probably come up with some routines nobody's thought of yet.

Whether it's at a casual get-together or on stage, C.H.I.P.S. handles these 'which hand' routines nicely. Works with up to five people, so you're covered.

There's a bonus from Peter Turner on guessing which pocket hides which of three chips, plus a session full of ideas you can borrow or tweak.

The props are custom-made, colourful, and pretty durable. But, let's be honest, it's the routine that makes it shine. C.H.I.P.S. is a breeze to reset and usually leaves folks scratching their heads.

C.H.I.P.S., no batteries, just a bit of know-how and a velvet bag.