What’s Behind My Back?

Type: Card Magic Trick

Level: Intermediate

Props: A double-backer and a double-facer (see glossary).

Introduction: A very simple, yet clever trick.

The effect: The magician shows the spectator two cards and brings them behind his back and brings one back out. No matter how hard he tries, the spectator will always be wrong. As a kicker, at the end the magician can bring one card openly behind his back and it switches places with the one in the front… right before their very eyes!

Method: As explained in the Props section you will be needing a double-backer and a double-facer (see Glossary) in order to perform this trick. Hold them in a fan sort of a shape (kind of like a V). It will look as if you are holding two (ungimicked) cards, one with its face towards you and the other one with its back towards you. Turn your wrist, but as you do, the larger motion covers the smaller motion of moving your thumb and having the cards switch sides. This will cause the illusion that you are showing two cards face to face.

Now, simply bring the two cards behind your back (make sure to know which is the double-facer and which way is which face) and bring the double-backer to the front and ask which one remains behind your back, whichever card the spectator mentions, bring the opposite card (facing up) from behind your back.

For a kicker, bring the double-facer only behind your back and ask which one remains in the front. As the spectator answers, turn over the double facer behind your back and prove him/her wrong.

Glossary:

• Double-backer: A gimicked card with a back on both sides. For this presentation you may glue two cards together. The cards are not examinable.
• Double-facer: Just as a double-backer, a double-facer is a gimicked card with two (different, in this case) card faces on each side.

Remembering Fantasio

Today marks the first year anniversary of the passing of  true legend of magic and, what I can consider, a friend and mentor. I met Mr. Fantasio during the years 2009 and 2010 in the IBM Ring (45) I used to attend.

For two years I got to experience literal magical moments.

I fondly remember how he used to love when fresh faces used to join the Ring, but even more some, when that face was of a young man or woman. He used to enjoy teaching as much as he enjoyed performing.

He was born as Ricardo Roucau in Buenos Aires, Argentina (where I happen to live now) back in 1936. He started his career back in the 1950s under the name Larry (which he later changed to Fantasio) and won many awards during his career. In Argentina he is consider a celebrity due to his contributions to the art.

He is mostly known for his appearing canes and candles, a very popular effect in magic.

He passed away on October, 30th 2017 in Miami, where he lived during the final years of his life.

Many magicians mourned him around the globe.

Goodbye, good friend. You will be missed.

Criss-Cross Force

Type: Impromptu Card Magic Trick

Level: Beginner

Props: Deck of cards.

Introduction: Possibly the easiest card force around.

The effect: This card force has many applications. Here is one of them:

The magician asks the spectator to select a card. The card is returned to the deck and the deck is shuffled, thus losing it in the deck. Another spectator is tasked with cutting the deck. The position of the cut is marked and when they check, he has correctly located his fellow spectators card!

Method:

Spectator #1 can freely shuffle and select a card. Once he has done this, the magician will ask him to replace it to the deck and Control it to the top of the deck. When spectator #is asked to cut the deck, the original bottom half is placed on the deck in some sort of a cross-shape. At this point, the magician causes misdirection, such as asking: “did you feel influenced to cut at that point?” or “Was there any particular reason you cut at that point?” The magician then lifts the top pack and asks the spectator to look at the top card of the deck.

Glossary:

• Top Card Control: A card is position on the top of the deck, while the magician pretend to shuffle. There are many ways to achieve this, but here is a simple one: As the spectator returns his card to the deck, catch a Pinky Break above the card being replaced on the deck. The magician then starts cutting small packets unto the table. Once he hits the break (meaning every card above the break has been piled on the table) the magician grabs the remaining cards on his hands and places them on top of the pack on the table. The selected card will now be on top.

The Three Thieves

Type: Impromptu Card Magic Trick

Level: Beginner

Props: Deck of cards.

Introduction: Among beginners this is a classic.

The effect: The magician tells a story about 3 thieves that attempted to rob a bank, yet got apprehended.

Preparation: Although this trick is impromptu, it requires a little preparation, which a professional can do on the fly. To do this:

1. Remove all threes and Jacks from the deck,
2. Place a black Jack on the bottom of the deck,
3. Place a red 3 on the bottom of the deck,
4. Place a red Jack on top of the deck,
5. The rest of the cards are left outside for the trick.

Method:

Begin by pointing at the threes and explaining they are three thieves who plan to rob a bank (I recommend to leave the Jacks facing down, so people cannot memorize their suit). Explain the following: “The fist one, went in through the basement”. As you say this, place one of the black threes on the bottom of the deck. “the second one”, you continue, “goes in through the roof”. Place the other black three on top of the deck. “And the third one goes into a window”. As you say this, place the red three into the middle of the deck.

