Ask Ollie
The Eleventh Card Magic Show
Here's one to try together!
Ollie says every great magician needs one trick that never fails. Learn it, then amaze everyone!
Reviewed by our team.
Safety first
- Cards are a minor choking hazard for very young siblings nearby
What you need
- Deck of cards, 1 deck (21 cards used)
- Paper, 1 sheet for a cheat sheet (optional)
How to do it
Grown-up prep: Find a deck with all its cards and a flat table. Keep the cards away from very young siblings, who could choke on them.
- Pick any 21 cards from the deck and shuffle them well.
- Deal the cards face up into three columns of seven.
- Ask a friend to silently pick one card and tell you its column. Ask: Can you hold your card secretly in your mind? Which column is it in?
- Gather the columns with the chosen one in the middle, then deal again.
- Ask which column holds the card, gather with it in the middle, and deal again.
- Ask once more, then gather with that column in the middle.
- Count down to card number eleven and flip it with a flourish! Ask: What card do you think I am about to turn over?
- Practice until it is smooth, then invent your own magic words.
- Perform for your family, take a bow, and keep the secret! Who will you fool next? Ask: Which magic words worked best, and who should see the trick next?
Play it again
- Silent show: perform with no talking, only dramatic hand waves.
- Mystery number: before you reveal, ask your audience to guess which card number it will be.
- Magician swap: teach the trick to someone else and watch them perform it.
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