Virtual P.A.T.E.O.
by Werner Miller

Werner Miller is a retired teacher of mathematics, whose hobbies are recreational mathematics and magic. A magical inventor and writer, Werner has produced a prolific volume of work, mostly what he calls “semi-automatic” card tricks based on mathematical principles. He is the author of "Fast von selbst", "Alles Miller oder was", "Ratatouille", more than 300 trick contributions to various magazines and web sites and more than 30 related computer programs. In addition, Werner is also a staff member of the German magazine "Magische Welt", a columnist for the British magazine "The Magician", and regular contributor here at Visions. Werner's first English-language book, Ear-Marked, is available here.

This is a computerized version of Roy Baker's P.A.T.E.O.-Force ("pick up two, eliminate one").

Download the software archive PATEO.ZIP (370 KB), expand it into an empty folder, navigate to the file START.EXE, and run it.

On screen you see a row of seven small playing cards (AH through 7H). Decide on any of these cards, say the 5H. Remove this card from a real deck and - without showing its face - lean it face down against the bottom of the screen as your prediction.

Now force the virtual 5H to a spectator as follows:

Click on any two cards of the row (but NOT on the 5H!). Both cards move upwards out of the row. Ask a spectator to select one of them by clicking onto it; this card disappears, the other one moves back into the row.

Now the roles are reversed. The spectator clicks on any two cards, and you select one of them (but NOT the 5H!). Continue alternately until only one card - the 5H - is left, and turn your prediction card over.

If you want to repeat the effect, click into the blue area at the bottom of the screen to bring another row of cards into view: 6H through KH. Because this time the number of cards is even, you must not start yourself; it's the spectator's turn to choose the first pair.

At any time you can close the program by clicking into the black area on the very top of the screen.

Download PATEO.ZIP (right-click and select "Save Target As").

Werner Miller