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.

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.