Instructions
- Step 1: Choose a card Have a spectator choose a card, memorize it, and return it to the deck.
- Step 2: Mark the return point Mark where they returned the card by using your pinky to create a slight space over it.
- Step 3: Bring it to the top Do a quick shuffle, secretly bringing their card to the top.
- Step 4: Bring the card to the bottom As you chatter, begin to overhand side-shuffle the deck. Bring their card to the bottom by sliding it off alone in the first cut.
- Step 5: Move the second card Shuffle again, pulling off the top card, and placing it at the bottom of the deck. The chosen card is now the second card from the bottom.
- TIP: Make sure you don’t let anyone see the deck’s bottom card as you shuffle.
- Step 6: Show the card to the audience Turn over the deck and show the spectator the bottom card. Ask them if it is theirs. They will say no.
- TIP: This is a good time to distract your audience a little. Start rubbing the deck and ask them if they’re sure.
- Step 7: Set up the sleight Now here’s the tricky part: While your audience is distracted, secretly slide the bottom card forward about an inch with the heel of your hand. In the next motion, slide the second-to-bottom card, the spectator’s chosen card, back with the heel of your hand. Make sure nobody sees it!
- Step 8: Finish Now swiftly push down with the heel of your hand on the second-to-bottom card — it will pop up and over the bottom card. Move your hands and voila – the spectator’s card has magically appeared on top of the deck.
- FACT: The late magician Dai Vernon became known as “the man who fooled Houdini” after he performed a card trick seven times without Houdini figuring it out.
You Will Need
- A fresh deck of cards
- Lots of practice
