Benji | The Daily Magician

The Perfect Faro Shuffle: The Best Tutorial You’ll Find

January 22, 2024 by Benji Leave a Comment

A Faro shuffle is a precise card shuffling technique where a deck is split into two equal halves. Then, the halves are interlaced perfectly, one card from each half at a time, so they alternate. If done correctly, this method can be used to control the order of cards, making it a very useful weapon in our arsenal!

We recently teamed up with German magician Dustin Grimm to put out what we think is maybe the best faro tutorial out there.

(And it’s completely free!)

Here’s the proof just from the intro…

If you want to master the faro shuffle – sign up for this tutorial now! (ITS FREE)

Get this tutorial completely for FREE here: www.thedailymagician.com/dustin

My Introduction to The Faro Shuffle

The Faro Shuffle is perhaps one of the most underused yet amazing principles every discovered by magicians! And today I’m going to break it down for you, and in a way (and I’m willing to bet my reputation on this) you’ve never heard it described before.

But first, you might be wondering how to do one…

Here’s a great free tutorial we recommend:

(stick around until the end to find out how to get your hands on secrets you didn’t even know existed)

So first, a story:

If you ever THINK you’ve invented something original in card magic, chances are…

Ed Marlo got there first.

Or, at least, that’s what I’d heard other magicians say.

But I didn’t think that could actually be the case.

How could it?

(Surely Marlo didn’t think of EVERYTHING?)

That all changed on a lazy May afternoon.

I’d been hard at work putting together a ‘member newsletter’ for Conjuror Community (a magic company I used to work for). Or at least, I was meant to be.

Truth was, I’d wrote half the email and then got sidetracked by something absolutely fascinating to me:

The ‘perfect’ faro.

More specifically, the fact that 8 perfect faros would return a deck of cards to its original order.

For me, this fact was mind-blowing.

Why didn’t I see this discussed more?? And why weren’t more magicians doing stuff with this??

I decided to try a little experiment.

I figured a cool effect might be to have someone call out any ‘Four of a Kind’ and be able to cut the deck and display those exact four cards together.

My thinking was that I’d start with the deck arranged into 13 Four of a Kinds—from all 4 Aces together to all 4 Kings.

Then, I’d give the deck 8 faro shuffles in front of the audience. To them, it would look like I was hopelessly mixing the deck…but in reality, I would end the shuffling right back where I started, with all the values arranged in Four of a Kinds.

Finally, I’d ask them to name any card. Whichever card they named, I would know where it is in the deck and be able to cut to that value. But not only would I be able to cut to that value, I’d be able to immediately display afterward that all FOUR cards of that value had come together in the deck.

(as they examined the four cards, I would give the deck a REAL shuffle

Out of curiosity, I decided to take a look at what the cards would look like during each of those 8 faro shuffles.

What I discovered blew my mind.

Now, yes, I know: I already used that phrase.

But this time, I mean it in the sense of ‘it blew my mind so hard that I stayed up in my room experimenting with it, without even eating, for the remainder of the morning and most of the afternoon.’

That kinda ‘blew my mind.’

What I discovered about the faro shuffle (Marlo got there first)

After the first faro:

Each card in the set of four is separated by one. Interesting.

After the second faro:

Each card in the set of four is separated by 3 cards. Extra interesting.

After the third faro:

Third faro – looks somewhat mixed. But still some patterns. Perhaps a good time to briefly display the deck.

After the fourth faro:

Looks pretty shuffled except the reds and blacks are separated in blocks of three.

After the fifth faro:

The odds and evens are separated. Well, that’s kinda neat!

After the sixth faro:

The deck is in order, ace through king, for each suit.

What?? WHAT?? Wha—pfffftttt!!!

(That’s the sound of my mind exploding.)

After the seventh faro:

The reds and blacks are separated.

Gnarrlyyyyyyyyy.

After the eighth faro:

Back where we started, with all of the Four of a Kinds lined up.

As I saw these, my mind was starting to race with ideas for possible effects that I could perform at each stage. Each time I shuffled, I could perform a stunning effect utilising the setups offered to me by the deck.

In essence, I’d created a ‘faro wheel.’

My exploration of the ‘faro wheel’

After this stunning discovery, I decided I should probably check and make sure no one else had already discussed this idea.

I decided the most likely place I’d find anything like this would be in Mnemonica.

Sure enough, after a little bit of digging, I saw that Tamariz discusses a similar concept on page 169.

In this section, Juan describes how the idea of a ‘faro wheel’ can be paired with Mnemonica for great results.

I was a little disappointed that I wasn’t the only person to have thought of this, but at the same time, it was pretty cool to hear that I’d had a similar idea (although nowhere near as in-depth) as the one Juan discusses and heaps praise on in the book. This idea, as discussed in Mnemonica, seems to originate with Luis Garcia.

Either way, I’d literally ‘reinvented the wheel.’

But, I told myself, perhaps it’s still a pretty ‘underground’ thing.

Maybe most people just skipped that page.

I figured I still had a shot at impressing other magicians with it.

So, when I was next on a call with Aaron Fisher and Adam Grace, I excitedly raised the topic.

Here we go, I told myself.

“I’m about to rock their world.”

As I explained to them my earth-shattering discovery, here’s what happened:

Aaron blinked, confused.

And then he said, and I’m paraphrasing here (but only a little)…

“Yeah kid. That’s cute. Now go read ‘Faro Notes’ by Ed Marlo.”

With a sinking feeling, I realized:

It’s true.

Marlo DID think of everything.

(Well, in this case…Marlo, Tamariz, and Luis Garcia.)

But you get the idea.

Well, like any good student, I did what they told me to do. I read Faro Notes. I realized Marlo really was ahead of his time in regard to this stuff.

My ingenious new discovery was not quite so new, or as much a discovery, as I’d assumed.

However, the good news, once I got over the initial disappointment, was that since other people had played with the idea, there were a bunch of awesome ideas and notes written up on it that enabled me to develop my own ideas to a much greater level.

The end result of all of this was a deep conviction that the Faro Shuffle is quite possibly the most powerful (but underused) tool in a mem-deck performer’s arsenal.

A bold claim, but as we get into this stuff, I think you’ll see why…

(some of you might already!)

The Skyscraper Method 2.0

The simple explanation of the faro wheel that I just gave you for FREE is but a taste of all the amazing things I figured out that you could do with it!

And if you don’t want to spend the next few years TRAPPED in the appendix of one old magic book after the other than you’re going to want to take my course (The Skyscraper Method) I promise you if you’ve enjoyed anything on this page so far, then you’re going to love all it has to offer you.

To find out more secrets that will blow you away simply follow the link below:

https://thedailymagician.com/skyscraper

Well, that’s it for the faro shuffle! Hope you enjoyed!

Best Trick Decks of 2024!

January 15, 2024 by Benji Leave a Comment

Dear friend,

Hey, and welcome to my list running you down the best trick decks out there! Ever seen a trick and been absolutely mind blown? I mean like completely mind blown? Did it just seem completely impossible? Well, it’s probably because it was…

And the odds are, they were using a trick deck…

Today, we’re going to run down the best trick decks out there, with their uses, so you can either expose your friend and be a complete jerk, or blow other people’s minds and hope they don’t find their way here the same way that you did.

What are the best trick decks?

The Invisible Deck
The Svengali Deck
The Stripper Deck
The Marked Deck

But, before you get into that, here’s a brief history lesson on trick decks. (If you hate history, well don’t worry, because you can use the links above)!

History of Trick Decks

Ever since magic has been invented people have essentially been cheating… I mean I’m sorry kids but magic just doesn’t exist (as much as we all wish Harry Potter was a real thing.) Trick decks are essentially a type of gimmick designed after the standard 52 card deck which allows magicians to pull off performances that seem entirely impossible.

Every year new trick decks are created by the greatest magic minds out there, but today I will present only the best to you.

