In addition to impressing your friends, card magic tricks can train your hand speed and skills as a magician. To perform the magic tricks below, you'll need a pack of playing cards, a fair amount of practice, and some skill in entertaining the audience.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Finding the Spectator's Preferred Card from the Card Pack
Step 1. Shuffle the pack of cards and memorize the bottom card
Shuffle the pack of cards in a dazzling way. Drawing the audience's attention to a specific point is one of the most important stages of performing a magic trick. Shuffle the pack once, then ask the spectator to shuffle or cut the pack again. This is done to show that the order of the cards in the pack is completely random. After the spectator has shuffled the pack, memorize the bottom card.
- One way to find the bottom card is to cut the pack after the shuffle. After that, peek at the bottom card when placing the pack on the table.
- You can peek at the bottom card before shuffling the pack one last time.
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Below are two ways to make sure the bottom card doesn't change position after being shuffled:
When doing a Riffle shuffle, make sure the shuffle starts from the hand holding the lowest card. In this way, the lowest card will be the first to touch the table and its position will not change
- When doing an Overhand shuffle, make sure the front of the card is not visible to the spectator. Cut the pack and hold down the bottom card using the pad of your finger. When the pack starts to separate during a shuffle, pull the bottom card out so it doesn't get shuffled too. By doing this, the position of the lowest card will not change.
Step 2. Invite the spectator to choose a card
Instruct the spectator to memorize the card of his choice. After that, place the card at the bottom. When the spectator places the card, it will be under the card you have memorized and prepared beforehand.
Turn around and look away as the spectator memorizes the card of his choice. This trick will look even more amazing if you don't look curious about the spectator's choice of cards
Step 3. Cut the card pack
The pack of cards can be cut by you or the spectator. The card you have memorized and the spectator's chosen card will move to the center of the card pack. When the pack is turned over and opened, the spectator's chosen card will be above and to the right of the card you have memorized and prepared beforehand.
If you have a good hand speed, you can cut the pack several times. If you can predict where the two cards are, you can again cut the pack and keep the two cards close together
Step 4. Say that you are looking for the spectator's preferred card
This is the right time for you to show the "magic" of this magic trick. If you manage to do this trick well, the audience will be more impressed and entertained by your performance.
Present the pack in a unique and entertaining way. You can fumble around the pack while looking for the spectator's preferred card
Step 5. Find the card you have memorized and prepare it
Open the card pack and make sure the pack is facing up. This is done so that you and your spectator can see the cards clearly. When the card that you have memorized and prepared is found, the spectator's chosen card will be on it.
- When the spectator's card is found, do not immediately take the card. Watch the audience's faces and pretend to read their minds.
- You can make things even more fun by pretending to pick the wrong card and then canceling it. Once the situation gets tense, choose the spectator's card of choice.
Step 6. Show the spectator's choice card
With a "magic" hand gesture, show the spectator's chosen card.
- Ask the spectator if the card you are holding is the card of his choice. If true, Congratulations! You have successfully performed an amazing basic magic trick.
- If the card you are holding is not the card of your choice, say "There seems to be a glitch in the magic world." then do this trick one more time.
Method 2 of 4: Performing the “Four Robbers” Trick
Step 1. Remove all jacks from the pack
After that, also separate 3 random cards from the card pack. This trick requires you to set up a pack of cards before the show begins.
- When performing the "Four Robbers" trick, the spectator will think that you are placing three jacks into the center of the deck. In reality, you place three pre-prepared random cards into the center of the pack.
- When performing this trick, three prepared random cards must be placed on top of the three jacks.
- This trick must be accompanied by an interesting story. Begin the trick by telling the story of 4 jacks who are about to rob a bank.
Step 2. Show all jacks to the audience
Grasp the entire jack and then extend it vertically. All jacks must be visible at the same time. Place 3 random cards behind the top jack card so the spectator can't see it. This is the most important stage when performing this trick.
- If you find it difficult to hide the 3 random cards, hold down with your index finger on the top edge of the card.
