Easy to Learn Card Tricks

Despite having a father who could deal 4 aces to me and a straight flush to himself without getting caught, I came out of childhood with only one card trick in my repertoire. I can identify which card you picked, 100% of the time. It doesn't rely on nimble fingers, bottom dealing, marked cards, or trick decks. This card trick uses the classic magician's ploy of misdirected attention and blatant cheating. It's not a fancy card trick, but it's enough to bedazzle small children and win a few dollars from naïve adults.

You too can perform this marvelous feat of prestidigitation. Here's how it works:

1. - Make sure that the mark (a "mark" is what we card sharps call the victim) and any bystanders are in front of you.

2. - Take a deck of playing cards and ostentatiously shuffle them, cut them a few times, and let the mark shuffle them. You can even do a children's shuffle and mess up the pile of cards with both hands. It's all window dressing.

3. -Tell the mark that you will cut the deck, and that they will pick up the top card, memorize it, and even show it to bystanders, being careful to keep you from being able to see the face of the card. This is your "patter" that sets up the distraction.

4. - Carefully stack the cards, face down, and cut the deck about half way down. Tell the mark to take the top card on the remaining stack.

Here's the simple cheat: when you remove the top of the deck, bring the top part of the deck towards you, turning your hand slightly so you see the card on the bottom of the cut. Yes, you peek! Remember that card.

4. - Tell the mark to place the card back on the deck, then put the cards you are holding back on top.

If you know how to do a false shuffle or card-cutting routine that leave the cards in the same order, here is where to do it. It adds to the flash.

5. - Pick up the deck and tell the mark that you will start turning over cards, one by one, until you locate their card. Do this, placing the cards face upon the table, with dramatic pauses and some continuing chatter, until you see the card that you peeked at. The card after this is the mark's card.

You can either place the cards in an orderly pattern or toss them on a pile: it doesn't matter. Just keep up the patter and chatter.

6. - Turn the mark's card over, but do not say anything. Make sure you remember it and know where it goes, but do not make a fuss. You want them to think you have flubbed the card trick.

7. - Turn a few more cards over, then announce, "The next card I turn over will be the one you picked." They expect you to turn over a card from the deck, and become happy that you are going to fail.

8. - Put the deck down, reach out and dramatically turn the mark's card from face up to face down.

9. - Smile, and collect your bets.

As simple as this card trick is, I have run it several times in a row on the same adult. They keep watching for marked cards and fancy tricks, not a simple peek.