(that really wasn’t much of a history lesson but, there really wasn’t much to say so)

Number 4 Pick: The Marked Deck

If you’re anything like me (and I hope for your sake you’re not completely like me) then you love easy, clever but mind-blowing card tricks. Of course, it’s hugely satisfying to learn card sleights, memorize maths tricks or maybe truly manipulate someone’s mind yet sometimes there really is nothing quite like a good marked deck!

Essentially, a marked deck is a deck that in some shape or form has a way that you can determine what the card is simply by looking at the back of it.

There are variations to the marking, for instance, some decks will simply allow you to determine if the card has been touched rather than the actual suit and number, while others go the full distance!

The best-marked deck I’ve seen is aptly named the ultimate marked deck and it’s produced by Bicycle Playing Cards! It has a marking system that is so easy to spot yet so easily missed by the spectator.

Click HERE to view Ultimate Marked Deck on Amazon.

Number 3 Pick: The Svengali Deck

The Svengali Deck much like the other trick decks on this list works on simple principle yet creates an incredible effect, essentially:

The deck alternates between normal cards and shortened cards and the shortened cards are all the same rank and suit. When the deck is riffled front to back, only the normal cards are visible but when it’s riffled back to front, only the shortened cards are visible.

The trick deck was created by Burling Hull in 1909 but the effect is just as mind-boggling then as it is now!

The problem with this deck, and for that matter the invisible deck, however, is that you can never hand them to the spectator, or the trick is ruined.

Click HERE to view on Amazon.

Here’s the Svengali deck at work:

Number 2 Pick: The Stripper Deck

This was my very first trick deck, and so it holds a special place in my heart. I think this is a devious idea that can produce spectacular results if used right!

Essentially, a stripper deck has a special function that allows you to locate any card at any moment, no matter how shuffled or randomised the deck is. It looks and feels completely ordinary.

The great thing about stripper decks is that they can be used as a failsafe or plan B for your regular card tricks; imagine you are trying to control a card to the top as part of your Ambitious Card Routine, but you lose track of it. With the stripper deck, you can instantly locate it and keep on going like nothing has happened.

Essentially how the deck works is all the cards are facing a certain way, you take out one card (or the spectator selects it) you then spin the card so it is facing the other way (sounds weird but I swear that’s how it works) then when you run your hands down the side of the deck, their selection magically makes it way out of the deck and into your hands, as if pulled out by magic.

You can pick up stripper decks almost everywhere, but I would recommend the bicycle stripper deck! It has the most convincing effect as people are always less suspicious of a deck they know and trust.

Click HERE to view Bicycle Stripper Deck on Amazon.

Here’s a video of the stripper deck in action, (frozen version ;))

Did you know about the Mirage Deck?

This is a fusion of a Svengali Deck and a Stripper Deck. The deck allows you to easily control a card or group of cards, but also has every other card being the same, like a Svengali. This combination offers a wider range of tricks than either deck alone, providing both the ease of a stripper deck and the impressive duplications of a Svengali deck.

Click HERE to view the Mirage Deck on Amazon.

Number 1 Pick: The Invisible Deck

The Invisible Deck is definitely a favourite here at the Daily Magician and I’ll tell you why! It’s just one of the most versatile trick decks out there when it comes to any sort of performance!

Back in the day, and still now for that matter, my cousin used it in a mentalism routine where I would pretend to be a criminal psychologist… It was a sherlock kind of thing where I would show that I ‘knew’ the thoughts of the spectator. I would whisper in the ear of my cousin what card I thought they were thinking of, after which he would turn the card over in the deck. We would then set the deck aside.

After which they would name their card, without any funky business we would take the deck, and there facedown among faceup cards was their selection.

Pretty crazy effect right? Well… You can do it too… All you’re going to need is an invisible deck.

Joe Berg created the Invisible Deck in the 1930s, originally calling it the Ultra Mental Deck. Often mistakenly credited to Dai Vernon, Don Alan, or Eddie Fields, the most-used presentation of an “invisible” deck of cards was invented by J.B. Bobo.

Essentially the principle is every faceup card has a hidden card underneath it, corresponding odd or even based on what card they pick you open the deck of cards one way or the other.

It’s pretty simple but the trick works like a dream.

Struggling to understand?

Basically, here’s how it works…

1: When the spectator names a card, the magician knows the paired card in the deck (using their memorized system). For instance, if 7 of Hearts is named, and the deck is set up so that each card pair totals 13 (with opposite colors), the magician knows to look for the 6 of Spades.

2: To reveal the chosen card, the magician handles the deck in such a way that they separate the paired cards (in this case, the 6 of Spades and 7 of Hearts), making it appear as if the 7 of Hearts is the only card upside down.

Here’s David Blaine putting this effect to work:

Click HERE to view the Invisible Deck on Amazon.

BONUS: Best Trick Decks for Kids (VERY FUN)!

The Brain Wave Deck (Colour Changing Card Trick) – The Brainwave Deck is essentially a variation on the Invisible deck, except the card you pull from the deck is from a different coloured deck. It’s a pretty cool concept because it makes the spectator feel as if no sleight of hand is possible, the first few times this trick was pulled on me it literally blew my mind, so it’s certainly worth looking into this deck too!

The Cardtoon Deck (Storytelling Card Trick) – The Cardtoon Deck creates an animated sequence when the cards are riffled. It’s unique because it’s more about visual storytelling and entertainment, rather than just a card trick. The animation typically ends with a reveal that matches the spectator’s chosen card.

Outlaw Deck (Reading Deck) – The Outlaw Deck is a marked deck, but with a twist. Each card contains a wealth of information that allows the magician to tell a story or give a detailed reading. It’s not just about identifying a card, but about creating a narrative or performing mentalism.

Mental Photography Deck (Super Visual Card Trick) – The Mental Photography Deck starts off as blank on both sides, and then images of cards appear and disappear at the magician’s command. It’s unique for its visual transformation capabilities, allowing for a range of effects from blank cards to printed cards and back to blank again, creating a stunning visual impact.

Well, that was my Trick Deck’s rundown! Hope you enjoyed it! Have fun blowing minds!

Before you go, I have a question for you…

Is there anything better than a trick deck?

No, not much.

But there is something that can cause an experience that can stay with a spectator for the rest of their life. This stuff is so powerful, almost any effect you name can be adapted and improved using it.

Any guesses???

Marvin’s fifty greatest card tricks?

Unreal card magic by Ben Earl?

The memorised deck?

P.S. For the record, Marvin’s magic is not better than a trick deck!

Did you know?

Every week at The Daily Magician, we explore a new idea within magic—and our readers come along for the journey.

Whether we’re pulling apart the science of creativity, brainstorming methods with world-class magicians, or discovering what card tricks look like in Vietnam, we’ll take you ‘behind the curtain’ with us.

To sign up, click below and enter your email:

thedailymagician.com

The Expert at the Card Table Review (and FREE Copy)

January 8, 2024 by Benji Leave a Comment

Dear friend,

The Expert at the Card Table is no ordinary magic book.

So much has been said about The Expert at The Card table that we struggle to find a good original commentary. If you haven’t heard of the book – many claim this to be the best magic book ever written, and all magicians seem to agree it’s an extremely good base for starting out in magic.

Just read it.

We will add one thing – if you’re a beginner or intermediate magician we suggest you check out page 29 of the PDF which has all the technical terms you will have heard so much in magic. Oftentimes magicians use these without even thinking, so it can be really nice to actually know what they mean.

Click HERE to get your copy of The Expert at the Card Table, in our FREE 24 Classic Magic Book Collection!

The Expert at the Card Table: The Best Magic Book EVER?

Want 24 FREE classic magic books, including this one? CLICK HERE

Want 368 dusty moth-eaten magic books (30,000+ pages of content, 91 professional commentaries, an extensively detailed index with 4429 effects, authors featuring, Houdini, Erdanase, Tarbell, and Hugard) CLICK HERE

Want 138 Classic Magic Tricks (36 hours of video, 1,000’s of hours work, hidden gems from Vernon, Annemann, Cardini, Erdnase, Hugard, Thurston and more…)? Click HERE

Difficulty: Very advanced (gives me headaches…)

Rating: 4/5

Expert At The Card Table was written first WAYY back in 1902 by an author under the name of S. W Erdnase (a pseudonym). Who the actual author of this book was is still unknown, but it has become one of the ‘go-to’ books on the subject and is often considered the ‘bible’ of card magic!

