Effect: You guess the bottom card without even looking at it (or so your audience thinks.)
Presentation:
1. Look at the bottom card of the deck.
2. Shuffle the cards but not the bottom one. Leave the bottom card on the bottom. You can tell everyone
that you aren't a very good shuffler.
3. Place the deck face down on the table.
4. Name four numbers in the deck (making sure that the card on the bottom is amongst them.) Have a
spectator choose two of the numbers.
5. Let's say your card is a Four and you named a Three, Five, Four, and Nine. They picked the Five and
Nine. Say, OK pick out of the Three and Four. If they say three say okay then the bottom card is a Three.
6. Now tell them to pick two of the four suits. If your card is a Four of Spades and they pick Hearts and
Diamonds, tell them to pick one out of Spades and Clubs. If they say Spades say OK the card should be a
Three of Spades.
7. Now turn over the deck and your audience will be amazed.
8. Remember the object of the trick is to get the person to pick the card on the bottom of the deck, so make
sure you lead them to the right numbers and suits.
This is a very simple trick, and works best on kids, but it can be made to look pretty impressive.
EFFECT: Audience member picks a card, which the magician does not see. The audience member inserts
the card back into the deck. Next the magician drops the card onto a table top, and the card jumps out of
the deck, face up!
HOW IT'S DONE:
-Shuffle the deck so that everyone can see you are not preparing the deck in any way. (Don't
comment on this, just do it.)
- Fan out the cards in your hand, and have someone pick a card.
- While they look at the card, you do two quick, easy maneuvers:
1) Quickly move the top card to the bottom, while flipping it face up. You're left with a deck with the
bottom card upside down.
2) Turn the whole deck over. You're left with an upside down deck, but because the (now) top card is
reversed, it looks like a regular deck.
- Now hold the deck out (make sure you don't fan the cards at all - you don't want to reveal
that you're really holding onto an upside down deck.) Have them insert their card.
- Turn around (yeah, this part is kinda cheesy, but it works fine, especially on kids.) Turn the
top card back over so it faces the same as the rest of the deck. Scan through the deck to find
the upside down card that the audience member just inserted.
- Here's the BIG FINALE, that really makes this trick worth it: put the card on top of the
deck, and hold onto the deck from above. You are about to drop it, flatly, onto a table top.
BUT slide the top card back off the deck by a quarter-inch (this will be covered by your
hand). Then, drop the deck from about two feet up. The deck will hit the table, and the top
card (the selected card) will flip over. This is a real crowd-pleaser.
- An alternative ending is NOT to turn around, but just to move the deck back to right-sideup,
while moving the inverted top/bottom card back to its former position. Now, you put the
deck down, do some Hocus Pocus and tell them you just made their card flip over, inside the
deck. Fan the deck out, and their card is the only one reversed (it's actually better if you put
the deck upside down and fan it out, so the chosen card is the only one that's right side up)
However, a smart audience member will quickly figure you out this way, just because you
mentioned "reversed" - it kinda gives them a clue...
Ending Variation
Instead of the last three steps tell the person to imagine their card flipping over backwards, then go through
the deck and show them the card. (But be careful not to show the bottom card!)
Effect: A spectator picks a card out of a shuffled deck. You put it with three random cards, place the cards
at the bottom of the deck, and shuffle. You take three cards from the bottom of the deck and ask the
spectator if any of those are his. None are. These are laid on the table, one of the cards is flipped over, and
the selection appears on the table.
How It's Done:
Ask a person to shuffle the cards and then choose one card. Have them give you the deck. Take three cards
from the bottom. Tell the spectator to put their card on top of those three, then to place the four cards at the
bottom of the deck.
Shuffle the deck, but be sure to keep the four bottom cards in the same spot. (Editor's note: There are false
shuffles explained on the Terminology Page.) Shuffle the cards a couple of times. Now take the first
bottom card and place it face down on the table. Take the new bottom card and put it at the top of the deck.
Place the other two bottom cards face down on the table. The last card you put down is the spectator's
card. Be sure you have that card at the top of the tabled pile. Set the rest of the deck aside.
