It's one of the oldest tricks in the book — and it still works like magic. The classic Pick a Card trick is simple, smooth, and perfect for beginners. With just one sneaky move and a little showmanship, you'll be able to tell someone their card every time — no fancy sleight of hand required.
Steps to perform the classic 'Pick a Card' trick
In this tutorial, magician Chris Webb (via The Telegraph) demonstrates the secret behind this time-tested trick, and we've broken it down step by step so you can master it yourself.
Shuffle the deck. Start by giving the deck a casual shuffle to make it look random.
Have someone pick a card. Spread the cards and let them choose any card, then look at it and remember it.
Split the deck and peek. While they're focused on their card, casually split the deck in half and secretly glance at the bottom card of the top half — this will be your key card. For example, say it's the Queen of Diamonds.
Return their card. Ask them to place their card on top of the bottom half of the deck. Then place your top half (with the key card on the bottom) directly on top — sandwiching their card right above the Queen of Diamonds.
Let them cut the deck. Offer to let them cut the deck as many times as they like. The position of the two cards may shift, but their card will still end up directly above your key card — unless the deck is thoroughly shuffled.
Reveal the card. Spread the cards face up and look for your key card (the Queen of Diamonds, in this example). The card immediately before it will be theirs.
Note on consistency
This trick works most reliably if you control the cuts and avoid full shuffles. If your spectator does a real shuffle, the connection between the key card and their card might be broken. If that happens, don't panic — just say your magic "glitched" and try again with a more controlled cut. A little humor and confidence can make even a failed trick entertaining. 🃏
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