Now present the Jacks and explain they are the cops. “They go in through the front door”, you say, and you stick them into the middle of the deck. “Next, a chase begin”. Start giving the deck several single cuts. Explain this represents the cops running after the thieves. After a while stop and spread the deck to find the block of 3 threes trapped between two Jacks. Explain the cops have apprehended the criminals.

Double Reversed Card

Type: Impromptu Card Magic Trick

Level: Intermediate

Props: Deck of cards (the back of them need to have a white edge).

Introduction: I remember reading this one a while ago in Mark Wilson’s Complete Course in Magic. A wonderful variation on the Reversed Card and one I personally perform a lot.

The effect: The deck is thoroughly shuffled. The pack is then divided into two. The magician urges the spectator to pick one for himself. The magician picks up the remaining pack. They both shuffle their packs, once again, for good measure. The magician now explains they will be both picking a card behind their backs. To do so, they must bring the deck behind their backs, cut and complete the cut, take the top card of the deck, and bring, both the card and the deck, face down, to the front. Both, the magician an the spectator, loose their respective cards in the opposite’s deck. The decks are then shuffled together. Yet, the magician promises he can find both cards, while holding the deck behind his back. He does so!

The method: The spectator shuffles the deck. He then is instructed to start dealing the deck into two piles (I have found from personal experience this serves as to further confuse the spectator). He is asked to select a pack and shuffle it again. The magician does the same with the remaining pack. The magician then Glimpses at the card on the bottom of his pack and memorizes it. As he brings the pack to his back in order to pretend to cut the deck and select a card, he turns the deck so its face is pointing upwards and turns over the top card of the pack (the one he memorized!). He then picks any other random card and brings it (face down) to the front, along with his pack. He proceeds to ask the spectator to push his card into the deck (and just as in the Reversed Card trick, s/he believes to be pushing it in the same orientation as the rest of the deck). Once the card is all in, the magician drops his hand (holding the deck) to his side and proceeds to push his card into the spectator’s pack. As the magician brings his hand back up in order to Faro Shuffle the packs, he turns his wrist around, having now reversed the pack. He can now Faro Shuffle and the rest of the trick is just good acting.

Glossary:

• Faro Shuffle: A shuffling technique where the short edges of two halves of the deck are pushed together to the point where the cards start “weaving” together.

The Reversed Card

Type: Impromptu Card Magic Trick

Level: Beginner

Props: Deck of cards (the back of them need to have a white edge).

Introduction: A classic of magic and a masterful piece if properly presented.

The effect: The magician (or spectator) shuffles the deck and has the spectator select a card and memorized (it can even be signed!). The card is returned to the deck at a random spot, and, yet the magician is able to find it… BEHIND HIS BACK.

The method: Once the spectator has selected his/her card and is busy memorizing or signing the card, take this misdirection to flip over the bottom card of the deck. Present the deck in a dealers grip, naturally (in reality, the entire deck is facing up, with the exception of the top card, which is facing down. When you ask your spectator to return their card to a random spot, they will naturally introduce it facing down, thinking it will be in the same direction as the rest of the cards. In reality he/she is placing it face down in a face up deck. As fo bring the deck behind your back, be careful not to flash the “bottom” of the deck. Once behind your back, just flip the “bottom” card (that is facing a different direction than the rest of the deck) and the rest is just acting.

Note: I came up with a better version of this trick. I plan to publish it further ahead, when this blog gets more subscribers.

Don’t Apologize

Type: Impromptu Card Magic Trick

Level: Intermediate

Props: Deck of cards.

Introduction: This is a trick I came up a while ago. It is designed to be performed for a crowd, although it might work just as well for small audiences.

The effect: The magician takes the deck out of the case and places the case on the table. He (or spectator) then takes the deck and shuffles it thoroughly. A card is then selected (could be by the magician or by one of the spectators), yet it is set on the table without letting anyone see it. The magician then peeks at the card and instruct the spectator(s) that he will try and transmit it telepathically, yet being that they are not experts in telepathy, he will be doing it one bit at a time. “Let’s start with the color” he instructs the first spectator. He focuses and tries to transmit his thoughts. For explanation’s sake, let’s say the spectator says “Black”. “Good”, replies the magician, “now”, he says to a second spectator, “the suit. Now, being that it is a black card, it must be either Clubs or Spades. Concentrate and tell me what you get”. Let’s say the spectator says: “Clubs!”. The magician doesn’t seem very pleased. “OK”, he says, and as he directs his attention to the third spectator, he asks: “And the value?”. Let’s say he says: “9”.