- After showing all the jacks to the spectator, stack 4 jacks and 3 random cards.
- For this part, say that the four jacks use helicopters to get into the bank, or sneak through the roof.
Step 3. Place a pile of 7 cards (4 jacks and 3 random cards) on top of the pack, face down
The crowd will think that the whole jack is on top of the pack, and it is. However, the spectator will not notice that there are 3 random cards on top of the 4 jacks. Take the card that is on top and place it at the bottom of the pack.
- In this section, let's say that the first jack goes into the basement (bottom of the pack) to stand guard and watch over the police.
- Make sure the spectator can't see the face of the card you're picking up because it's not a jack. When picking up a card, make sure the card is facing you so the spectator can only see the back.
Step 4. Repeat this process 2 times
When you pick up the next card, place the card in the center of the pack while continuing to tell the story.
- Let's say that the second jack goes in to take money from the teller. After that, place the card in the center of the pack.
- The third bank robber broke into the top of the pack to retrieve the money from the safe.
- When the third card is placed at the top of the pack, make sure the card is not placed too high so that the jack arrangement does not separate.
Step 5. Show the top card as the last jack
Let's say that the jack stays on the roof of the bank to keep an eye on the helicopter. This jack can be shown because its position should be above the pack.
Remember, these jacks will be different from what should be on the top if you actually place 3 jacks into the center of the pack. Therefore, make sure the color of the top and bottom jacks are the same
Step 6. Show the four jacks
To end this trick, tell him that jack on the roof saw the police coming and called his friends to return to the roof. You can also tell that jack in the basement saw the police so he ran to the roof with his friends. As you tell the story, show the three jacks that are on top of the pack. Say that the three jacks ran to the roof to escape.
Of course, you know that the three jacks are always on top of the pack. However, the audience will think that the three jacks magically move to the top of the pack after previously being placed under and in the middle of the pack
Step 7. Tell a story
This trick relies on an interesting story. You can tell the four jacks who are robbing the bank. You can also tell the four robbers who broke into the house to steal on different floors. Take the top 3 cards one by one, then place them on a different floor. Do this process while continuing to tell the story.
- Tell a dramatic story. If you provide detailed information about what the jacks will steal and what the robbers will do with the loot, the audience will be more entertained by your performance. The immersive story will take the viewer's attention away from your hands.
- This trick can be done with any card, not just jacks.
Method 3 of 4: Performing Gambler Tricks
Step 1. Shuffle the pack of cards and memorize the bottom card
You can also allow the audience to shuffle or chop the pack. This is done so that the audience is not too suspicious. Don't be afraid to cut the pack of cards. When tidying the pack, peek at the bottom card and then memorize it.
- If you allow the spectator to shuffle the deck, take a quick peek at the bottom card before continuing with the trick.
- This trick is almost similar to the trick to find the spectator's card in the pack. However, this trick has several different variations.
Step 2. Have the spectator choose a card
Expand the pack and ask the spectator to choose a card and remember it. After that, cut the pack of cards from where the cards were drawn and separate them into 2 piles. Instruct the spectator to place their card on a pile that does not contain the bottom card that you have memorized. After that, place the card that you have memorized on top of the spectator's chosen card.
When you are proficient enough, you can do swing or fake cuts. This cut will make the viewer think that you are shuffling the cards. In reality, the arrangement of the cards did not change
Step 3. Cut the card pack
The card pack can be cut by you or the spectator once. After the pack is cut, the card you memorized will be above the spectator's chosen card. You can shuffle the pack a number of times, but make sure you remember the position of the two cards so they don't get shuffled.
If you frequently invite the audience to interact in this trick, the audience will think that this trick is controlled by him. This will make the trick even more amazing
Step 4. Start placing cards on the table
Place the cards on the table in a row from one side to the other. Don't stop when you see the cards you've memorized and the spectator's picks. The spectator's card is next to yours. Continue to place cards on the table normally. Place almost all of the cards on the table except for the last few cards.
