Magic requires cunning, swiftness, and precision. It also takes a lot of practice, so don't be discouraged if you can't get the elephants to disappear on the first try. Start with these simple card tricks and gradually expand your repertoire.
Steps
Part 1 of 7: Bring the Card to the Top of the Deck
Step 1. Practice some basic tricks
Every professional magician knows how to wow their audience by "magically" revealing a card on top of the deck that had apparently been shuffled in the middle. This trick is a good introduction to the combination of quick hands, skillful fingers, quick audience distraction, and showmanship, all of which card tricks require. Start practicing the following two skills:
- Take two cards from the top of the deck and keep them together (so it looks like you only took one card).
- Slip a card directly under the top card of the deck while holding it behind your back for just a moment.
Step 2. Have someone "Take a card, any one"
Ask him to look at it and then show it to everyone. Place it under the top card while you have the deck behind your back for a magical moment where no one can see.
If someone complains that you have the deck behind your back, simply tell them that you are creating suspense and that it is magical tension. This trick is one of many you can find on wikiHow
Step 3. Show the deck and take the top two cards as if you only took one
Show the audience only the card underneath, as if you had just taken one.
Step 4. Ask "Is this your card?
Then put them both back on top of the deck once the volunteer has answered affirmatively.
Step 5. Take the top card and place it anywhere in the deck
The audience will believe this is the card you showed.
Step 6. Explain that you will return the card to the top of the deck
Make a theatrical gesture with your hand to emphasize the makeup.
Step 7. Turn over the top card saying "Voila
It will be the card audiences expect. This trick doesn't require much practice, but it can still surprise you.
Part 2 of 7: The Appearance of the 4 Aces
Step 1. Remove the four aces from the deck and place them on top
Don't let the public see you.
- The best way to do this is to put them on top of the deck before starting. Take the deck out of your pocket and start the trick right away without letting the audience shuffle it.
- Complete this step as discreetly as possible. Ask "Hey, would you like to see a magic trick?" and then start it right away. The smoother this transition, the less the audience will have doubts about makeup.
Step 2. Divide the deck into four stacks of the same height starting from the beginning
The four aces should be on top of the fourth pile.
- Distribute the stacks from left to right, so that the fourth stack is the one furthest to the right.
- Don't focus too much on the fourth stack. Magic requires illusion, and the trick can fail miserably if the audience understands where the aces are.
Step 3. Collect the first row and move the three cards to the bottom
This way you will give the illusion of randomly mixing them.
Step 4. Deal the top three cards onto the other three piles, one for each
Start with the stack furthest from the aces and end with the stack of aces.
Distribute alone one card per stack. This is especially important in regards to the aces stack, since you will need exactly three random cards on top of the aces for this trick to work.
Step 5. Repeat with the other three stacks
You should end up with the stack of aces.
By placing the top three cards of the aces pile on the bottom, you have brought the aces to the top. When you distribute them on the other piles, you will get 4 aces as the first cards of the piles
Step 6. Uncover the top card of each of the four piles and reveal the aces
If the audience is in disbelief, offer to do the trick again.
Once you've perfected the trick, modify it by having an audience volunteer complete the steps. Offer specific information on how to cut the deck (not shuffle), shuffle the stacks (top three cards only), and how to deal the cards (one per stack). The result will be the same. The difference is that the public will be more willing to believe the trick because they will think they have control over the outcome
Part 3 of 7: Simple Card Prediction
Step 1. Take a regular deck of cards and ask a volunteer to shuffle it
Encourage him to do it the way he likes. This trick is based on probability, not illusion.
Step 2. Ask the volunteer to name two cards
Ask for the name of the card and not the suit.
- For example, "king" and "ten" will suffice. Saying "king of swords" and "ten of hearts" would be too specific.
- When the volunteer names kings and ten, he is in effect pointing to eight different cards, since he does not specify their suit. For example: king of diamonds, king of clubs, king of hearts, king of spades, ten of diamonds, ten of clubs, ten of hearts, ten of spades.
- The theory is that of these 8 possible cards, at least one king will be next to a 10.
Step 3. Put your hand on top of the deck and pretend to focus hard
Wait 30 seconds or a minute before continuing with the makeup. This helps create the illusion that you are doing something to bring the cards closer.
