The "21 Cards" magic trick does not require hand speed so this trick is very suitable for beginners. This trick relies on math and can work on its own. As a magician, ask the spectator to draw one card from a deck of 21 cards. By arranging the cards into columns, you can move the spectator's card to the 11th position. By doing this, you can easily show the spectator's card. If you want to end the trick even more amazingly, learn how to show more complicated cards.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Learning Basic Tricks
Step 1. Separate 21 cards from a deck of 52 cards
These 21 cards can be chosen at random. The most important thing is the card number, not suit or color. You can do this before starting the trick or in front of an audience.
Make sure the cards total to 21 before starting the trick
Step 2. Ask the spectator to take 1 card, put it back in the deck, then shuffle
Spread the cards, make sure they are face down, and ask the spectator to draw 1 random card from the deck. Make sure the spectator remembers the card of his choice. Ask the spectator to show the card to another spectator. After that, instruct the spectator to put the card back into the deck. After the spectator's card is inserted, shuffle the deck.
Spectators are also allowed to shuffle the deck. This is done to make the audience believe that you are not doing hand speed
Step 3. Arrange the cards into 3 columns, and place 7 cards in each column
Start from the top column by laying out 3 cards horizontally. After that, place the cards in the next row. Keep doing this until each column contains 7 cards.
Make sure each column consists of 7 cards. Otherwise, this trick won't work
Step 4. Ask the spectator which column the card is in
You don't have to ask in an overly complicated way. Say, "Please point to the column that contains your card." If the audience is lying, this trick will not work. Therefore, emphasize that the audience must be honest when telling the location of the card.
If you're afraid the audience is lying, say, “Be honest! This trick will fail if you lie!”
Step 5. Place the column containing the spectator cards between the other 2 columns
Arrange each column into a deck of cards. After that, place the pile containing the spectator's cards between the other 2 piles. Assemble the deck quickly and naturally so viewers don't notice that you're laying out the deck in a pre-planned order.
For example, if the second pile contains spectator cards, place them between the first and third columns
Step 6. Place the cards again on the table and repeat the process
Arrange the cards into 3 columns containing 7 cards. After that, ask the audience to point to the column containing the card of their choice. Place the column containing spectator cards between the other 2 columns.
Do not shuffle the cards when arranging the cards. If the cards are shuffled, this trick will fail
Step 7. Repeat one more time
Arrange the cards into 3 columns containing 7 cards. After that, ask the audience to point to the column containing the card of their choice. Take the column containing the spectator's card and place it between the other 2 columns.
When the spectator points to the column containing the card of his choice, the spectator's card will be in the fourth position of the column. This is because you always move the column containing the card of your choice to the center
Step 8. Show that the eleventh card is the spectator's chosen card
Place 11 cards on the table and stop at the eleventh card. After that, show the eleventh card and say that it is the spectator's choice. The audience will be amazed that you managed to find the card..
Every time you ask which column the spectator's card is in, it will be easier to find out where the card is
Method 2 of 2: Making Tricky Ending Tricks
Step 1. Perform basic tricks as usual, but don't show the spectator's card right away
Do the same process as above, including placing the cards on the table and arranging the cards 3 times. After that, instead of counting 11 cards and showing the spectator's hand right away, make the end of the trick longer to make your performance more thrilling and full of mystery.
Step 2. Ask the spectator to spell “abracadabra” while placing the cards on the table
Each time the spectator says 1 letter, put 1 card down on the table. Since “abracadabra” consists of 11 letters, the card that is revealed when the spectator says the last letter is the card of choice. Enjoy the reaction of the audience full of amazement!
You can also do this with a sentence of 10 letters, such as “magic card,” and then turn down the spectator's chosen card after he has finished spelling it
Step 3. Alternatively, arrange the cards into 7 piles face up
The spectator's card is the 11th card you turn down. Ask the spectator to choose 4 piles. If there is a spectator's choice of cards among the piles, set aside 3 piles that are not selected. If the spectator's card is not in the 4 piles he chose, put the four piles aside. Continue by asking the viewer to continue selecting the stack. Set aside the pile that does not contain the spectator's chosen card, leaving 1 pile consisting of 3 cards. After that, show the 3 cards and mention the spectator's choice card.
