"QUEEN TELLS ALL" (#61)

"QUEEN TELLS ALL" (#61)

This trick really fakes them out---just practice it a few times....

On the pretense of looking over the deck to locate a Queen, glance at and remember the two cards next to the bottom card of the deck. These two cards are the cards that the Queen will whisper to you at the end of the trick.

Once you find a Queen, lay her on the table face up. Then, place the deck on the table face down and have someone cut the deck into two heaps without restacking them after the cut.
Here’s where you gain the advantage on the volunteer. Have the volunteer count the bottom half of the cards onto the table in front of them so that the half deck of cards is inverted (i.e. the top card of the half deck becomes the bottom card of the counted half deck). When this is done, the bottom card will be on top of the deck and the two cards you remembered should be beneath them, but in a reversed order, so make sure you guess the correct card! Restack the entire deck into one pile with the counted half on top.

Tell the volunteer to take the top card and place it into the middle of the deck. Then, tell them to do the same with the bottom card. This gives the volunteer the illusion that you are “burning” the top and bottom cards and thereby giving away any advance you may have had in seeing the top or bottom cards.

Have the volunteer place the now top card (the first card you remembered) in their shirt pocket or in one of their pants pockets. Then have them do the same with the next card (the second card you remembered).


Now, this is just for effect, so ham it up as much as you like, but not so much that you make your mark suspicious. Have your volunteer rub one of the cards in their pocket on the Queen that is lying on the table and place it back into their pocket. Pick up the Queen and “listen” for the card she has supposedly just seen, but you know anyway. Divulge the card to your volunteer and soak up the reaction.

Then, just to drive it home even further, repeat the last step with the other card. This helps allows the volunteer to believe that you didn’t perform a simple force to see the top card since you actually know two different cards from the deck. Whoa !

"FORCING A CARD" (#60)

"FORCE A CARD" (#60)

There are many among us who would claim that forcing a card really isn't magic. While this may be, this "trick" is one of the cornerstones of card tricks and should be mastered by all novice magicians.

Shuffle the deck in a normal way; make sure to note the bottom card of the deck before you start the gag. I've noticed that it's easier to do the shuffle that involves holding the deck in one hand and dividing the cards between both sides of the deck. This way, you can notice the bottom without making it too obvious.

Hold the deck face down in the palm of your left hand. Arrange your fingers so you have all four fingers on the top of the deck and your thumb on the bottom.
Look your observer in the face and tell him to "say when" as you slowly pull the top cards towards you in small increments.
When the observer says "stop" (or "when"), slide all the top cards you pull towards you off the deck completely... plus, pull the bottom card of the deck with your thumb. This way, what was once the bottom card of the entire deck, is now the bottom card of the cards you pulled off in front of the observer. You may have to practice a light touch for grabbing the bottom card so as not to make a noticeable "slap" as the cards come together.
Show the bottom card of the pile of removed cards to the observer. At this point, you can start the drama by closing your eyes, breaking into a chant, placing a hand to your forehead... whatever works for you.
Then, simply announce the name of the card to the observer

"JAW DROPPER" (#59)

"JAW DROPPER" (#59)

The magician picks one person for the trick. The one person picks a card, remembers the card, and puts it back in the deck. You search the deck and find the card. Watch as the jaws drop.

Make sure all of the cards are one way ....
Flip the bottom card upside down so if you flip the deck over it looks like the top.

SECRET
When they are looking at the card you flip the deck over
since you already flipped the bottom card over it will look like the top of the deck
when they put the card back in it will be the only one flipped that way.

This trick works best when you use cards that have extra white around the rim, in case you slip a bit.......but no biggie..!!


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(#58)

"RED & BLACK" (#58)

The deck is split into two halves (towers), both of which may be shuffled by the spectator. The spectator selects a card from either pile (his free choice!), and replaces it *anywhere* (his free choice!) into the other pile which he immediately shuffles. The magician finds the selected card even after the spectator has shuffled the pile thoroughly!

SECRET:
Pre-arrange the deck by separating the cards into two piles of black cards & red cards.
Place these two piles on top of each other to make one complete deck.
Pre-arrange the deck ahead of time - don't let anyone see you do this!

Casually split the deck in half, creating two face-down piles (towers), one of the red cards, the other of the black cards.
Let the spectator freely choose one tower, and select any card from this pile. Do this by fanning out the cards face down, and have him touch a card, which he takes and remembers.
Have the spectator insert his selected card anywhere into the *other* tower.
Look through the tower containing the spectator's card. The only different coloured card in the pile is the selected card!
Produce the chosen card with your favorite revelation. A simple method is to place the card on the table face down, and turn it over after the spectator names his card.