This is the only physical gesture you will make during the makeup. Try to limit other gestures as much as possible. It will serve to reinforce the illusion that you are approaching the named pair of cards
Step 4. Ask the volunteer to scroll through the cards in the deck
Incredibly, the two cards will be close together somewhere in the deck!
About 10% of the time, a card could separate a king and a ten. If this happens, simply say that you have not focused enough. Try the trick again and the cards will likely be close this time
Step 5. Find the two cards and show them to the audience
Don't touch them, or they may think you used a hidden card to get the desired result.
Part 4 of 7: Guessing the Last Card
Step 1. Keep a deck of cards face down in one hand
Show the audience that this is a normal deck of cards.
Show all the cards to make the trick more believable. You could also shuffle or allow the audience to do this before proceeding further
Step 2. Quickly look at the last card in the deck before turning it over again
You will need to remember her to do the trick.
Repeat in your head, "6 of clubs, 6 of clubs, 6 of clubs". This will help you remember the card
Step 3. Ask the audience to stop at any time while you use your index finger to scroll through the cards
This will give the illusion that they are in control of the makeup.
- Hold the deck face down in one hand. Place the thumb of your other hand under the deck. Use the first two fingers of the same hand to pull the cards from the top slightly towards you.
- If you have scrolled about a quarter of the deck without stopping, slow down a bit and joke with the audience to see if you can get someone to stop you. This will make it easier to find the card from the bottom.
Step 4. Remove some of the top cards from the deck when the audience stops you
When taking cards, use your index and middle fingers. Keep your thumb under the deck, out of view of the audience. This way you will be able to take the secret card that you will guess.
- At the same time, use your thumb under the deck to pull the bottom card into your hand. With practice, it will slip unnoticed into the lower position of the stack of cards.
- Remember, this background card is the one you memorized earlier and will soon reveal itself as the "guessed" card.
Step 5. Show the audience the last card of the stack you took without looking at it
For best effect, close your eyes or look away as you show the audience the last card.
Step 6. Ask the audience "Is the card you see the 6 of clubs?
The observer should be amazed.
Part 5 of 7: Choose any card
Step 1. Fan a deck of face down cards
There is no need to shuffle the deck, although doing so may make the trick better.
Step 2. Ask a volunteer to choose a card from the deck
Be patient, the longer it takes him to choose it, the more he will convince himself that you won't be able to guess it.
To help convince your audience, don't look when choosing. Many people believe that the trick is based on complex counting systems. While this is the case in some cases, this trick is much simpler
Step 3. Divide the deck into two halves, which you will hold in both hands
The volunteer will most likely choose a card from the center of the deck, so divide the cards after their choice.
Step 4. Ask the volunteer to remember the card and return it to the deck
Speak slowly, confidently and clearly.
Don't rush them, or the audience might think you memorized the card earlier
Step 5. Look very quickly at the last card in the right stack
Even if it is not the card to be revealed, you will need to use it as a reference to find the one chosen by the volunteer.
Step 6. Close the volunteer card between the two halves of the deck
Make sure you put the right half on top of the other, so that the card you memorized is next to the one you choose.
Step 7. Open the cards face up on the table
Try to find the reference one as quickly as possible.
- Open the deck sequentially. The best way to do this is to place the deck on the left and use your right hand to gently open it to the right. Eventually you should create a rainbow-like figure.
- The reference card should be to the left of the one chosen by the volunteer. The card to the right of the reference card should be the one you choose.
- Avoid opening cards quickly and carelessly. You could change the position of the reference card, ruining the trick.
- You can use your finger to scroll through the cards, but try not to stop and look at them all. If you did, they might figure out the trick.
Step 8. Take the card from the deck and ask the volunteer "Is this your card?
Even if you are asking a question, ask it confidently, almost arrogantly.
Make the audience think that you already knew which card the volunteer would choose. This will give the impression that you have psychic powers, while you have only used your memory
Part 6 of 7: Handkerchief Prediction (Slightly Advanced)
Step 1. Look at the top card of the deck and memorize it
For example "ace of spades" or "7 of hearts".