Why?

It contains almost ALL of the techniques and sleights possible with a deck of cards. This might not sound like much but it is an incredible resource; it’s like a dictionary for magicians.

For example, stuck on Second Dealing?

There’s a full chapter dedicated to that move!

And even better, this book isn’t just dedicated to sleights but also includes some of the highest level tricks and routines.

Here are some testimonials…

“The Expert at the Card Table is the most famous, the most carefully studied book ever published on the art of manipulating cards at gaming tables.” – Martin Gardner (in the Foreword)

“Read this, and you’ll never think of card games the same way again. This book is amazing, whether you want to cheat at Poker or perform the most astonishing card magic. Now, don’t cheat at Poker. Instead, study this book and learn to cheat at cards, because it will help you become a better magician.” -JF

You can actually find a physical copy for an absolute steal on Amazon. If you’re happy to buy used, you can go as low as a few dollars.

https://amzn.to/48Mk67A

What is Expert at the Card Table about?

This book is based on card magic and sleights and amazingly has been in continuous publication since 1902!

It has a small but diehard following in the magic community (perhaps attributed to the fact that Dai Vernon was such a fan of its contents.) Although many consider it a bit contrived and archaic the magicians who form the core following are immensely loyal to the book and spend hours studying it with care and attention.

For almost a century, this book has been considered indispensable to attaining the highest level of card mastery. In it, S. W. Erdnase, a supreme master of card manipulation, teaches card enthusiasts how to perform the dazzling tricks and sleights — many of them his own creations — that made him famous.

The first section of the book deals with card table artifice, or, to put it more bluntly, cheating at cards. Step by step, Mr. Erdnase demonstrates his own systems of false shuffling, false riffling and cutting, dealing from the bottom, and such slick moves as palming cards, “skinning the hand” — even three-card monte.

The second section covers legerdemain: the art of forcing a card, one- and two-hand transformations, the devious “slide” and more. Card handlers will love Erdnase’s selection of dazzling card tricks, including The Acrobatic Jacks, The Exclusive Coterie, The Divining Rod, The Invisible Flights, A Mind Reading Trick, and many others.

In an informative Foreword to this edition, Martin Gardner relates the unhappy details of the author’s personal life, and recounts the history of this famous book, whose methods, Mr. Gardner asserts, “are as useful today by magicians and card hustlers as they were in 1902. This book is still the bible of card ‘mechanics,’ and as much a delight to read as it was in the early years of this century.” (Description on Goodreads)

Simply put,

1: Erdnase starts with a treatise on gambling cons to be performed at the gamblers the gambler’s table (the Artifice section.)

2: He then moves on to some pretty great sleights which he calls (the Legerdemain section.)

3: He then wraps it all up with a couple of amazing routines that use some of the techniques he just explained.

Why the pen name?

Like I said, the author’s identity was never really discovered. The credited author, S.W. Erdnase, is believed by the majority of people to have been an East coast gambler, James Andrews… (I guess we know how he went on such on so many winning streaks if that’s true.)

The Mystery Author admits at the beginning of the book that he wrote it purely for financial gain and adopted Erdnase as a pen name.

(if you chop off the “jam” and spell James Andrews better you might realize why so many people think Erdnase is in fact, Andrews)

The pen name was probably a good idea… Because he managed to annoy a whole lot of professional gamblers of his day in making their moves so freely accessible.

I guess the quote rings true:

“Gambling isn’t about winning, it’s about cheating better than your opponent can”

Who did Mr Andrews influence?

One of the reasons that Expert at the Card Table has become so widely read and garnered so much praise from the magic community is due I believe in large part to the legends Darwin Ortiz and of course… Dai Vernon, ‘The Professor.’

Dai Vernon actually produced a copy of the book with his own personal notes, which are I can tell you: Expensive…

And at well past ninety years of age, Vernon still found himself quoting from it, even using specific page numbers, when discussing card techniques with his colleagues at the Magic Castle.

Many other famous magicians including the one and only Ed Marlo, Ricky Jay, and Martin Nash, have also cited Erdnase’s work as a significant influence on their careers!

A Brief ‘Taster’ Of The Expert at the Card Table

Preface:

In offering this book to the public the writer uses no sophistry as an excuse for its existence. The hypocritical cant of reformed (?) gamblers, or whining, mealymouthed pretensions of piety, are not foisted as a justification for imparting the knowledge it contains. To all lovers of card games it should prove interesting, and as a basis of card entertainment it is practically inexhaustible. It may caution the unwary who are innocent of guile, and it may inspire the crafty by enlightenment on artifice. It may demonstrate to the tyro that he cannot beat a man at his own game, and it may enable the skilled in deception to take a post-graduate course in the highest and most artistic branches of his vocation. But it will not make the innocent vicious, or transform the pastime player into a professional; or make the fool wise, or curtail the annual crop of suckers; but whatever the result may be, if it sells it will accomplish the primary motive of the author, as he needs the money.

Introduction:

The passion for play is probably as old, and will be as enduring, as the race of man. Some of us are too timid to risk a dollar, but the percentage of people in this feverish nation who would not enjoy winning one is very small. The passion culminates in the professional. He would rather play than eat. Winning is not his sole delight. Some one has remarked that there is but one pleasure in life greater than winning, that is, in making the hazard. To be successful at play is as difficult as to succeed in any other pursuit. The laws of chance are as immutable as the laws of nature. Were all gamblers to depend on luck they would break about even in the end. The professional card player may enjoy the average luck, but it is difficult to find one who thinks he does, and it is indeed wonderful how mere chance will at times defeat the strongest combination of wit and skill. It is almost an axiom that a novice will win his first stake. A colored attendant of a “club-room.” overhearing a discussion about running up two hands at poker, ventured the following interpolation: “Don’t trouble ’bout no two hen’s, Boss. Get yo’ own hen’. De suckah, he’ll get a han’ all right, suah!” And many old players believe the same thing. However, the vagaries of luck, or chance, have impressed the professional card player with a certain knowledge that his more respected brother of the stock exchange possesses, viz.–manipulation is more profitable than speculation; so to make both ends meet, and incidentally a good living, he also performs his part with the shears when the lambs come to market.

Hazard at play carries sensations that once enjoyed are rarely forgotten. The winnings are known as “pretty money,” and it is generally spent as freely as water. The average professional who is successful at his own game will, with the sublimest unconcern, stake his money on that of another’s, though fully aware the odds are against him. He knows little of the real value of money, and as a rule is generous, careless and improvident. He loves the hazard rather than the stakes. As a matter of fact the principal difference between the professional gambler and the occasional gambler, is that the former is actuated by his love of the game and the latter by cupidity. A professional rarely “squeals” when he gets the worst of it; the man who has other means of livelihood is the hardest loser.

Get it Free!?

Want to get this free? With over $2000 in other classic magic books? Well all you have to do is click the link below: https://thedailymagician.com/classic-magic-books-lp-mobile

Did you know?

Two years ago, we discovered that many of the best magic books EVER WRITTEN—Tarbell’s course on magic, Expert at the Card Table by Erdanase and Bobo’s Coin Magic are ALL public domain.

Yes, you heard us right, just between these three books nearly 3,000 pages of incredible magic content is simply bouncing around the internet.