Tips:
Keep the cards face down at all times, so that the spectator cannot see that each tower has cards of the same color!
To heighten the effect, have the spectator shuffle each tower (face-down) thoroughly before making his choice. Also have the spectator shuffle the pile thoroughly after replacing his selected card.
To reduce the chances of the secret being "discovered", instead of separating the deck into red and black cards, separate it into odd cards and even cards (count jacks and kings as odd, queens as even). At a glance, each pile will look like a random assortment of red and black cards, and the fact that the deck is pre-arranged will not be obvious--so make the decision based on the spectators you have......
This trick is so mystifying that it *can* be repeated once or twice without risk of discovery! (but only when you are using piles with odd and even cards)
For a variation with two spectators, have each spectator select a pile and a card, and shuffle their selected cards into the other spectator's pile.
This secret of this trick may seem rather basic, but when played up, the effect is baffling for the spectator, especially since he shuffles the pile into which he replaces his card....and this takes extremely little skill from the magician !!(that's why I like it !!!).

(#57) "Texas Notepad"

"TEXAS NOTEPAD" (#57)

This is a cute little gag that will bring a lot of smiles....

When you are paying for a small ticket item pull out what everyone thinks is a checkbook. Actually it´s a notepad made up of genuine dollar bills. You peel out the necessary amount and pay for your item(s). The person taking your money and those in close proximity will look at you as if you are from another planet.

SECRET: Go to your local bank and purchase some new one dollar bills. The new bills are crisp and should line up perfectly. I typically like to get a stack of 30 bills or more. While at the bank you may want to ask for a checkbook cover, unless you have an extra one at home. When you get home, sit down at a desk with the checkbook cover, a pair of scissors, some rubber cement, a notepad, and some baby powder.
Cut out a dollar-sized piece of cardboard from the back of the notepad. Place this dollar-shaped piece of cardboard behind your stack of bills. Align the bills with the cut-out cardboard.
Place some rubber cement onto the top edge of the stack. As the glue is drying sprinkle some baby powder onto the cemented edge of the stack. Typically, I´ll repeat this procedure one or two more times. This creates a flexible rubber material (like those used on traditional notepads). Once the cement dries your stack of bills will function like a notepad or checkbook.
Slip the Texas notepad into the checkbook cover and imagine the fun you´ll have the next time you pay for something in cash! I´ll ask “Will you accept...” as I pull the checkbook from my pocket, “cash?” As you peel off the money to pay them, be sure to keep a straight face.

This is a great way to meet people & break the ice.....

8-CARD PREDICTOR (#56)

"8-card Predictor" (#56)

(This is an old trick, but effective in the simplest way)

Someone in the audience chooses one of eight cards while the magician is out of the room (or has his back turned). The magician's assistant points to the cards one at a time, asking the magician if each is the chosen card. The magician guesses the correct one.
Supplies:
~8 cards -- one of which must be an eight (let's say the eight of hearts for our explanation)~an assistant who's in on the trick...

Preparation:
Arrange 8 cards in the same pattern as the hearts on the eight of hearts.

Secret:
Have the magician leave the room. Have the assistant choose someone from the audience to pick one of the eight cards. Show it to everyone. Place the card back in the correct position.
Have the magician come back in the room.
Have the assistant point to cards one at a time, in no particular order, asking "is this it".
Now here's the trick... the assistant must point to the 8 sometime before they point to the card that was chosen. When the assistant points to the 8, he should point to the heart on the eight that is in the same position as the card on the table (remember, we arranged the cards just like the hearts on the eight). This will tell the magician which card is the correct one.

"HANDKERCHEIF FAKEOUT" (#55)

"HANDKERCHEIF FAKEOUT" (#55)

The magician spills the deck onto the table. He picks one of the cards up with a magic handkerchief, says a magic word and poof! the card disappears


Cut the toothpick so that it's the same width as one of the cards (the width is the shorter side of the card.) Push the toothpick into the hem of the handkerchief, making sure it won't fall out.

Secret:
Spread the deck of cards out on the table... you may want to fiddle with this a bit.
Place the handkerchief overtop of the cards with the toothpick hem facing down. Don't fiddle with this part... you don't want them to guess that the handkerchief is special.
With your thumb and finger, pick up the handkerchief, holding onto the toothpick (Say something like, "I will now pick up a card"). This will trick the audience into thinking there is a card under the handkerchief.
Pick up the edges of the toothpick so it looks like you’re picking up a card.
The red in the diagram represents the toothpick, but it will be invisible to the audience.
Say some magic words, wave a wand or wave your magic puppet over the handkerchief.
Flap it in the air, letting go of the toothpick part and just holding the corner.
Presto! The "card" has disappeared.