You don't have to show this part of the trick to the public. You will be more convincing if you take the cards out of your pocket and start the trick right away
Step 2. Place the deck on a face-down table, then cover it with a handkerchief
Make sure the audience sees that the cards are face down before putting on the handkerchief.
- For best effect, make sure the handkerchief is not transparent.
- The handkerchief is a distraction. People will believe that the trick is based on visuals and will not consider the possibility that you have memorized the cards.
Step 3. Turn the deck while covering it with the tissue
Make sure you do this when the cards are hidden. If you turn them too soon you will reveal the trick.
Try to perform this movement as quickly and covertly as possible. Learn to cover the deck and turn it in one smooth motion, so that people only see what's happening on the surface
Step 4. Ask an audience member to cut the deck in half without removing the handkerchief
The volunteer will have to place the two halves of the deck side by side. Make sure you remember which halves it is and don't reveal the cards.
- Ask the volunteer only to cut the deck and not to shuffle it.
- By turning the cards over, the lower half of the deck will become the upper half. This is important, because when you ask the volunteer to cut the deck in half, they will mistakenly believe they are removing the top half when in fact they are moving the bottom half.
Step 5. Remove the real top half of the deck from the handkerchief and turn it over
The real top half will contain the card you memorized. This won't be easy, but you should be able to convince the audience by keeping their attention on the handkerchief.
- You take alone the top half of the deck. Leave the handkerchief on the bottom half, which will still be face up.
- Move the hand with which you will hold the handkerchief. Try to use blatant gestures to distract the audience from the other hand, with which you will flip the cards.
Step 6. Ask a volunteer to take the top card of the deck you took from the handkerchief
Ask him to show the card to the public without showing it to you.
This will be the first card in the deck that you have memorized, but the audience will think it was taken from the center
Step 7. Announce the name of the card after everyone has seen it
Hear the astonishment of the audience.
Step 8. Remove the other half of the deck from the handkerchief and turn it over
Do this while the audience is still trying to figure out how you did it.
They will likely want to inspect the other half of the deck once the trick is done. Don't give them reason to doubt you
Part 7 of 7: The 8s End Together
Step 1. Place the 8s in the deck earlier
Remove the 8s from the deck and, with the cards facing down, place an 8 on top of the deck. Put another card as your tenth card, that is, it counts nine cards, including the 8 you placed as before.
Turn over the deck and count seven cards from the bottom. You will need to put the other two eight and nine cards from the bottom. You are now ready
Step 2. Convince the audience that you are drawing a card at random
Make a little scene as you run your fingers across the deck stating that you are about to make a prediction.
- Fan the deck a couple of times while speaking to the audience, then close it again.
- Start by flipping through the cards from one hand to the other, secretly counting to ten. Don't look at the cards, look at the audience and keep talking. When you get to the 10th card, place your index finger under it and continue browsing the deck.
- Draw the 10th card (one of 8) and place it face down on the table. Tell them this is your prediction card.
Step 3. Flip the deck
Tell the audience that you will be counting cards. Make sure you pass the two 8s as the eighth and ninth cards before telling the spectators "Now you can stop me when you want".
Step 4. Make two stacks of cards when the spectator tells you to stop
Place them face down on the table. Put the bottom of the deck (the one with the 8 in the eighth and ninth position) on the right, and the top of the deck (the one with the 8 on top) on the left.
Step 5. Flip the top card of the left deck
This is the first 8 you placed. Look at the card and say, "Look, it's the 8 of [name his suit]."
Then, tell the audience that the 8 suggests how many cards you need to count from the deck on the right
Step 6. Count eight cards from the bottom into the right deck
Keep the deck face down. Put the cards in another pile, which you will put next to the left pile. Hold the other stack in your hand, face down.
Make sure the audience is following you. Count out loud: “One, two, three…” as you create the new stack. Remind them that there are now three stacks and that an 8 is visible
Step 7. Discover the others 8
Flip the top card of the pile you just created. It will be an 8: place it on the table next to the one you have already discovered.
- Then turn over the deck in your hand and reveal another 8. Place it on the table next to the other two.
- Eventually, creating some suspense, theatrically flip the card of your prediction (which had been lying on the table, turned, the whole time). You could also ask a viewer to do this.
- Expect wondering reactions - this trick always amazes a lot of people.
