How to Perform an Impossible Card Trick

Last Updated: June 9, 2022

Do you want to amaze your friends? Looking to take your card trick repertoire to the next level? If so, this is the trick for you! This “impossible” card trick is actually pretty simple. With a little bit of practice, you’ll be wowing audiences in no time. Read on to learn everything you’ll need to perform this trick.

1

Shuffle and check the bottom card.

You are going to need to remember the bottom card. Remember this card since you are going to "force" this card on your spectator.

2

Hold the deck down.

Move the bottom card to the left or right a bit. Hold the deck face down and secretly move the bottom card a little bit to the left or right.

3

Set a card on the ground.

Take the card on top of the bottom card and place it on the floor. The spectator will think you're taking the bottom card. Bring back all the cards together.

4

Ask the spectator to stop you.

Start shuffling the deck and say, "Tell me when to stop." When they choose to stop, show the spectator the bottom card (the card you remembered) and tell them to remember this card.

5

Cut the deck.

Hand the deck over to the spectator and tell them to cut it for you. Give it to the spectator to shuffle and/or cut. When he/she hands you back the deck, look for their card. When you find their card, count 4 cards back, not including their card, and put the remaining cards on top of the deck. (for example, their card is the 7th from the bottom. Count 4 cards from it, you'll end up on the 3rd card. Place the 1st and 2nd cards on top of the deck.)

6

Show them a false card.

Flip the bottom card up and act disappointed when they say it’s not it. Show them the bottom card and ask them if that is their card. They will reply no and place it on the floor.

7

Repeat the false card move again.

Continue the previous step until you have 3 cards on the floor. Form a square with the cards. Put the 1st card on the upper left corner, 2nd on the upper right and 3rd on the lower left.

8

Flip a 4th card over.

Secretly move the bottom card to the left or right afterwards. Take the card on top of it, which is their chosen card, and place it on the lower right corner.

9

Cut or shuffle the deck.

Do this without losing track of the bottom card. Cut/shuffle the deck so that they don't see the bottom card.

10

Have the audience choose 2 cards.

Ask them to choose 2 cards, but instruct them to point only. If the chosen card is included in the cards they pointed at, take the other 2 and put it back in the deck otherwise take the 2 pointed cards and put it in the deck.

11

Ask them to choose a card.

Finally, ask the spectator to choose between the two cards. If they point the chosen card, place the other card in the deck or if he/she choose the other card, put it in the deck.

12

Reveal the chosen card.

Flip the remaining card (the chosen card) and wait for your applause. Make a bit of a show out of it when you reveal the card they chose.

Community Q&A

Question

What happens if they find its fake?

Community Answer

A lot of the time you can make up several excuses. The most commonly used one is that there are two of each card in the deck. This one is easy because they cannot count the cards. If they still think it's fake, pull half the cards out.