How to Perform the Calling the Shots Card Trick

The Calling the Shots card trick has a really great effect, because it makes the spectator believe you are getting him to pull the card you want him to pull at random. It looks as if you are calling the shots and the spectator is unwittingly following as if under mind control. This trick is a little more difficult to perform than basic card tricks, but anyone can perform it successfully with a little practice.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Deck of playing cards

1. Glance at the bottom card of the deck while shuffling the cards. In this example, let's say the bottom card is the ace of spades. Be sure to keep the ace of spades on the bottom of the deck while you are shuffling.

2. Tell the spectator that you are going to be calling the shots and making him pick the cards you want out of the deck.

3. Put the deck down on the table.

4. Ask the spectator to pick up the card on the top of the deck and put it down face down on the table without looking at it.

5. Tell the spectator the card he picks will be the ace of spades.

6. Pick up the card chosen by the spectator to see if your prediction was correct. Say that it was (even though it wasn't) and memorize what the card actually is. Let's say it is the jack of hearts.

7. Put the card back down on the table without letting anyone see it.

8. Tell the spectator to pick the jack of hearts out of the middle of the deck and put it face down on the table.

9. Pick up that card and say that you were right again. Memorize what that card is as well. Let's say it is the queen of diamonds.

10. Put the queen of diamonds back down on top of the jack of hearts.

11. Tell the spectator to pick the queen of diamonds off the bottom of the deck and put it face down on the table.

12. Pick that card up and again proclaim that you are right.

13. Pretend that's the end of the trick and expect the audience to boo.

14. Ask the audience if it wants to see for itself if you were right.

15. Slide the last card, the ace of spades, under the first two cards when you pick them up from the table and turn over the pile. This will put the cards in the right order for the reveal.

Tips & Warnings

• An "overhand shuffle" works well for this trick, because you can use the thumb of your left hand to keep the bottom card from moving as you perform the shuffling with your right hand.
• As you perform, the spectator and the audience may protest that the trick is a fake before they are permitted to see the cards themselves. The payoff is at the very end, when it looks like you really were calling the shots after all.