This trick uses a clever arrangement of a standard 52-card deck to create an illusion that will baffle even the most observant spectator. It is explained in Resonance – Journal of Science Education.
Performing the trick
- The magician begins by handing over a deck of 52 cards to the spectator, which contains some cards facing up and others facing down.
- The spectator is given the freedom to cut the deck or shuffle it to their heart’s content and then return it to the magician.
- Now, the magician takes the deck and precisely counts out 26 cards from the top, forming two piles on the table.
- The magician instructs the spectator to count the number of face-up cards in one of the piles.
- Following that, the spectator is asked to count the number of face-up cards in the second pile.
To everyone’s amazement, the number of face-up cards in both piles turns out to be exactly the same!
How does the trick work?
So, how does this mind-boggling trick work?
The secret lies in the prearrangement of the deck. Before presenting the trick, the magician secretly separates the deck into two equal parts—one with 26 face-up cards and the other with 26 face-down cards.
When the magician counts 26 cards from the top to form a pile, they skilfully turn the pile over before placing it on the table. By doing this, the number of face-up cards in each pile remains equal, baffling the spectator and leaving them in awe of the magic.