Effect: A card is selected by a spectator and remembered. Using the key card, you begin to turn over one card at a time, claiming to be able to “read” the spectator’s mind. When you come to the selected card, you deliberately go past it, stop and say, “The next card I turn over will be your card.” The card you turn over is the spectator’s card!
Secret: This is a trick using the “key card” principal. Shuffle the cards and while doing so, secretly “glimpse” the bottom card of the deck and remember it, for example, the 5H. This becomes your key card. Using one of the suggested methods of card selection, have the spectator select a card, show it around, remember it and place back on top of the deck.
1. You give the deck a simple cut, placing the bottom half of the deck on top of the top half, saying, “Let’s bury your card somewhere in the deck.” You have now effectively placed the 5H on top of the selected card.
2. You can invite the spectator to cut the cards again, if you want – as long as he gives it a simple (single) cut – but do NOT let him shuffle.
3. Deal the cards; face up, one at a time. When you see the key card, the 5H, the next card will be the one selected but do not pause: continue dealing about ten more cards.
4. Then say, “I bet the next card I turn over will be yours.” He will believe you have missed his card and will accept the bet.
5. Wait a second or two then reach for the card immediately next to your key card, which will be the spectator’s selected card. Turn it over and you win the bet.
