MagicbyAlfred wrote:It seems there are two choices here: (1) An effect which, under the stated conditions, "seems impossible" (by the OP's own admission) is, in fact, impossible; or (2) although the effect seems impossible, it actually is possible because it's alleged creator and his (as yet unknown) supporters, all of whom are reputed magicians or mentalists, say that it is.
Absolutely Alfred, and I don't blame the OP if he wants to believe the impossibility of meeting James' conditions and pulling this off. That's part of the fun of magic. If Tom performed this for a spectator on video chat, I suspect he might have relied on some mathematical force where a number is forced and the card dealt to that number is the face down prediction. Possibly culled from the no hands, self working school of card effects, which by the way, James was quite fond of.