Pick up the tabled cards. Square them up, and hold them so the spectator can see the face of just the
bottom card. Ask if this is their card. They will say no. Lower the cards so they are in dealing position and
quickly deal the top card (actually their card) onto the table. If you do this naturally, without comment,
they will think you dealt the card you just showed them.
Show them the top card from those in your hand, and ask if it is theirs. Again they will say no. Lay this
card on the table. Finally, show them the last card in your hand and ask if it's the selection. When they say
no, put this card onto the other two. Ask them what their card was. When they tell you, use the other two
cards (like a spatula) to flip their card face up on the table. You have made their card appear!
Effect: The spectator cuts the deck into four piles. From each pile three random cards are dealt onto each
of the other piles. The top card of each pile is turned over to reveal all four Aces.
Preparation: Put all four aces onto the top of the deck.
Procedure:
1) Tell the spectator to cut the deck into two piles. Once he has done that, have them divide the two piles
into four.
2) We will call the piles numbers one to four; four being the top pile with the Aces. (Don't tell the
spectator these numbers. They are just for us to keep track of things.)
3) Have the spectator pick up pile one, put the top three cards onto the bottom, and deal the (now) top
three cards onto the other piles (two, three, and four. One card to each pile.)
4)The spectator continues, in order, to do the same with the other piles. (You just point to each pile, when
you want them to use it.)
5)There IS no 5, you're done! Just turn over the top cards to reveal the Aces!
Afterthought: This would be a good trick to precede the Acrobatic Aces.
This is a GREAT trick. And it's REALLY EASY. It is "detectable," but you get away with it most of the
time. If people have had a drink or two, this is an incredible trick -- they'll think you're David Copperfield
or something...
EFFECT: The audience is given two random cards. They look at them, but the magician doesn't see them.
The audience inserts the cards into the deck, and without shuffling, the magician throws the deck into a
chair, but somehow manages to pick up the two cards, holding them up in front of the gaping audience
members.
HOW IT'S DONE: This is a trick of the mind.
- You prepare the deck this way: pick two cards of different suits, but the same color, such
as the Eight of Spades, and the Three of Clubs. These are the cards you are going to give to
the audience. Next, pick the "opposites" of the cards: the Eight of Clubs, and the Three of
Spades. These are the cards you will fool your audience with. Put the opposite cards at the
top and bottom of the deck - Eight of Clubs on top, Three of Spades on bottom. And the
"real" cards both go on top.
- Without too much explanation, deal the two top cards out, face down, and let the audience
look at them. Next, let them insert the cards back into the deck.
- Make sure they can see that you're not doing ANYTHING to the deck. Hold the deck
between your thumb on top, and your fingers on the bottom. Swing the deck back and forth
a few times (make SURE they can't see the bottom card, though!) Perhaps you count 1, 2, 3,
and then throw the deck into a chair (or couch, or something, where it'll be easy to pick up.)
As you throw the deck, hold onto the top and bottom card with your thumb and middle
finger. IMMEDIATELY hold the cards up for all to see.
- It helps if you position yourself so that the audience doesn't turn their heads around to
watch where you threw the cards. You should be close to the chair you throw the deck into,
so you can draw their attention back to the two cards you held onto.
- They picked the Eight of Spades, Three of Clubs - but you are holding the Eight of Clubs,
Three of Spades. It's VERY rare that anybody notices. And if the audience is drunk, you get
a lot of "Ohmygaaawd, how'd he DO that?" and gaping mouths... Great trick!
Effect: With the spectator's help, you make four piles of cards. When this is done you flip over all the
piles and all four Aces are there.
Preperation: Arrange the deck like so: three Aces on the bottom and one on the top.
Presentation:
Ask the spectator to tell you when to stop putting down cards. Begin dealing cards face down on the table.
Continue until they have you stop. After the first pile is down, stick the card deck, still in your hand, under
the table and put the bottom card on top. This gives you an Ace on the top. Repeat the above steps until
you have four piles. Then flip over all the piles to show an Ace on the bottom of each!
One Way Deck -- Here is a deck that you dont have to buy, you arrange the
back of the deck pictures all the same way and when the spectator picks his
card just switch the deck around. Then it is s the only one that is backwards.
