by Jessica Haberman

Created on: August 23, 2007

Card tricks are great fun and can be even more enjoyable if you follow some basic principles:

1. Do not perform the same trick multiple times on the same person. That's how card tricks lose their magic.
2. Practice until you're really comfortable. Sloppy card tricks aren't going to impress anyone.
3. Look for ways to make your trick better and cleaner. There are often many ways to do the same trick.

4. Don't take yourself too seriously. Don't get upset if you mess up or if someone figures out the solution. Card tricks are great ice breakers, so just have fun.

This is my favorite card trick and one of the easiest to perform. It's also difficult for your audience to figure out unless they see it many times. Shuffle your deck of cards. Your audience most likely won't be paying close attention until they think you've begun the trick. As you finish shuffling, take a discrete peek at the bottom card of the deck and memorize it. Fan out the cards face down, either in your hands or on a table, and ask a friend to choose a card. Ask them to memorize the card and place it at the bottom of the deck. Or, you may also ask them to place it face down on the table and place the rest of the deck on top of the card they chose. Cut the deck several times. You can even ask your friend to cut the deck for you for your last cut so they can see that you're not attempting anything fancy. Announce that you will find the card they chose. Since you placed their card on the bottom of the deck, underneath the card that you memorized, their card will appear underneath that card (or to the right of your card when you fan the cards out facing yourself). Show them the card they chose.

Here is an example: You peek to find the Queen of Hearts is the bottom card. They happen to choose the 5 of Clubs and place it under the Queen of Hearts. When you cut the deck (as many times as you like), they will remain together unless you happen to cut between them. When you search the deck for the Queen of Hearts, you'll find the 5 of Clubs just before it (to the right of the Queen).

I'll leave it up to you to decide whether you show your friends the solution. Have fun!

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