When it comes to party tricks, being able to tie a cherry stem in a knot with just your tongue can only take you so far. Next time, whip out these easy card tricks. With these three simple methods, you’ll be well on your way to convincing your friends that you’re a regular Houdini.
1 The Power of Four
Show the audience your deck of cards, and say you’re going to make a prediction. Remember carefully what the fourth card is.
Cut the deck in half, then look at the first four cards again on one half of the deck. Remember the fourth card.
The prediction you’ll make will be the first original fourth card in the uncut deck.
By always remembering the fourth card, you’ll always magically remember the fourth card on the other side of the deck as well.
2 The Screw-Up Proof
Have your audience shuffle the deck.
Separate the deck by putting the cards into groups of 13. There will be three piles of cards, plus a few leftovers.
Tell each member of your audience to pick one pile of cards and flip it over, then put the rest of the cards back together.
Have your audience flip over the top card of 2 of the piles, leaving one untouched.
Deal out ten cards, plus the amount of whatever was on the cards that the audience flipped over. (For example, if one flipped-over card was a 6 and one was a 2, deal out 8 more cards in addition to the ten).
The amount of cards you have left will be the first card on the last pile!
3 Pick a Card, Any Card
Tell a member of your audience to pick one card. Don’t look at their card.
As they pick their card, turn over two cards from the bottom of the deck
Have them push their card back into the deck.
When you fan out the deck, all of the cards will be facing up except the one card that was selected.
