How to Perform the Three Burglars Trick

Combine the elements of a crime drama and a magical illusion for this entertaining trick.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Separate a king and three jacks from the deck.
2. Prepare for the trick by placing two kings and the remaining jack at the bottom of the deck in a king-jack-king sequence.
3. Begin the trick by showing the audience the three jacks and the deck. Explain that the jacks are three burglars and the deck is the house they're going to rob. Don't fan the deck.
4. Place the first jack on the bottom of the deck, saying that the first burglar went in through the front door.
5. Place the second jack on the top of the deck, saying that the second burglar went in through the back door.
6. Stick the third jack in near the middle of the deck, saying that the third burglar went in through a window.
7. Show the king to the audience, saying that the king is a detective chasing after the burglars.
8. Place the king on the bottom of the deck, saying that the detective followed the burglars in through the front door.
9. Cut the deck several times, saying that the detective chased the burglars around the house all night.
10. Fan out the deck, revealing a king-jack-king-jack-king-jack sequence toward the middle of the deck.
11. Tell the audience that, in the morning, all three burglars were caught.

Tips & Warnings

• One of the most important rules of magic is to never reveal how a trick is performed. If you do, your audience will be disappointed and everyone you know will start doing your trick.