(and hardly anyone is using or knows about it…)

Here’s why…

The content isn’t easy to find (you have to know EXACTLY what to search for and be aware of which sources are reputable and which aren’t)
Many magic companies make NO effort to ensure this stuff is readily available (but they do profit off product after product that uses effects taken directly from these books and given a ‘modern twist’)
People don’t know where to start (300 classic magic books is an overwhelming number, and it can be hard to find the really good stuff)
The magic companies that HAVE collected these books sell them at a ludicrous price and they’re vastly behind the times ($80 for a CD ROM is kind of a joke…)

Here’s what we’ve done to tackle this issue…

We’ve put all the books in one place (let’s not even talk about the 1000’s of hours this has taken, we’ll get PTSD…)
We’ve written a commentary for all the ones we think are worth starting with (91 to be exact)
We’re making this accessible to the entire magic world (let’s just say our price tag doesn’t even get close to $80…)

Here are just 3 out of the veritable 1000’s of effects and routines you’ll learn from this treasure trove of content…

An incredible force by Theodore Annemann found on page 3 of ‘202 Methods of Forcing’ that is not only invisible but would make a fantastic ‘out’ for any good magic routine…
A collection of stunning flourishes and fancy card work taught by T. Nelson Down’s on page 29 of his book ‘The Art of Magic’ that has been flabbergasting audiences for over a decade.
A mentalism routine from Houdini himself found on page 52 of his book ‘Paper Magic’ that’s so audacious your audience would never even believe the method if you told it to them…

As we said, 3 of THOUSANDS of effects, routines, and pieces of theory you’ll pick up studying under the greatest magicians who’ve ever lived right at your fingertips below…

https://thedailymagician.thrivecart.com/classic-magic-book-collection-new/

All sounds to good to be true right?

But than we ran headfirst into another problem, and it was very frustrating!

That project sold in the thousands—but ever since we created it we’ve been acutely aware of one big problem….

For a lot of people these books are difficult to read, and so bulky it’s hard to find the really good stuff.

Our friend Danny Goldsmith (considered by many the world’s best coin magician) recently lamented to us that he learns better from video and struggles with classics such as Bobo—that would otherwise undoubtedly hold so much power for him.

So we came up with an even bigger and better idea…

We’d create a VIDEO collection of 138 of the BEST tricks from our library of 368 classic magic books!

…and we did!

First, we spent hours upon hours pouring over these books, sifting through the material, and finding the very best ‘hidden gems’.

And there were a LOT of them.

In fact, while creating this project we quite literally found the method for one the best selling magic tricks of 2023 in a single throwaway paragraph written by Theodore Annemann.

(this is no exaggeration, check out trick 39 of this project upon purchase to see the proof!)

Next, we spent nearly two weeks practically living in our studio, filming high quality videos going over each of these tricks and making them as EASY to understand as possible.

Our goal was to do ALL the hard work for you.

We’ve taken these tricks, added our own modernizations, touches, alternate handlings and most importantly brought them into the modern age in the form of video.

We’ve also made sure the original excerpts are right below the video because reading and watching can create an even better experience!

This was a mammoth task (have a sneak peek)…

138 Classic Magic Tricks

5 Powerful Mentalism Tricks You Can Do Today

January 2, 2024 by Benji 29 Comments

Dear friend,

Mentalism is one of the most intriguing and mysterious types of magic because you can’t always tell whether it’s a magic trick or something much more powerful, taking control and reading someone else’s mind using dark, diabolical principles, such as reading nonverbal behaviour!

Here’s what we’ll cover in today’s post:

5 powerful (free) mentalism tricks you can do today
How to learn mentalism like a Sith lord.
The goats of mentalism (little history lesson)

Before we get into the main post:

This easy mind-reading tool has been sitting in your spectator’s pocket for 14 years without you knowing it…

Unlock almost unlimited and incredibly powerful effects that will make you look like everything from a true mind reader to a body language expert—with almost 0 skill needed on your part besides showmanship!

Click here for full details on ‘iRis’, one of the biggest mentalism releases to come out in the past 5 years:

https://thedailymagician.com/iris

“This is one of the most exciting releases I’ve seen in a long time. A brilliant, streamlined technique that earns my highest recommendation.” – Andy from The Jerx

5 FREE & Easy Mentalism Tricks You Can Do Today

So you want to learn free mentalism tricks?

I can’t blame you; mentalism is really fun and can absolutely blow people away if you do it right.

Today, I will be walking you through 3 of my favourite free-to-learn mentalism tricks and how you can master them!

Then I’ll be talking about 2 of the cheapest mind-reading effects on the market that can score you a serious reputation.

But first, the free stuff!

Pick 5: Guess ANY Thought Of Word

I LOVE this trick.

For one, it’s completely free to learn.

But all that aside, it’s just a straight-up awesome magic trick.

You ask a friend to think of ANY word (and it really can be any word in the world). Once they have it, you ask them to write it down on a paper napkin (just a regular paper napkin).

Without any sleight of hand or funny moves, you are able to guess exactly the word they are thinking of just by feeling the napkin.

Sounds great right?

Well, trust me, the method is JUST as good.

Here’s the full video explanation (performance at the beginning, explanation afterward). The crazy magician doing it is Jay Sankey (his YouTube channel is full of great tutorials), who is actually one of the best professional magicians out there.

If it’s good enough for him, it’s good enough for us!

Sneaky, isn’t it?

And it doesn’t have to be a phone’s surface you use. As Jay rightly points out, you could use any reflective object.

Obviously, don’t put a mirror on the table, but anything remotely subtle should be good enough. The best way to move forward with this trick is just to practice doing it, and you’ll soon enough figure out what works best for you and what doesn’t.

Like Jay says, try to come up with a good reason to hold the napkin for a few seconds- simply saying something like ‘there’s clearly no way to see through’ is more than enough justification!

Once you have this trick mastered (it shouldn’t take too long), let’s move on to pick number 4…

Pick 4: Guess Any Thought Of Card

This trick is similar to the last one because you once again ‘read their mind’ but this time, it is a playing card they are thinking of.

There’s actually a really easy way to do this; it’s called FORCING a card.

It’s more or less how it sounds- they think they’ve picked a random card when, in fact it is precisely the card you wanted them to choose.

Sounds hard, but it really isn’t.

To learn a card force, just head over to my recent post where I help you learn 3 of them! (Scroll down to ‘Move 1’)

Now that you know how to force a card, it’s just a simple matter of putting the pieces together.

First, you force the card, and then you do a ‘reveal’ any way you like. Some people really go for it; Shin Lim has a tattoo of the Queen of Spades that he uses for his magic trick, but you don’t need to go that far.

Maybe you could take a picture beforehand of you holding the force card? Or you could write it down in your notes?

Another option would be (if you have more than one deck) turning the same card over in a different deck. Once they’ve picked their card you can say ‘and it just so happens that I turned over ONE card in the deck.’

Of course, it’s their card.

There are so many ways to mess with their head at this point that it’s totally up to you which direction you take.

I actually like to model it as a ‘lie detector’ style test. You can read all about how to do that right here!

A good way of figuring out which reveal works best for you is to just try out different reveals on different people and see which ones get the best reactions. You could even find ways of combining them!

Pick 3: Quick Card Prediction

I found this awesome effect over at 52Kards!

I think it deserves to be on this list because, unlike the others, it can be done impromptu.

That means there is no preparation required! You can pull this trick anywhere- at a friend’s house or even with someone else’s cards.

It is also really quick to do, meaning it can be performed on the bounce if you need to.

Here’s how it looks-

You let your friend shuffle an ordinary deck of playing cards. They really can shuffle it for as long as they like- there’s no secret preparation or order to it. You remove one card from the deck and put it face down on the table; this is your prediction card.

(You do remove it completely from the deck; this image was the closest I could find).

Then, you spread the cards and ask them to think of ANY of the cards they see. Again, they really can think of any card they want. Really stress this fact to them- you want them to know that they have a completely free choice.

I sometimes like to use this as a chance to get inside their heads- I’ll say things like ‘and be REALLY careful about what card you pick, because in about 30 seconds you’re gonna WISH you chose a different one.’

When they pick one, ask them to change their mind a few times. This will really emphasize the fact that there is NO WAY that you could know their card.

What all of this is building up to is that huge ‘WOW’ moment later on when you turn over the card you had laid aside at the beginning to reveal that is is THEIR card.

