One by One

One by One is a "mind-reading" trick.

A new pack of cards is best, where all the cards are straight; in an old pack they are often bent from much bending.

Begin by telling your audience you will name each card by reading the mind of someone who sees it. But you can only do that by first working magic on the card. Have someone shuffle the pack thoroughly, so you cannot be suspected of having "arranged" the cards.

You are going to hold them behind your back. As they are handed to you, or as you swing them behind you, note the card that is on the bottom-without letting anyone see you do it, of course. Suppose it is the 4 of clubs.

With both hands behind you, take off the top third of the pack (the exact number does not matter) , and turn it in reverse, so the bottom two-thirds will be facing the audience, and the top third will face you when you hold the cards in front of you. While you are doing this you can be mumbling some "Hokus-pokus-dommus-nickus" magic formula.

Now with the pack deep in the right hand, the fingers curled well over the cards (to conceal that all of them are not facing the same way), hold the pack out in front of you,' the bottom card facing the audience, and say, "Mary is thinking of the Four of Clubs. So that is the card she sees!" (At the same time you note the 6 of diamonds facing you.)

Swing the pack behind you quickly, and while you chant your magic, slip the 6 of diamonds from the top of the pack to the bottom, turning the card as you do so, so it will face in the direction of the other bottom cards.

Hold the pack in front of you, deep in your right hand, and say, "John, your mind is hard to read, but I believe-yes, it is the Six of Diamonds !"

(You note the card now facing you is the King of hearts.) Behind you again, you switch that card to the bottom, and when you hold the pack out you can say, "This one is easy, because everybody is thinking of the King of Hearts!"

And so on, for eight or ten cards, being careful to name the card you put on the bottom, and not the card that is facing you at the time!

And be very, very careful that no one peeks behind you while you are working your magic!