How to Do the Predict the Future Card Trick

Novice magicians should stock their arsenals with easy tricks. Simple tricks become the foundation of the big tricks that blow away audiences. A great trick to start with is "Predict the Future." With a little practice you can fool the most skeptical observer.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Standard 52 card deck

1. Glance at the card on the bottom of the deck. Turn the deck up ever so slightly and casually glance from the bottom of your eye.

2. Shuffle the deck. Drop the bottom card first in the shuffle sequence to make sure it stays at the bottom.

3. Spread the cards on the table. Announce that you will predict four cards, which you will take at random, beginning with (the name of the bottom card.)

4. Select any card from the deck but the bottom card. Pull it toward you swiftly and lift the corner just enough to see what it is with the bottom of your eye. Don't show the card to anyone else.

5. Name the card in your hand as the next card you will select. Select a second card the same way and place it in behind the first card. Repeat until you have selected three cards.

6. Name the third card you selected as your last card, then take the bottom card (which you identified as the first card taken.) Place the last card in front of the other three, however, not behind. This will make it the first card you lay down.

7. Announce that you have selected the four cards you predicted, then lay them down. The order will be bottom card (first named,) first card selected at random (second named,) second card selected (third named) and finally third card selected (last named.)

Tips & Warnings

• The key is to learn to lift a card and glance with your peripheral vision without appearing to look at all. With practice you can quickly lift up a corner as you select a card.
• Practice your banter in front of a mirror and then in front of friends. The most important element of magic isn't the trick, it's the psychology of performing. The faster you can scan a card without appearing to look at it, the better the trick will be.