“Well,” continues the magician, as he takes another peek at the card, “you guys almost quite got it. You see,” and he looks through the deck until he finds the 9 of Clubs, “the 9 of Clubs is still in the deck. Yet, do not feel bad”, he addresses the second spectator, “I knew this was going to happen and you did not, in fact, ruin the trick. Go ahead and look inside the card case”. The spectator looks inside the card case and there finds the Joker with the words: “Do not feel bad. I predict you will get the suit wrong”.

The method:

This trick is truly impromptu. All you will need is write “Do not feel bad. I predict you will get the suit wrong”on the Joker (or a blank card) and put it on top of the deck and the deck inside the case.

Remove every card, except for the Joker (remember is on top of the deck, so it shouldn’t be hard) from the case. Make sure not to show there is a card remaining there. Alternatively, you can show it stays there by saying “We will not be needing the Jokers”. Just make sure you do no show the writing on it. Set the case in front of the second spectator.

Have the deck shuffled and a card selected, either by you or the spectator, yet make sure no one looks at it. Once that is done, take a peek at it and remember it.

Now, have the spectators one by one name the color, suit and value. There are 3 situations that could present here:

1. They get everything right: If they do. Your’e golden. Just ask them to flip the card over (that way they don’t think you switched it). They will be amazed. Yet, this case is quite unlikely. In this case, DO NOT show the message on the Joker.
2. They get the color and the value right, yet not the suit: This is another case in which you are golden. Just do the same as the previous possibility, but this time DO show the Joker’s message hiding in the case.
3. They get everything wrong: This case is the case you will find must likely and the one you need to prepare for. If so, look for the card they named in the deck. As you do this, look for the card of the same color an value (in our case, the 9 of Spades) and secretly move it to the top of the deck. Then make a big deal about the card they named was still in the deck, yet, they weren’t that far off, as the color and value do match. In order to show what you’re saying, perform a Top Change (alternatively, place the card on the table on top of the deck and perform a Double Lift to reveal “their card”. Just make sure not to flash the card beneath it as you table it (if yo decide to table it). Then just proceed with the patter.

 

Glossary:

• Top Change: The magician swaps the card in his hand with the top card of the deck without anyone noticing. To achieve, hold the deck in Mechanic’s Grip and grab a Pinky Break underneath the top card. The single card (to be swapped) must be held at the finger tips of your free hand. Cause misdirection and, as you move your hand back above the deck, drop the card in your fingertips and pick up the top card on the deck. Please, notice this is a difficult move and will require tons of practice, so exercise a lot before using it.
• Double Lift: Hold the deck in Mechanic’s Grip and grab a Pinky Break underneath the top card. The single card is placed, face down, on top of the deck, and, when flipped, both cards over the Pinky break are flipped, giving the illusion that only one card was flipped.

Do As I Do

Type: Impromptu Card Magic Trick

Level: Beginner

Props: 2 decks of cards (there’s an alternate version that can be performed with one deck. See notes at the end).

Introduction: An absolute classic of magic and a must for a beginner magician.

The effect: The magician presents 2 decks of cards (for explanations sake let’s say one of them is red-backed and the other is blue-backed). The spectator is asked to pick up the deck he wants the magician to be using during the trick. The magician grabs the spectator’s deck and instructs the spectator: “Do as I do”. He then proceeds to shuffle the deck. He then asks the spectator to give him his deck, as he hands the spectator his own deck. The magician then says: “We will be both picking a card from the middle of the deck, but will leave the card face down on the table and not yet see it”. They remove their card from the deck and set both the card and the deck on the table. They both look at their respective card and set it on top of the deck. Then, they both proceed to give various cuts to the deck. Now, the both exchange decks once again and the magician announces: “Let’s both try and find our own card in each other’s deck”. They both do. Once they flip them over, they match! “That’s because I asked you to do as I do”, comments the magician.

The method:

In order to perform this trick you will need two full decks (in case to be missing one or a few cards from the decks, they must be removed from the other deck).

Start by asking the spectator which deck he wants you to use and to start shuffling it. Take the other deck and start shuffling it yourself. Before you hand it to the spectator, perform a Glimpse. Remember that card. After you switch decks, tell him to select a card and to remember it, as you pull of a card and pretend to remember it. Don’t.

Place the card on top of the deck and do a few cuts and complete them. Have the spectator return the deck to you as you return yours to him. Now, spread the cards and look for your Index Card (the one you previously memorized). The card following to the right of it (assuming you are spreading left to right) will be his selection. Pull it off the deck and place it face down on the table. From this point on, you just need to act.

NOTE: if you wish to perform this trick with only one deck, you will need to separate the suits and divide the deck into two by joining one black suit and one red suit for each participant. Once the trick is done, you explain you both got a card with the same color and value. Only use this resource in case you do not happen to have a second deck available, as it is more impressive with two decks.