And remember, all of this can be done with a borrowed deck!

Learn it HERE.

Pick 2: The Invisible Deck

I promised you that the first three tricks would be completely free to learn, and they are!

But if you are willing to shell out a few dollars, the next two tricks are both really cheap and awesome investments for your mentalism skills.

Firstly, The Invisible Deck.

This was (I think) the very first product I reviewed on this site; that’s how much I love it.

It’s the kind of trick that you do ONCE at a party and create a lifelong reputation as a crazy, cool magician. Trust me, I’ve been there!

You ask a friend to THINK of a card. Do not choose one from the deck because that might give you the chance to do something sneaky with the cards.

No, instead, they just need to think of the card and hold it in their mind. They can think of ABSOLUTELY any of the 52 cards in the deck (apart from the Jokers).

Once they have a card in their mind, get them to change it a couple of times. Once they have a new card in their mind, get them to change it again! You see how it goes?

Like before, we want them to feel that they had every chance to change their mind so that when we eventually get it right (which we always do) they will be so much more amazed.

So, they have their (finalized) card held firmly in their head.

You pull a deck of cards from your pocket and explain that before the trick even started, you’d had a strange premonition that seemed to rest on ONE specific card. You explain that you went and turned that card over, so it’s the only face-down card in the deck.

Now you ask them to name their card aloud for the FIRST time.

All throughout this, your hands stay in full view. No funny moves or swaps; this one is for real.

You spread through the cards that have been in full view the entire time. Sure enough, one card is face down.

What are the chances?

Yep. It’s their card!

The best thing about this trick is that it is so easy. It really is one of the easiest magic tricks there is. I’m not joking; kids can do it!

But of course, your audience don’t know that and they will LOVE this trick. It seems so impossible, there’s literally no possible way in their mind that you could have even come close to figuring out what they were thinking of.

This is just such a great all-around trick that you can pick up for under $10 that I would definitely invest in it every day of the week!

Watch David Blaine doing this exact effect:

Pick 1: Cardtoon

The Invisible Deck might be the most IMPRESSIVE mentalism effect on the market, but Cardtoon is, without doubt, the FUNNEST effect.

Picture this:

You ask a friend to think of a card.

(I know what you’re thinking- not all this again!)

I’ll skip through all that bit about them changing their mind and so on; the point is that it really is a free choice. They can think of any card (again, apart from Jokers, obviously).

Once they have their card in their mind, you pull out a deck of cards from your pocket.

As you show them the cards, they’ll notice that there’s a little stickman drawn on the back of every single card.

Do you know those old-school animations where you would draw loads of pictures and then flick through to make them move?

This is basically the same idea, just on the back of playing cards. As you flick through the cards, the stickman begins to move.

But first, you ask them to name their card out loud for the first time.

You say ‘I’m going to be honest with you- I didn’t quite manage to read your mind this time. BUT, the stickman did.’

You point out the stickman on the back of each card again and then flick through the cards. As they watch, the stickman takes off his hat, reaches inside, and pulls out a single playing card.

That card is, somehow, their card!

This trick (as you may have noticed) is very similar to the Invisible Deck in a lot of ways but for me, it is just more fun to do. The audience gets to watch and see the great animation of the stickman for the reveal, which is an awesome moment.

Again, you can find this trick pretty cheaply on most magic sites.

So, there you are. If you want to learn mind-reading tricks, you came to the right place!

And that draws us to the end of the list! I realise that quite a lot of these mentalism tricks were with cards, so if you’re looking for a mentalism trick like a book test, I highly recommend you check out The Yogi Book Test by Theodore Anneman, one of our favourites!

Easy Mentalism Anyone Can Do (Quality Effect)

Here’s a YouTube video we recently released:

Bonus effect: Forcing by Telepathy

A trick so easy my 11-year-old sister used it to fool her middle school teacher…

If you want to pick up a trick that is equally fooling as it is easy for a very affordable price, we highly recommend our effect Forcing By Telepathy.

Here’s a recent performance Benji captured of Forcing by Telepathy with a few friends. Before they started recording, the deck had been shuffled and Benji had asked someone to touch the 2 of Diamonds. That’s the card that’s already set aside. Next, this happened…

What do great magicians perform when they’re feeling lazy?

Check it out here: https://thedailymagician.com/forcing-by-telepathy

Practical Mental Magic by Theodore Anneman.

Theodore Annemann is one of the most influential and incredible mentalists of the modern era, you can secure a book from him for FREE!

Here’s a video with more information about Theodore Annemann:

We think you’d enjoy the Yogi Book Test, it’s a very fun trick to start with.

Click HERE to learn the Yogi Book Test (scroll down to number three)!

Want 24 FREE classic magic books, including this one? CLICK HERE

Want 138 Classic Magic Tricks (36 hours of video, 1,000’s of hours work, hidden gems from Vernon, Annemann, Cardini, Erdnase, Hugard, Thurston and more…including this one)? Click HERE

How To Learn Mentalism Like A Sith Lord

Dear friend,

If I could only recommend one person, only one master for learning mentalism magic, it would be none other then, the one and only Peter Turner.

Peter Turner is one of the best mentalists in the world right now, and he’s the best man to go to if you’re looking to expand your arsenal of effects, or improve your knowledge in this area of magic!

This man has changed mentalism for US!

Here are some of his best stuff:

Royal road to mentalism (12 episodes, 18 effects, and over 9 hours of tuition)
Legacy collection (10 book set of Peter Turners best material)
How to read minds 2 (mind reading kit by Peter Turner and Ellusionist)

Royal Road To Mentalism

Mentalists Peter Turner and Mark Lemon embarked on a year-long journey to create a mentalism series akin to the “Royal Road to Card Magic.” This project aimed to modernize classic mentalism for ME and YOU!

After initially offering individual episodes, the creators ceased separate sales four months in, feeling the extensive knowledge shared was too valuable for the modest price. The series, featuring 12 episodes with over 9 hours of content and more than 18 effects, became exclusive to dedicated magic and mentalism practitioners.

The comprehensive guide includes contributions from Christian Grace, Tobias Dostal, and Antonio Bourgeois. It’s designed as a detailed resource for mentalism, offering substantial long-term value for enthusiasts and professionals in the field.

Click HERE to view on Ellusionist.

Legacy Collection

This exceptional library of books showcases over ten years of groundbreaking mentalism from Peter Turner, a leading figure in the field.

Encased in a deluxe 10-volume collector’s set, “The Legacy Collection” encompasses over thirty signature effects, spanning the core concepts of mentalism. Each piece has been meticulously selected for its potency and originality, offering a compendium of Turner’s most powerful works, creative presentations, and insightful theoretical contributions.

Whether you’re a novice enthusiast, a professional mentalist, or a collector, this collection stands as a testament to Turner’s influential career and will remain a treasured resource for the discerning practitioner.

Click HERE to view on Ellusionist.

How To Read Minds 2

How To Read Minds 2 is a sequel to the How To Read Minds mentalism magic kit by Ellusionist and Peter Turner!

Some of these tricks are absolutely insane, like…

Have them hold a prediction and think of anything in the world – and it will match your prediction 100% of the time.
Know the exact song they’re thinking of. No matter how obscure.
Win any game of heads up, charades or 20 questions – without them ever saying a word.
Play Russian roulette with real money. You’ll play with literal fire and your money never gets burned.
Appear to see through their eyes and tell them which color cards they’re holding, one by one – from outside the room.
Reveal which hand an invisible coin is hidden in, multiple times in a row. Then tell them the exact coin they imagined and the date engraved on it.
Instantly remember and recall a shuffled deck of cards – with a new, kicker ending.
Hypnotize anyone and make them forget a card they’re holding. No real hypnosis needed. (self-working)
Have their chosen card be at their chosen number, without ever touching the deck. Now you can replicate the legendary Berglas effect. The device does it for you.
Play a game of ‘yes/no’ and influence their choices every single time.
Predict the insect they think of and watch them erupt as it appears on their hand.
Gift a stranger your mind-reading capabilities with zero pre-show. Make them the hero! & much more.

