![Pick_a_card](https://themagicianschoice.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/pick_a_card.jpg?w=660)
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.