Glossary:

• Glimpse: Method used by the magician to “glimpse” (hence the name) the bottom card in the deck. In order to do so, the magician casually and slightly turn his wrist just enough to allow him to peek at the bottom card.
• Index Card: A playing card that is used to locate another card in the deck.

 

Sim Sala Bim

Type: Impromptu Card Magic Trick

Level: Beginner

Props: 21 playing cards.

Introduction: This is one of the very first tricks I learned with cards (at age 8, more or less). It was credited to Dante, and it is completely self working.

The effect: The magician (or spectator) removes the 21 cards from the deck. The cards are dealt on 3 piles (7 cards each) and the spectator is asked to choose one. The magician grabs said deck and fans it out and asks the spectator to merely memorize one card from the deck. Once this is done, the pile is lost amongst the other. The cards are dealt a few more times and once the magician feels confident, he spells out the words SIM SALA BIM, one card at a time. The very next card is the spectators thought of card.

The method:

The trick is very self-working, once you know the principle. The principle is to place the pile containing the spectator’s selection between the other two piles. This will slowly, yet surely eventually place the selection in the center of the deck (11th card from the top).

1. So to start, deal all cards on three equal piles on the table. Have the spectator select a pile and fan it out. Have him think of a card (make sure to point out not to speak it out loud). Once done, place this pile in between the other two (it really doesn’t matter which goes underneath and which goes on top, as long as the pile containing the selection goes in between them).
2. Deal the cards on three piles, one at a time on each pile. Grab any pile and ask the spectator: “Is your card in this pile?” If they answer positively, then proceed to, as always, place it in between the other piles, if not, ask if the card is in another pile. If the answer is “Yes”, then place that one in between the other two piles, otherwise, place the remaining pile in between the other two (NOTE: always make sure to act as if you are on control).
3. Repeat the last procedure (point #2).
4. By this point their selection will undoubtedly be in the center of the deck. Just spell out SIM SALA BIM (or whatever other 10 letter word) and then reveal their selection.

NOTE: You do not need to spell out a word in order to reveal the card. Knowing the position, you can use any method you wish to reveal it.

Beginners Ace Assembly

Type: Impromptu Card Magic Trick

Level: Beginner

Props: Deck of cards (does not need to be a full one).

Introduction: This is one of the very first tricks I learned with cards (at age 8, more or less). It is a very basic version of the Ace Assembly, yet a good way to learn a few principles if you are starting into magic.

The effect: The magician (or spectator) removes the 4 Aces out of the deck (or another 4 cards, for that matter) and places them one by one face down on the table. He then proceeds to place 3 indifferent cards on top of each Ace. One by one, the magician turn over each packet and every Ace has transposed with another card. The magician then turns over the last pile to reveal all Aces have “assembled” there.

The method: Have the spectator shuffle the deck and remove any four-of-a-kind. Alternatively, you can have 4 spectators choose and remember their cards. Display them face up on the table and pick up the remaining of the deck and hold it in Mechanic’s Grip (or Dealer’s Grip). Ask them: “which is your favorite?” As this is happening, count 3 cards from the top and keep a pinky break below them. As they start naming their favorite cards, start picking them up and lay them on top of the deck, face up, without letting go off that pinky break. Once all 4 cards are on top of the deck, pick up everything above the pinky break (that is, the 3 face down indifferent cards, along with the 4 face up Aces on top) with a Biddle Grip. Now, start naming the top 3 cards as you peel them off unto the deck and use the pack to flip them over face down on top of the deck. Once you finish counting them down, you should have the last face up Ace, along with 3 indifferent face-down cards below it. Place this entire pack on top of the deck and proceed to flip up the Ace on top. Now, very casually, deal the four top cards unto the table, right to left. The spectator believes these are the 4 Aces. In reality, only the furthest card to the right is. The remaining 4 are indifferent cards. Proceed to deal 3 cards on top of each deck, starting from the right. Continuing from this point, the trick is self working. Make sure to act it out to really sell it. Just remember you have to display the pack on the right last.

Glossary:

• Mechanic’s Grip: The most basic card grip there is. Have the deck rest on your (more often than not, non-dominant) hand with one of the long edges resting against your middle-finger, ring-finger and pinky, and the other long edge resting against the base of your thumb. The index finger holds the cards from the short edge furthest away from you.

Image credit: Wikipedia

• Pinky Break: During Mechanics Grip, jam just a little bit of the tip of your pinky below some cards. Make sure the spectator will not be able to see this.
• Biddle Grip: The cards are held with the dominant hand on the shape of a claw, from above, with the thumb along the short edge closest to you and the middle-finger and ring finger on the opposite edge. The index-finger and pinky are usually left free.