Down to the Last Cards

Original Author: Unknown

After Spectator chooses a card at random, deck is cut several times. Magician sorts through entire deck trying to locate card. The Spectator or another is asked to select another card. This card is also lost. By cutting the deck and removing packets of cards, the magician holds 2-5 cards in his hands and presents the lost cards.

PREPARATION: Shuffle cards in front of Spectator, get a look at the bottom card of the deck, THIS WILL BE YOUR KEY CARD!

METHOD: Fan out deck and ask Spectator to select a card and show it around. Hindu Shuffle off about half the deck (if you didn't get to see the bottom card yet, tilt the deck towards yourself and tap it against the packet in your hand.)

Tell the spectator to place their card onto the top of the packet. Drop the rest of the deck on top of their card. (Either cut the deck 3 times and restack or false overhand shuffle to pretend to lose the card.) Look through the deck and cut to the top a packet or 2 of cards.

When you arrive at your KEY CARD, their card is the next card BEFORE your KEY CARD. Cut a packet to the top leaving their card on the bottom of the deck. This card now becomes your New KEY CARD.

Fan the cards again and apologize for losing their card and ask them to select another (maybe a court card they have EYES and can help find the missing card).

Hindu Shuffle the deck again and have the Spectator place the card on the packet and drop the rest of the deck on top. (cut or false overhand shuffle again) Once again look for the card(s). Cut packets then finally cut a packet which leaves both cards on the bottom of the deck.

Explain that this never happens and you cut the deck in half to aid you in finding the missing cards. (Keep track of where you put the half with the 2 cards on the bottom). Ask them to point to ONE of the two stacks. Remove the one NOT containing their 2 cards.

Count the cards in the stack by peeling off the bottom card then follow by placing the next card on top of that and so on. This count will move their cards to the top (getting them out of the way for the next phase) What ever the count is say, "Give me a number between 4 and (the count minus 4)". [i.e. the count is 20 so you say "Give me a number between 4 and 16")

Count off as before from the bottom what ever number they give. Discard THESE cards! Now count the remaining cards using the bottom to top count. Once again what ever the count say, "Now give me a number between 3 and (the count minus 3)".

Count off these cards using bottom to top count. Discard leftover cards! Count the cards again bottom to top. Now their cards are back on the bottom.

Ask for another number this time between 2 and (the count minus 2). If they say 2 end the trick by pointing out that out of 52 cards you hold only 2 cards. Make a big deal about their freedom of selections.

If they pick a number greater then 2 pick off that many cards using the bottom to top count and discard the rest. Eliminate extra cards by asking questions about color or suits.

When you have 2 cards, point out that out of 52 cards you hold only 2 cards. Make a big deal about their freedom of selections and present the cards to them.

[Return to Hard Card Trick Index]