How to Do a Card Location Trick With a Stripper Deck

A stripper deck is a deck of cards that are slightly narrower at one end than at the other (stripped). It's used to perform a variety of card location tricks by beginner magicians, but more accomplished performers are expected to retire the stripper deck and work with a regular deck of cards.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Stripper deck

1. Ensure that all the cards in the stripper deck are properly oriented so all the narrow ends of the cards are at the same end of the deck.

2. Fan out the cards face down for the spectator and allow him or her to choose a card and memorize it without showing it to you.

3. Close the deck and reverse it. Use patter to misdirect the audience's attention while you reverse the deck.

4. Fan the cards out again and invite the spectator to replace the card he or she chose anywhere into the deck.

5. Cut the cards or shuffle to mix them up without changing the orientation of the cards. Don't riffle the cards, because this will mix the narrow and wide ends of the cards.

6. Square the deck, feeling with your fingers and thumb for the card that's slightly wider than the rest of the deck. Grasp this card, pull it out of the deck and show it to the spectator.

Tips & Warnings

• Learn the swing reversal to close the fanned deck and reopen it. Place your right index finger on the top left corner of the leftmost card (if the deck is in your left hand) and push the card to the right. When the deck is completely closed and reversed, your finger will be on the bottom right corner of the closed deck in your hand.
• You can continue to shuffle and cut the cards, finding the chosen card each time. You can also claim to be able to find a certain card from a deck pulled from a box if you set the deck up ahead of time.
• Don't spend too much time squaring the deck and finding the card or your audience will see that one card is sticking out.