Click HERE to view on Ellusionist.

Best Mentalism Books: Classic Tricks, Principles and Techniques

Peter Turner is exceptional but I’d be remiss in not mentioning some of the classics magic books for learning mentalism…

If I could recommend only one it would be 13 Steps to Mentalism by the late Tony Corinda, that is regarded by many as the ‘bible of mentalism.’

This masterpiece contains everything:

Mnemonics and Mental Systems, Mentalism Card Tricks, Blindfolds & X Rays, The Swami Gimmick, Pencil, Lip, Touch, Sound, and Reading Muscles, Billets, Book Tests and Fogel Interview, Two Person Telepathy, Mediumistic Stunts, Predictions, Publicity Stunts, Question and Answer, Patter and Presentation!

Click HERE to view on Amazon.

If you’d like a complete reading list for the best mentalism material click HERE!

History of Mentalism

Let’s rewind the clock a few thousand years…

In ancient times, societies were deeply captivated by the mysteries of fortune-telling, oracles, and prophetic visions. Oracles in places like Delphi and shamans across various cultures were revered figures, believed to possess a connection to the divine or spiritual realms.

Their words held immense influence, and their ability to ‘foretell’ was not just entertainmen—it was an essential part of societal and spiritual understanding.

While the methods and understanding of these early practices differ significantly from modern mentalism, they share a common thread—the profound human interest in the mysteries of the mind and the unknown.

Fast forward to the 16th century and mentalism began to emerge as a form of entertainment rather than a mystical or religious practice.

In Italy, Girolamo Scotto (the first known ‘mentalist’) used clever methods and sleight of hand to simulate incredible mental feats, blurring the lines between magic and mental acumen.

The 18th and 19th centuries saw a surge in the popularity of mentalism, partly fueled by the spiritualism movement. Figures like Washington Irving Bishop and Anna Eva Fay became household names, using ‘mind reading’ acts to awe and mystify their audiences.

In the 20th century, mentalism took a turn towards the theatrical. Performers like Joseph Dunninger and The Amazing Kreskin brought mentalism to the radio and television, showcasing their skills to a wider audience and elevating mentalism to a new level of popularity.

In this era, a notable figure emerged: Theodore Annemann. Known for his profound influence on mentalism, Annemann was not just a performer but also a prolific writer and innovator. His work, particularly the magazine “The Jinx,” is revered for its contributions to the art of mentalism.

Today, mentalism has evolved into a sophisticated art form, blending psychology, performance, and a dash of technology. Modern mentalists like Derren Brown and Banachek have pushed the boundaries, creating intricate shows that challenge our understanding of reality and the capabilities of the human mind.

It’s clear that this art form has always been about more than just tricks. It’s a testament to the power of the human mind, both in creating and experiencing these seemingly impossible feats.

The Goats

1. Tony Corinda

Tony Corinda, a pivotal figure in mentalism, made his mark in the 1950s and 60s. His groundbreaking work, “13 Steps to Mentalism,” is a comprehensive guide that covers a wide range of topics, from mnemonics to predictions, necessary for any aspiring mentalist.

Corinda’s teachings remind us that a solid foundation in the basics and a broad understanding of various techniques are crucial for creating convincing mentalism.

2. Uri Geller

Uri Geller rose to fame in the 1970s with his mind-bending spoon-bending and psychic demonstrations. Despite skepticism from some quarters, Geller became a media sensation, showcasing the impact of mentalism on a global scale.

Geller’s career underscores the importance of developing a unique persona and the power of showmanship in captivating an audience, regardless of the nature of the trick.

3. Derren Brown

Derren Brown, a contemporary British mentalist and illusionist, is known for his sophisticated blend of magic, suggestion, psychology, and showmanship. His theatrical performances are studies in narrative and psychological manipulation, offering a modern twist to traditional mentalism.

Brown exemplifies how understanding and manipulating human psychology can elevate a magic performance, turning it into an experience that challenges the audience’s perceptions of reality.

(note: we’ve watched Derren perform live and he’s jaw-droppingly good)

4. Banachek

Banachek, a prominent figure in both the mentalism and skeptical communities, gained notoriety for his role in Project Alpha. He has been instrumental in educating both the public and magicians about the difference between genuine psychic ability and skilled illusion.

His career teaches the importance of ethical boundaries in mentalism and the role of skepticism, both in performing and in understanding the limitations of what we present as ‘real’ to the audience.

5. Theodore Annemann

Theodore Annemann, an influential American mentalist and magician in the early 20th century, was best known for his work with the publication “Jinx,” which offered a wealth of mentalism and magic tricks. His life was a testament to the creative and innovative spirit in mental magic.

Annemann’s legacy encourages magicians to continuously innovate and find unique methods to astonish their audiences, proving that creativity is as important as technique in mentalism.

6. Max Maven

Max Maven, an American magician and mentalist, is known for his intellectual style and deep understanding of the history and theory of magic. His performances, which often involve complex psychological tricks, have set a high bar in the field of mentalism.

Maven’s approach to mentalism highlights the significance of effective communication and the art of narrative in engaging and holding the audience’s attention through a performance.

Thanks for reading our complete guide to mentalism. We hope you enjoyed it! If you still have any questions, feedback or comments feel free to leave them below and I will get back to you within 24 hours.

Did you know?

Every week at The Daily Magician, we explore a new idea within magic—and our readers come along for the journey.

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5 EASY Coin Magic Tricks You Can Do Today

December 21, 2023 by Benji 20 Comments

Dear friend,

I love coin magic and I think you are going to too. I think coin magic is as pure and organic as magic can get. Oftentimes, it’s 100% impromptu, which, I’m not going to lie, is pretty cool.

Here’s what we will cover in today’s post:

5 easy coin magic tricks you can do today
How to learn coin magic like a kung fu master
Who did the very first coin trick (history of coin magic)

5 Easy Coin Magic Tricks You Can Do Today

Want to learn some simple coin magic tricks that will amaze your friends? Coin magic is awesome because almost everyone will have a few coins lying around the house that you can pick up and amaze them with. You can do coin magic at a cafe, a pub, or even on a day out!

People are always going to be carrying a bit of loose change around with them, so it’s about time that you learnt how to do some magic with it. Read on! Here are 5 super easy coin tricks you can learn for free today. Let’s get the ball rolling with…

Number 5: Make A Coin…Disappear

Yep. We had to start out this list with perhaps the most classic of all magic illusions- the vanishing coin!

If you want a reputation as a master coin magician, this is one trick you are going to NEED to know how to do well.

You can learn a really cool way to do this by watching Jay Sankey’s tutorial video.

Jay Sankey is actually a professional magician who has performed with the very best magicians out there, but he’s dropping magic secrets left right and center over at his YouTube channel (SankeyMagic).

One of those secrets is how to make a coin disappear using nothing but sleight of hand.

Actually, he gives out THREE methods to do this, but they all achieve the same effect.

First, he teaches you a ‘palm up’ retention vanish, then an ‘upside down’ retention vanish, and finally a ‘clipped’ vanish.

Retention basically means making it LOOK like you put the coin in one hand whilst you actually RETAIN it in the other hand. All three techniques Jay teaches involve a retention of some sort- just three different types of retentions.

Even if you’ve got this far, you probably wouldn’t understand the moves if I tried describing them, so here’s the video itself!

Feel free to rewind it as many times as you like until you understand the mechanics of the moves.

My thoughts: If you are having difficulties with one of the moves, you don’t have to try learning all three of them! Instead, pick your favourite and work on really perfecting that one until you can do it nearly as flawlessly as Jay.

My personal favorite is the ‘clipped’ vanish because I could have sworn I SAW the coin drop into his hand. It’s so visual and fooling, I would definitely recommend staying around until the end of the video to learn it!

Of course, there are other ways to make a coin vanish but these are three of the most tried and tested ways of doing so. Now that you know how to make a coin disappear, let’s move on to some more complex but amazingly visual tricks!

