How to Perform the Criss Cross Card Trick

The Criss Cross is a standard card trick for every budding magician's repertoire. Essentially, this trick is what magicians call a "force." A force is when the magician forces the spectator to choose a card that is already known to the magician. Anyone can perform this simple card trick, and once you master it, you can adapt it in many ways.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Deck of playing cards

1. Ask the spectator to shuffle the cards. Most people shuffle cards in such a way as to show the bottom card when they straighten the deck. Remember which card ends up on the bottom.

2. Have the spectator cut the cards. She can cut them as many times as she wants, as long as you can remember which pile has your bottom card in it.

3. Gather the cards back to the deck, and place the pile with the bottom card you have memorized across the other cards in the deck like a criss cross. This pile can be wedged into the deck by placing other piles on top and underneath it.

4. Misdirect the spectator's attention and the attention of the audience by saying something like, "I let you cut these cards as many times as you wanted, right?"

5. Hold up the deck of cards for the spectator, and ask the spectator to remove the criss cross pile and look at the bottom card. Ask the spectator to remember that card. The spectator should also show the card to any other people watching you perform the trick.

6. Replace the pile back in the deck, and shuffle the deck again.

7. Tell the spectator you are going to read her mind to find her card.

8. Look through all the cards and feign intense concentration. This step is all about acting like you are reading the mind of the spectator.

9. Pull out the card you memorized from the beginning to reveal the trick. Remember to ask, "Is this your card?"

Tips & Warnings

• The Criss Cross trick is mostly about how much style you use when you perform it. Misdirection is one of the most important aspects of getting the audience to buy into it.
• If you can't see the bottom card when the spectator shuffles, take a second to glance at it inconspicuously when you take back the deck.
• There are many variations on this trick. For example, the card revelation can be done in a different way, or the top card can be used instead of the bottom card.