How to Set Up the Red and Black Card Deck for Magic Tricks

The red and black card deck setup is very easy, but it can be used for several great card tricks. The order of the cards doesn't matter, nor does it matter whether the red or black cards are at the top of the deck.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Setting Up the Deck

1. Turn the deck face-up.

2. Look at each card one at a time. Every time you find a black card, push it up until the bottom edge lies in the center of the card next to it. This is called jogging up.

3. When all the black cards have been jogged up, push the deck together from left to right.

4. Grab the red cards with one hand and the black cards with the other and separate them.

5. Restack the deck.

Red and Blacks Trick

6. Separate the decks into red and black cards. Put each pile on a table.

7. Ask a spectator to remove the top card from each pile, memorize them and place each card on the top of the other pile.

8. Direct the spectator to shuffle each pile separately.

9. Put the decks together, turn the faces toward you and search through the deck for a red card surrounded by black cards and a black card surrounded by red cards.

10. Remove the red and black card and lay them on the table for the spectator to see that they are the cards he or she memorized.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to keep the audience from seeing the other cards in the deck or they will see how the trick is done.