No more fake shuffles!
Overhand Shuffle -- A shuffle where you hold the cards in your right hand
and you pull them off a few at a time into your left hand.
Palming a Card -- Method of concealing a card. Click on title for
complete description.
Pass -- A sleight.
Patter -- The talk a magician uses to accompany a trick.
Reversed Card -- Any card that is face up in a face-down pack (or faced
down in a face-up pack).
Riffle Shuffle -- Common shuffle, used often. Click on title for complete
description.
Sandwiched Card -- Any card that is placed, or located, between two other
pre- designated cards.
Self-Working Tricks -- Tricks that don't require sleight of hand.
Shuffle -- The process of mixing a deck of cards
Slip Force -- Quick Force. Click on title for complete description.
Spot Cards -- Any card from ace through ten in any suit.
Springing Cards -- A flourish in which you bend the cards, let go, and catch
them with the other hand
Stranger Cards -- Not a card that's extra weird. A Stranger Card is a card
taken from another deck, and added to the deck you're using. This allows you
to perform many tricks in a much more mystifying way. For instance, cards
inserted into the middle of the deck can be made to instantly reappear on the
top or bottom. (See: The Teleporting Card in the Easy Trick index.) Some
Stranger Cards are specially manufactured, to make things happen that
couldn't, otherwise. A good example is the gag card made to look like a Threeand-
a-half of Clubs! (You can find these at your local Magic store, and many
novelty shops.)
Stripper -- This deck is cut in sort of a subtle 'trianglar' shape. meaning the
top is wider than the bottom. therefore, if a card is place in upside down, the
wider end of the card now matches with the decks lower end, thus making it
easy to locate or even slip the card right out of the middle of the deck. Click
on title for complete description.
*Svengali -- The Svengali Deck consists of 26 ordinary cards, all different,
and 26 short cards all of the same suit and value. The latter may be narrower
as well as shorter, but short duplicates only are generally used. The pack is set
up by arranging the two sets alternately, thus every other card from the top is
a card of the same suit and value. Click on title for complete description.
Switch -- A sleight or move in which one object is secretly substitued for
another.
Vegas Shuffle -- The vegas shuffle is the same as the reno shuffle when you
cut the deck into two piles and with your thumbs merge them together. It is
the same except you only merge the two piles in the corners, and then you
straighten them out..
Vanish -- The act of making an object suddenly become nonexistent.
Gimmick -- A secret device used in the execution of a magic trick.
Glide -- The glide is simply pulling back a bottom card so that the second to
the bottom card is revealed alittle(this is done face-down though, so no-one
can see the faces) It is only revealed for touch. The second to bottom card is
the slipped out as if it was the bottom card. (Usually it looks 'the bottom card
is shown. then the deck is facedown(no attention drawn to this), then the
bottom card is slipped out.(Of course, really the 2nd the bottom is slipped
out.)' Click on title for complet description.
Glimpse -- Secretly noting a card while holding or shuffling the pack.
Greek Shift -- Move used to shift a card, or make a false cut. Click on
title for complete description.
Greek Shuffle -- False Shuffle. Watch your angles. Click on title for
complete description.
Haunted Deck -- Spectator freely selects a card, and that card is placed back
onto the deck. The deck is cut and the spectator is told that the deck will
remove the card by itself and then watches, as the deck removes the card!!!!
The deck can then be given to the spectator to reveal no gimmick!!!!!
*Hindu Shuffle -- An effective way to keep a card or several at the bottom of
the deck. Click on title for complete description.
Indicator Card -- A playing card used to identify the location, value, or suit
of a diffferent card, usually selected by the audience.
Invisible Deck -- This deck is a trick deck wherein the backs of the cards
used have a thick, non-slick surface. The cards are placed back to back in
certain pairs. Click on title for complete description.
Jog -- A card sleight in which a card is made to secretly protrude from the
deck to a slight extent, thus enabling the magician to secretly locate it or the
card next to it at a future moment. Click on title for complete description.
Key Card -- A Card, generally gimmicked, which is used to locate a
particular card or cards in the deck.
Legerdemain -- A French term for magic of the hands or sleight of hand.
