I found an amazing card trick on metacafe.com. It's very easy to learn. It works, but I don't know why and how. Maybe you can tell me?

link: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/903647/magic_card_trick/

Chokhoro

Well, type in the searchfield ' 21 card trick' and you get tons of info about this one.

Frans

The video to which you link is teaching you how to do the trick. Whichever stack your spectator indicates has their card, just make sure you put it between the other two piles. It will ALWAYS be the 11th card.

If you want to understand the mathematical principle behind it, get out the A-K of one suit, and the A-8 of another. Stack them, from the top with the A-K in order (if you chose clubs for this, the stack would go AC, 2C, 3C, and so on...), followed by the A-8 of the other suit in order (If you chose clubs for the first suit and hearts for this second suit, the top card would be the AC, and the bottom/face card would be the 8H). Now, go through the routine with this stack, choosing any of the cards in there, and watch what happens to the order. When you're done, reset the stack, mentally choose a different card, and watch what happens to the order again. After you do this 2-3 times, you'll start seeing the pattern and the principle that makes it work.

Here's a tip: After the third deal, and the spectator has indicated which pile it is in, get a quick look at the 4th card from the top, as you reassemble the deck. This will be their card. Instead of simply counting down to the 11th card, get out an invisible deck, and reveal their card with it!

Chokhoro, welcome to the Café!

You've hit upon one of the best effects almost everyone learns when they get started in magic! Why? Because it's self working and let's you do something magical that really can't be explained. Well...it could, but that's another story.

Scott's given you a nice way to vary the presentation. Play with it, show it to a couple of friends and then learn some new stuff. After all, magic is about the journey. Have fun!

Mark.

Every second person who knows a card trick will perform this and I find it to be a rather tedious card routine.

Hi Tom,

One interesting response is to repeat the trick but with all the cards 'accidentally' placed face down. Announcing the selection from this position can produce a devastating reaction.

Regards,

Paul H

I have a buddy that performs this, but has never shown me how!

Ventriloguy (may I call you "Vent"?) - if you want to mess with your buddy, check out Michael Ammar's take on this plot, in his Easy To Master Card Miracles series (no 9, I think). It requires a little work but is a good twist on a well-worn trick.

ventriloguy:
Bet ya it was that little guy on the left side of your Avatar!

(Sorry couldn't resist.)