The Card Warp Trick is one of the most original card effects of all time. If you are in the mood for an eye-popping magic trick then this visual trick is for you.
In today’s post, I’ll be giving you all the information you need to know about the Card Warp Trick and how you can perform it.
Here’s what we’ll cover…
- What is The Card Warp Trick
- History of the Card Warp Trick
- Card Warp Variations
- Tutorials
What is the Card Warp Trick?
First, let’s go over what exactly this baffling card trick routine is. Picture this:
The magician takes two playing cards from the deck. They can be picked from the deck by a participant or have been placed aside.
One card is folded in half-length-wise, while the other is folded width-wise around the first playing card.
The longer playing card is then slowly “pushed through” the other card.
As it emerges out the other end, it has amazingly flipped itself inside out!
At one point, the card can be clearly shown to be both inside out and inside in at the same time
At the end, the magician tears both cards in half, showing them to be completely normal.
All torn edges match perfectly.
The effect is quick and simple but is best performed slowly and with some build-up and presentation.
Here is a video of the trick being performed
Right now you might be wondering.
How does a single playing card defy all the known laws of logic?
Well, good question.
First a little background on the Card Warp trick
Like many of the great classic card effects, Card Warp is the result of work and contributions from many famous magicians.
Jeff Busby originally published the inside-out card effect as “Into the Fourth Dimension… and Beyond” in 1973.
At the time, it was one small part of a greater effect where the card goes on to be ripped into pieces and then restored (Torn and Restored Card).
Years later, magician Roy Walton is credited with adjusting the handling and creating what’s now known as the Card Warp standalone effect.
From there, tons of magicians have added, tweaked, and created adjusted handlings.
(We’ll discuss those variations shortly.)
But the original Roy Walton remains a favorite of close-up magicians everywhere, some decades later.
Variations and Tutorials
The original effect is extremely simple and the handling is quite elegant.
You only need two playing cards and a little preparation and you are good to go.
This trick is fairly impromptu but not 100%.
You can learn the original in the video below.
Definitely Warped by Jay Sankey
This trick takes everything to a totally different level.
Here’s a killer variation of Card Warp that uses only a single card.
It utilizes a lot of the same principles, but involves folding the card into quarters along its length with a rubber band for cover!
It’s cool and quite visual! Though I’d say it’s more challenging to master than the original.
Jay Sankey teaches it in the video below
Quarks and Quirks
This variation is really good if you love the original Card Warp and you want some more ideas and effects like it, definitely check out Quarks and Quirks by Ben Harris.
It’s a book featuring a collection of full routines/tricks and methods all around tearing cards, turning cards inside out, and making pieces of cards appear and disappear.
It’s full of mind-bending magic, creative gimmicks, and some tricky handling.
You can pick it up from the link below
https://www.penguinmagic.com/p/S3257
Star Warp (Card Warp with a dollar bill)
Another popular version of Card Warp uses any dollar bill for “cover” instead of a second playing card.
It gives the effect a little more of a real-world feel and can liven up the visual performance.
You can learn the Star Warp in the video below
No Tears Card Warp
For those that don’t like the ending of tearing both cards, there are some handlings and gimmicks that allow you to perform a “no tears” Card Warp.
Usually, the cards are heavily gimmicked and not inspectable — however, for certain kinds of performances, the visual effect is so strong it may not matter.
You can learn the No Tears Card Warp trick in the video below
Bonus: Worlds Greatest Magic – Card Warp
On this DVD, you’ll learn the secrets to Roy Walton’s original two-card brainchild, as expertly performed and taught by Michael Ammar.
Then, you’ll watch and learn some different and original presentations for the original Card Warp as Scotty York performs and teaches his decidedly adult version, and Eugene Burger uses the cards to demonstrate a horrifying history lesson.
From there, you’ll move on to even more visually amazing versions that use a card and a borrowed banknote, such as Michael Close’s Dr. Strangetrick and Howie Schwartzman’s Star Warp, as taught by Ammar again.
Paul Diamond will demonstrate how to make the face of a deck change when it’s wrapped in a bill, even when the spectator holds it. You’ll also see and learn Bruce Cervon’s Warp II, possibly the most baffling version of Card Warp ever created.
You can get this product if you click the link below
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/magic-dvds/worlds-greatest-card-warp/
Conclusion
It takes some preparation and isn’t the right choice for every situation, but it’s a beautiful visual puzzle that will appeal greatly to a lot of people. Don’t forget the effect is quick and simple so take your time, have a good build-up, present it well and you’re guaranteed to amaze.
(Card Warp is also good for kids since it doesn’t require them to remember any numbers or suits.)
Thank you for reading the card warp magic trick, hope you enjoyed it. Let me know if I missed any good variations.
Comment down below your best tips for getting the most out of Card Warp.
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