How to Perform Hercat's Illusion

People think they're seeing one card when, in fact, they aren't.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tables
• Standard Deck Of Playing Cards
• Tables

The Trick

1. Your audience sees you separate the two black aces and the ace of hearts within a deck of cards.

2. Abracadabra! The three cards have joined each other in the middle of the deck.

Preparation

3. Before you begin the trick, all of the aces in the deck should be accounted for. Put the ace of diamonds on the bottom on the deck. Take the other three aces out.

4. You can do this either in advance or by holding the deck so that the cards face you.

How It's Done

5. Put the deck face-down on the table.

6. Hold the three aces fanned in this position: a black ace on the top and left, the other black ace in the middle and on the right, the upside-down ace of hearts in the back and center.

7. Show the cards to your audience. Say, "Here are the cards to watch. The ace of spades, the ace of diamonds and the ace of clubs."

8. Square up the three cards and set them face-down on top of the rest of the deck.

9. Roll up your sleeves. You're about to do some hocus pocus.

10. Take the top card - the ace of hearts masquerading as the ace of diamonds - and slide it into the center of the deck.

11. Say, "The ace of diamonds hides in the middle." Be sure not to let anyone see which card it is.

12. Take the next card and tilt it enough for your audience to see it, but don't be obvious about it. Put it on the bottom of the deck. Say, "This black ace goes on the bottom."

13. Be careful not to reveal the ace of diamonds that you put there earlier. Remember that your audience thinks they saw you put it in the middle of the deck.

14. Flip the top card over - the second black ace - and hold it up for all to see. Then put it back face-down on top of the deck. Say, "And this black ace stays on top."

15. Cut the deck.

16. Ask a member of the audience to cut it.

17. Say your magic words and do some fancy hand gestures over the deck.

18. Turn the deck face-up and spread out the cards.

19. The three aces will be together. Pull the group out and say, "What's this? The three aces ... together!"

Tips & Warnings

• The point of the bottom of the ace of hearts should appear to be the half-hidden ace of diamonds.