This trick requires you to act like you already know the spectator's chosen card. If you stop when you see the spectator's card, the next part of the trick will fail
Step 5. Start the story
Magic tricks, especially this one, will be even more amazing when accompanied by a story. Say that you can find out the spectator's preferred card. Also say that you are willing to bet. Also tell us that you got a lot of money from gambling because you can manipulate cards.
- Take out IDR 20,000 as a bet and say that the next card you turn over is the spectator's chosen card. Since the spectator has seen his cards on the table, he may accept your bet. He will think that you will turn the cards in your hand.
- If the spectator does not want to bet, double your bet if your guess is wrong.
Step 6. Turn over the spectator's selection card
Instead of turning over the next card from the pack, look at the arrangement of the cards on the table and look for the spectator's chosen card. The spectator's card is next to the card you've previously memorized. To make this trick look even more amazing, pretend to turn over the next card from the pack before turning over the spectator's chosen card.
- Don't really take the audience's money. If the punters want to bet, take your money and tell them the trick is free. You can also jokingly say that the game isn't fair because you're a magician who already knows the spectator's hand.
- If this trick fails, you may have to let the spectators take your bet money.
Method 4 of 4: Performing the Card Flanking Magic Trick
Step 1. Ask the spectator to choose a card
Take 1 pack of playing cards and spread the cards in front of the audience. Ask the spectator to choose a card. When the spectator takes the card and remembers it, cut the pack. Instruct spectators to place their cards on top of the card pieces. After that, stack the cards and hold it with your pinky (pinky break).
- Instruct the spectator to place their card at the bottom of the pack. Don't forget to hold the pack with your pinky between the spectator's card and the card above it. By doing this, you can track the whereabouts of the spectator's card.
- Pinky break is a card magic technique in which the magician uses his pinky to hold the pieces of the card. This card cut is done at the back of the pack so the spectator cannot see it.
Step 2. Cut the card pack
Use a pinky break to separate the pack that is above the spectator's card. Move the pack to the bottom so that the spectator's card is on top. This move may be too suspicious, so distract the audience. Ask the spectator to concentrate on the cards. Explain to the spectator that you will try to bring up the card in his hand.
If you want to shuffle the pack again, make sure the spectator's chosen card remains on top
Step 3. Turn over the top two cards (double lift)
Double lift is a card magic technique in which the magician turns over the top two cards, but looks like one card. This technique is one of the most important magic techniques for card magicians. Show the front of the card you turned over with a double lift to the audience. Say that you are going to place the card between the spectator's hands. After that, say that you will turn the card into the spectator's choice card. When you say this, place the two cards you were shown back on the deck.
Before doing this trick, you may have to practice turning the top two cards over, and showing the face of the second card. Make sure the two cards look like one card
Step 4. Place the spectator's card between his hands
Place the top card which is the spectator's chosen card on his hand. Instruct the spectator to sandwich the card with both hands.
- After successfully doing a double lift, place the two cards on top of the pack. Take the top card (the spectator's card) and place it in the spectator's hand upside down. Ask the spectator to sandwich the card with both hands tightly.
- Currently, the spectator's choice of cards is between his hands. However, he will think that the card is the card you showed him earlier. This card is on top of the pack.
Step 5. Find the spectator's card
Say that you are going to magically swap the cards the spectator is holding for the cards of his choice.
- Pretend to look for the card in the card pack. In reality, the spectator's card was already in his hands.
- Choose the top card. The spectator will think that the card is in his hand.
Step 6. Show the spectator's card
Show the card you selected. The spectator will think that the card was originally in his hand. After that, ask the spectator to look at the cards in his hand. The card is the spectator's choice card.
Tips
- Practice shuffling the cards in different ways. This is done so that you can quickly set up and find out the spectator's preferred card.
- Use a card that has been used frequently. The new cards will be a little difficult to shuffle, bend, and manipulate, especially when doing double lifts.
- Distract the viewer by talking to him, explaining the next step of the trick being performed, or asking the viewer to do something that will distract him from the pack of cards.