Marked Deck -- A deck a cards with markings on the back to identify the
front. You can name any marked card by looking at the back of it.
Mechanic's Grip -- The mechanics grip is one of the most often used for
false dealing. It is sort of a compromise between the erdnase grip and the full
grip. The forefinger curls around the outer right corner of the deck while the
other three fingers curl around the side of the deck.
Miscalling a Card -- TIn card magic, purposely giving an incorrect
identification of a card. Click on Title for complete description.
Biddle Move: -- Move used to bring selected card to the bottom of the
deck. Click on title for complete description.
Bottom Charge: -- Move used to change cards. Click on title for complete
description.
Break -- A slight opening secretly held in a deck of cards.
Breather Crimp -- The Breather crimp is a special type of "pyramid" crimp
put into a card. It's good because it's not really detectable like the standard
crimp is--but it's harder to put into the card and requires a little privacy. The
breather crimp is an undetectable crimp that can be put on a card at a
moments notice, and is an extremely powerful weapon in the card conjurors
arsenal.
Book Pass Force -- The book-pass force is where you do an overhand shuffle
(take a group of cards then throw them on the other pile, you do this
repeatedly) except you hold the top card and keep it on top. This will leave
the selected card on top.
Bridge-Sized Deck -- A deck of cards slightly smaller than a poker deck,
measuring 2-1/4’ wide. Bridge-size cards are frequently used and give the
magician an advantage in certain tricks becauseof their smaller width.
Card Discovery -- The climax or end of many card tricks during which the
spectator’s card is revealed or produced in a “magical” manner.
Card Location -- Any method that allows the magician to find or locate a
selected card after it has been returned to the pack.
Conjurer -- A magician
Control -- Any method that allows the performer to move a particular card or
cards to a specific location in the pack.
Crimp -- This involves putting a bend or crease in a playing card in such a
way that you are able to locate it in the deck by feel alone. The crimp can be
put anywhere on the card, but the corners or long sides are generally used.
You can crimp the card simply by bending the corner slightly upwards when
showng it. You can also crimp the side of a card by squeezing it gently at the
side between the thumb and forefinger. Basically, any (subtle) identifying
bend or crease in a playing card qualifies as a crimp.
Cut Deck -- Magician pulls a deck of cards out of a box showing that the
deck is cut in half! (from upper right corner to lower left corner). Magician
claims that he/she performed at a restaurant a while ago, and when he was
showing a trick to the cook that required him to cut the deck, he took it
literally and chopped the deck in half. Now, the spectator fans the left half and
asks the spectator to point to a card. That card is removed and given to the
spectator. The spectator then fans the right half and asks another spectator to
point to a card. That card is removed and given to the other spectator. The
spectators are then asked to place their cards face down on the table. The
magician takes their cards and puts them together, showing an exact match on
the back of the cards. They are flipped over and revealed to be the 2 matching
sections of one card!!!!!!
Do As I Do -- When you have the spectator do the same things as you do.
Double Cut Force -- The double cut force is a way of forcing the top card
of the deck. Click on Title for complete description.
Double Lift -- This is were the two top cards are drawn up to be shown as
one card alone. A fingerbreak between the two top cards before the
sleight is executed, is very nice. Otherwise it requires really light fingers.
Click on title for complete description.
Double Sided Cards -- Simply a double sided card which you can buy or
make for many good effects.
Double Undercut -- Card Control used to return a card back to the top of
the deck. Click on title for complete description.
Effect -- A sleight or trick
Elmsley Count/Elmsley Pass -- This is a sleight-of-hand manuever that can
be done ambidexterously. It is not as hard as a 'parallel pull', but it takes much
more grace and skill than a Hindu Shuffle, if that puts this sleights difficulty
into perspective. Click on title for complete description.
Face -- The face of a card shows its value and suit.
Face Cards, Picture cards, or Court Cards -- All of the jacks, queens, and
kings.
False Cut -- Any cut that leaves the deck in the same order as it was before
the cut.
False Shuffle -- Any shuffle that leaves the deck in the same order as it was
before the shuffle. Click on title for complete description.
