Three Key Monte by Chazpro

The Seven Keys theme was created by Joseph Kolar in 1927, see here for more details.

One lock and three keys are shown. Two of the keys are demonstrated to not open the lock. The third key opens the lock, the lock is closed or fastened onto a $5 bill. All three keys are set on the table, then swiftly mixed around as in a three-shell game. The spectator is given a chance to pick the key that will open the lock. She chooses one and it does not work.

The performer demonstrates the key that does work. Then the three keys are mixed again. The spectator gets a second chance and fails again. Each time, the spectator will fail to find the correct key but the performer can always demonstrate that one of the two non-selected keys works. For a finale, the spectator is given two chances and still she fails to open the lock. After several trials, the performer can open the lock and give the spectator the bill for being a good sport.

As an alternative ending to the routine, the performer demonstrates which key opens the lock and then adheres a round sticker to the bow of that key. The keys are mixed and the spectator will choose the key with the sticker. It does not open the lock. While the spectator is trying that key, the performer secretly attaches a duplicate sticker to the other two keys on the underside. After the spectator fails to open the lock with her labeled key, the performer picks up one of the other keys and shows that it has a sticker on the underside and it will open the lock. The spectator will be convinced that you sneakily stuck stickers on all three keys before you moved them around.

This routine needs a lock that can be either opened or not opened under the control of the performer. Most gimmicked gravity locks will work well. All three keys will open the lock if the performer holds it in the correct position, but none of the keys will open it if the performer reverses his hold on the lock.

Effect: You show the padlock and how only one key opens the padlock.  Lock the padlock and hand all three keys to the spectator.  They choose any two and leave the final one to you.  Yours is the only one that opens the lock.

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