Number 4: Coin Through Glass

The magician displays an ordinary coin and an ordinary glass cup (preferably an empty one). He taps the bottom of the glass with a coin to show that it is solid and there is no way the coin could possibly get through.

On the count of three, he taps the coin against the bottom of the glass as hard as he can, and impossibly, the coin travels THROUGH the solid glass.

The magician shows that both his hands are empty- the coin really is in the cup.

This is also a super popular coin magic trick, and there are loads of ways to accomplish the effect. Usually, the method involves having TWO coins- one to hold in the hand and one to drop in the glass.

However, the one I’ve chosen is much better than these because it can be done with a SIGNED coin; only one coin is used all the way through this trick.

You can have a spectator sign the coin using a Sharpie or some kind of marker pen, and as for the cup, any glass cup will do. The reason you want it to be glass is so they can SEE the coin appear inside the cup as it happens.

Once they’ve signed the coin, you let it lie flat in your hand. With your other hand, you grip the cup by the edges.

You tap the coin with the cup twice normally, but on the third time around you actually flick the coin up so that it bounces off the hand holding the glass and into the cup.

Number 3: Coin Through Glass (FULL OF WATER)

Before you tell me, I know I’ve already explained the coin through glass trick, but this one is actually a little different.

I learnt this awesome trick over at goodtricks.net, so be sure to check the site out for more great magic!

This time, the glass is full of water!

The magician shows the coin and the glass to the audience- they are both ‘legit’. He then slowly and visually ‘melts’ the coin through the bottom of the glass and into the water.

The best part is that the audience knows that there is NO CHANCE you dropped the coin in since they would have heard the splash.

So how is it done?

Head over to the goodtricks website (link down below) for the full explanation along with a video, but here are the basics.

This time, you DO use a duplicate coin (so no signing this time!)

You put one of the coins inside the glass, so it is stood against the side. You cover it with your fingers as you display the glass as empty. The,n you pour the water in- the way water refracts light means that you can now remove your fingers and display the glass as empty.

You take the second coin and hold it at your fingertips. You press your hand up to the glass and let the coin slide as you rotate the glass. The coin that was hidden should now be visible, making it look like the coin has traveled through the glass!

Click here to view the video explanation!

Number 2: Guess Which Hand

Chances are you’ve done this trick before without meaning to.

You put a coin in your hands, mix it up behind your back, and bring them back out, asking, ‘which hand is the coin in?’

It’s a fun game, but it can become an even cooler magic trick if you know how.

You give someone a coin and ask them to put it in either hand behind their back and make a fist so that you don’t have any way of knowing which hand it is in.

Even though they do that, you guess which hand the coin is in every single time!

There are some really complex ways to do this, including magnets and expensive equipment, but honestly, the best way is just by observing someone’s body language.

Below is the thumbnail from a video from Chris Ramsay, who has a great tutorial of this effect on his YouTube channel!

For example, most of the time, their nose will actually point slightly toward whichever hand the coin is in.

I know it sounds like I’m making this up, but that’s genuinely true!

Also, watch out for a small flicker of the eyes toward the hand that the coin is hidden in. I’m talking milliseconds, but it’s there.

If you guess it right the first time, I’ve found that 90% of people try to be clever and keep it in the same hand. That isn’t a guaranteed thing, but for some reason, people do seem to get attached to the hand they picked first!

Another technique you could try is to ask them to cross their arms over each other. Most people tend to put the guilty hand beneath the empty one, as if they are ‘hiding’ it.

The most important thing is just to get out there and give it a go because, honestly, you are going to get it wrong.

BUT…

The more you do it, the better you’ll get at picking up on the little telltale signs that give away where the coin is.

And if worse comes to worst, you could just use the coin to do one of the other tricks we’ve discussed!

If you already have experience with coin magic, another great way to finish this trick off is with the ‘coin under the watch’ effect. Obviously, this only works if the person is wearing a watch.

I love this because the secret ‘move’ where you deposit the coin under their watch is a natural part of the performance and ties in very nicely with the ‘guess which hand’ trick.

I usually say something like: ‘Okay, how about you have a go? I’ll put the coin in one of my hands and you have to guess which one.’

I put my hands behind my back and drop the coin into my back pocket. When I bring out my hands, they are (of course) both empty. Once the spectator realizes this, they might accuse you of cheating.

At this point, I say: ‘No, watch. Watch. WATCH.’ and point at their watch. They discover that the reason the coin isn’t in either of my hands is because it is right beneath their watch!

This effect can get you some CRAZY reactions and is the perfect way to round off your trick.

Did you know?

Seven months ago, we decided to learn every single Which Hand routine we could find on the internet.

With the exception of routines that are out-of-stock or no longer available to purchase, we bought, studied and performed every single Which Hand effect on the market.

For 168 hours, we lived, breathed, and slept Which Hand routines.

While we did so, we also set ourselves ANOTHER challenge:

To create our very own original Which Hand effect by the end of the 7 days!

To our surprise, by the end of the challenge, we had devised not one but THREE original Which Hand routines.

We believe they contain some of the finest thinking that has ever been done on the effect, including 5 original effects, 3 original moves, and fresh handling on some of the most powerful existing principles.

Click HERE to view.

Number 1: Plucking Coins From Thin Air

There’s something really cool about this trick. I think it’s the fact that you’re LITERALLY pulling coins out of the air, with sleeves rolled up and nothing in your hands!

You grab three coins (in a row) out of the air in the cleanest and most impressive way possible!

What makes this trick so good is the move it uses, called the ‘shuttle’ move. Even when you know EXACTLY what is going on, it still fools the heck out of you.

Here’s a brilliant tutorial for this trick by Jay Sankey (the same guy from Number 1, I know).

My thoughts: The most important part to practice is definitely the shuttle move. Once you get this bit down, the possibilities are endless! You could mix this routine up and have different types of coin appear each time, or even different objects!

Well, I hope you enjoyed learning these simple coin magic tricks; you might even be able to find a way to combine a few of them into a full routine!

Well, I hope you enjoyed learning these simple coin magic tricks; you might even be able to find a way to combine a few of them into a full routine! Coin tricks are awesome because unlike a deck of playing cards, most people will have a few coins handy whatever the situation. You can do this magic wherever you are!

How To Learn Coin Magic Like A Kung Fu Master

Dear friend,

If I could recommend only one person, only one resource for learning coin magic, it would be none other then, the one and only Danny Goldsmith.

Danny is currently the best coin magician in the world, and he’s rapidly shaping the future of coin magic!

Danny’s approach to magic and life is deeply rooted in Buddhist philosophy. In Buddhism, the ultimate goal is to attain enlightenment, connecting deeply with the elements of the surrounding world. This serene, karmic mindset adds another dimension to Danny’s coin magic and brings a uniqueness that is hard to find anywhere else!

If you prefer visual instruction over dusty books, then you’re in luck, because Danny provides an amazing visual experience for learning coin magic and the tricks he teaches you are insane!

Here are my five favourite coin magic bundles made by Danny…

N1. Optical by Danny Goldsmith

Optical, is a variation on the retention vanish, and teaches three impossibly visual vanishes and explains the neuroscience that causes someone to see an object in your hand when it’s not actually there in the process.

What You’ll Learn:

Flip Flop Vanish: A casual toss vanish that truly looks like the coin is being thrown into your hand. You’ll learn two variations of this visually deceptive move. The technique is surprisingly simple for how good it looks, making this an accessible move for all skill levels.
The Ember Vanish: This is easily one of the most visual coin vanishes you’ll ever learn. Performed from the magician’s point of view, with the spectator looking over your shoulder, they’ll swear they see that coin firmly in your hand before it vanishes!
DG Vanish: Danny’s signature retention vanish taught in precise detail. After years of working closely with his students and refining his teaching to help them get the best results, Danny has discovered new drills and exercises that offer you everything you need to truly master this technique. Even if you’ve learned this move through previous projects, these extra exercises are guaranteed to be a valuable resource in making your DG retention as clean and visual as possible.