Faro Shuffle -- The faro, also known as the weave shuffle is a technique that
perfectly interlaces the cards. It is not a false shuffle, but properly speaking a
controlled shuffle. The shuffle can be made in the hands, or on the table
which gives it the appearance of a tabled riffle shuffle. The in the hands
method is, by far, the easier of the two and I will describe the method that I
use. Click on title for complete description.
*Finger Break -- Move used to return to cards easily. Click on title for
complete description.
Flash -- Allowing the spectator to briefly see the face of any card.
Flourish -- A display of skill with cards. Usually not a trick but an important
part of a trick like one handed cut, fan, and ribbon spread.
Force -- Causing a spectator to select a particular card or cards when the
spectator thinks the choice was freely made. Click on title for complete
description.
List of Forces in Card Trick Central: Glide Force, Double Cut
Force, Dribble Force, Spread Cull Force, 20 Count Force,
etc... (Click on definition to go to force page...)
Free Choice -- When a spectator really has a free choice, no force.
Trick Courtesy of: Jason (changkc@cadvision.com)
Effect: This trick is exactly like the 4 Friendly Kings above. However, this variation allows for less
chance of making a mistake. The magician has three Kings in his hand, and tells the audience one of their
friends is missing in the forest (represented by the deck.) Then he tells of how the three Kings decide to go
looking for their friend. He then squares up the Kings and puts them on top of the deck. He says the first
King decides to go to the back of the forest, in case their friend came out. Magician puts the first King on
the bottom of the deck. Then he says that the second of the Kings will look for the missing King inside the
forest, so then he puts the second card in the middle of the deck. Lastly, he tells the audience that the third
King decides he will wait for the missing King at the entrance to the forest, so he leaves the King on top.
He then tells the audience that the three King's decided before they started to meet in the forest if they
could not find him, to discuss their next move. The magician cuts the deck, flips the cards face over and
finds the Kings are all together!!
Card Trick
Before Hand:
1) Gather all four Kings.
2) Put one King on the top of the deck. Fan the other three out, and put one card (any card) behind the
second King. (Make sure it is hidden.)
With the audience:
3) Tell the audience the story.
4) Sqaure the cards and put them on top of the deck.
5) Put first King on the bottom.
6) Put second "King" (really not a King) somewhere in the center.
7) Leave the third King on top.
8) Cut the deck, putting the bottom half of the deck onto the top.
9) Find the Kings in the deck with their missing friend!!
This variation is a little easier because there is only one fake card to hide and to put into the deck.
Trick Courtesy of: Nick (nick@empire.net)
Original Author: Unknown
Do the first 3 steps away from your audience or pre-prepared.
1) Take the four Kings out of the deck, and also two other cards.
2) Fan the four Kings out, and place the two other cards you selected behind the second King. Line them
up so your audience cannot see the two other cards.
3) Show the Kings to the spectators.
4) Place the Kings (and the two secret cards) face down on the top of the deck.
5) Tell the audience that the four Kings are good friends, and they don't let anything get between them.
6) Place the top King on the bottom of the deck. You may show the audience this card.
7) Place the next card (not a King) into the center of the deck.
8) Repeat step 7.
9) Leave the fourth card on the top. You may show the audience that it is a King.
10) Explain that the Kings are real good friends and will soon be back together.
11) Cut the deck in the middle, and put the bottom half on the top.
12) Search the deck for the four Kings. They have been magically moved next to each other.
Trick Courtesy of: Mike (Mike)
Original Author: Unknown
Effect: The magician picks out two cards. He has a spectator cut the deck. He flips over the cards that he
picked, then he flips over two cards of the deck that was cut. The cards match.
1. Shuffle the deck so the specator doesn't think you've rigged it.
2.) Tell them you will pick two cards. Go through the deck making sure you look at the bottom and the top
cards of the deck.
3.) Pick out a card that matches the bottom card. (If the bottom card is a Four of Hearts, you would pick
out the Four of Diamonds to match it.) Then pick out a card that is the same as the top card.
4.) Ask the spectator to cut the deck.
5.) Take the first card, the one on top of the original top of the deck, and flip it over.
6.) Flip the bottom half of the deck over completely.
7.) Flip over the cards you picked. They all match!