+ Manipulating Light: Danny breaks down the neurological principle that causes your spectator to see a coin between your fingers even after it’s already left your hand. Knowing how to use this glitch in the brain is a superpower that every magician should know how to harness. Danny will teach you multiple exercises and drills to fast track your progress and master this technique. Learn how to apply this principle to techniques you’re already using and make your magic more deceptive and visual!

Click HERE to view Optical.

N2. The Pistol Pass by Danny Goldsmith

The Pistol Pass, is a variation of the muscle pass, that opens up so many possibilities! Many of these effects look like camera tricks, they’re not.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

Pistol Pop Production – An insanely visual production of 1, 2, or 3 coins right at the fingertips.
Glint Production – A way to use the Pistol pop production to make it look like you’re pulling a 2nd coin from the shine of the 1st.
Touch Production – A coin instantly appears below the finger as you touch your palm or the table.
Wipe Production – This is one of my favourites. This looks like you simply wipe a coin into existence with 1 finger.
Cobb production – A new way to do the Korn production. No awkward or unmotivated movements. You simply close your hand around your finger tips and a coin appears.
Catch Change – Exactly how it sounds: you toss a coin in the air and it visibly changes as you catch it between your finger tips. This move looks insane!
Pluck change – Another insanely visual change right at the fingertips where the coin transforms as its grabbed from one hand to the other. This one really looks like a camera trick.
Ring Pop Production – You blow into a ring and a coin pops out. Visual and super fun to perform.
Coin Through Glass – A glass is placed on it’s side and a coin is visually thrown through the bottom of the glass. A new take on a classic idea.
Pistol Shot – The inner child in you will love this! You make a gun with your hand, toss a coin into the air and shoot it (think ‘pew pew’), the coin goes flying. This is what we wish would happen when we were kids…now it’s a possibility!
Bubba – This is an absolutely ridiculous routine that’s sure to get your audience laughing in amazement.

All from one sleight!

Click HERE to learn The Pistol Pass.

N3. Voyage by Danny Goldsmith

Voyage, is a variation of the coins across routine, that transcends the visual limitations of the plot and adds juicy layers of audible deception (all 3 routines are completely gimmickless and possible with your choice of coins).

What You’ll Learn:

NAVI: 3 different coins fly through the air and into the awaiting hand, 1 by 1, without the hands EVER coming together. It doesn’t get cleaner than this!
SILVER ECHOES: A 4 coin ‘coins across’ where the deception is layered with audible tricks, as well as visuals. You hear the coins leave one hand and arrive in the other, but with closed fists and nothing to see. The last coin vanishes so impossibly with COMPLETELY EMPTY HANDS to magically travel to the spectators hand! it just HAS to be magic.
DRAGON FLY: A flawless 3-fly of silver coins that are shown cleanly the entire way through. This routine ends with all 3 coins jumping back ALL AT ONCE! You’ll never see a more deceptive, gimmickless 3-fly.

Click HERE to learn Voyage.

N4. Modus by Danny Goldsmith

If you want to learn some fun, creative moves and establish a practice routine that guarantees your growth, then this is for you! 11 mind-blowing sleights to make your routines more powerful, visual, and deceptive.

What you’ll learn…

6 vanishes
3 changes
2 productions

And a deep dive into the neuroscience of building muscle memory and mastering sleight of hand!

You’re going to learn how to structure your practice so that you learn difficult moves more quickly and can execute them smoothly. When followed properly these techniques are guaranteed to help you grow.

Click HERE to view Modus.

N5. Mythos by Danny Goldsmith

This is Danny’s greatest work yet, his magnum opus!

If you want to:

Create interesting presentations that truly captivate your audience
Deeply understand the psychological principles that invoke wonder
And uncover your own unique creativity to bring about your most powerful magic

…Then this is for you. Read on…

Here’s what you’ll get when you pick up Mythos:

3 mind-blowing talks
4 stunning routines…
…and a BUNCH of bonus material!

Click HERE to view Mythos.

The Best Books on Coin Magic: Fundamental Coin Magic Tricks & Techniques

Danny Goldsmith is at the top, and he’s here to stay but if you’d like to supplement your learning of coin magic I’d be remiss not to mention some of the best books on the art!

If I could only recommend one, it would be ‘Modern Coin Magic by J.B. Bobo’ that you is available on Amazon for a few dollars…

https://amzn.to/48w30eo

This book features 116 coin sleights, and 236 coin tricks and you’ll learn almost everything about coin magic including: Basic Palms, Coin Vanishes, Coin Productions, Transpositions, Transformations, Coin Penetrations, Copper-Silver Routines, Expanded Coin Gimmicks, Coin Boxes, Table Coin Tricks, Coin Trick Plots, Coin Sleights, History and Presentation!

If you’d like a complete guide to the best coin magic books click HERE!

Who did the first EVER coin trick?

Great question.

But before we can decide when people started doing magic with coins, we should probably establish when people figured out they could stamp their faces on bits of metal and use them to buy goods.

The truth is that no one really knows when coins were first invented, but most historians think it was somewhere around the 6th to 5th century BC.

Fast forward a few hundred years and we come across the oldest known book with coin tricks in it— ”Tuhfat al-Ghraib” (or ‘The Gift of Wonder) by Muhammad ibn Ayyub Alhaseb Tabari, written between 978 and 1100.

(this might also be the oldest known book with magic in it, period!)

Another major milestone was the publishing of “A Discoverie Of Witchcraft” in 1584, which featured a number of coin tricks, including one featuring what we now know as a ‘copper/silver’ gimmick.

(it’s crazy how this simple gaff has been fooling people for nearly 500 years now…)

But the real birth of modern coin magic could probably be pinned somewhere in the lifetime of Thomas Nelson Downs (1867 – 1938), a self-taught coin magician known as ‘The King of Koins.”

Coin tricks were a lot more rare at that time, and Downs quickly became the leading man in the field.

He could allegedly palm up to 60 coins at a time, and one of his most famous tricks was “The Miser’s Dream”, in which he seemed to pull countless coins out of the thin air.

Then came J. B. Bobo, who wrote what is now considered ‘the Bible of coin magic’—Modern Coin Magic.

Of course, we should mention Slydini—who showed magicians how powerful close up coin magic could be, especially with his pioneering ‘one coin routine.’

Enter David Roth…

Dai Vernon is reported to have called Roth the greatest coin magician he has seen, and it’s undeniable that coin magic today would not be what it is without him.

According to Jamy Ian Swiss, Roth “changed coin magic for all time”.

Roth’s virtuoso execution of a “persistence of vision vanish” led to tremendous interest in his handling of the move (which he referred to as “The Retention Vanish“), and – perhaps – to increased use of this move among magicians.

So that’s a brief summary of the history of coin magic—we’re sure we’ve missed plenty of incredible magicians and contributors, but for the sake of keeping things concise we only covered the basic points.

Who are the leading people in coin magic today?

There are a few names that come to mind.

In no particular order, here they are…

First, our friend Danny Goldsmith has made it his mission to change how modern magicians think about and approach coin magic—and we think he’s killing it.

Secondly, Eric Jones created it when he put out ‘Metal’, and then inspired thousands of coin magicians with his success on America’s Got Talent.

Thirdly, Rick Holcombe is helping shape the future of coin magic by producing some of the most high quality coin magic content out there.

And of course, no list of influential 21st century coin magicians would be complete without

Jeff Copeland. Jeff Copeland is the founder of Copeland Coins, a company he founded to create the coin magic products he couldn’t find anywhere else.

Today we’re featuring a classic episode of our podcast, Of Sleights and Men, where we sat down and had a conversation with Jeff. Jeff is a friend, creator, and knows what it takes to be a professional magician.

In this episode we had a fantastic discussion, touching on topics as niche as Christian magic and as basic as good practice techniques.

Click HERE to listen.

If you still have any questions, feedback or comments feel free to leave them in the comment section below and I will get back to you, thanks for reading our complete guide to coin magic! We hope you enjoyed it!

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