Red Or Black?

Effect: From a pack of cards spread face down on a table, you are able to tell which are red cards and which are black.
Secret: First separate the reds from the blacks. Bend all the red cards upwards. Bend all the black cards downwards. Mix the cards together. Spread all the cards face down on your table. Throw them down haphazardly and then invite a spectator to mix them up even more, so it is obvious they are not in any special order. Ask people to point to different cards and you can tell them if they are red or black by the way they bend.

Magic Stamp Album

Effect: An empty album becomes magically filled with stamps. Secret: You need an exercise book to make this trick. Go through the book and cut a narrow strip from the edges of every other page. On every double page where the short edge is to the right, stick some stamps. The pages where the short page is on the left should be left untouched. Flick through the pages with your right hand and it will look like an ordinary exercise book. Say some magic words and flick through the book again using your left hand and the book is filled with stamps

Sweet And Sour

Effect: You tell the difference between sweet and sour by means of an amazing mental ability.
Secret: On a sheet of card write the words "SWEET" and "SOUR" and tear the card into nine pieces as shown.The pieces are dropped into a bag and mixed up. When you reach in and take a card, you know immediately whether the word on it is "SWEET" or "SOUR". This is possible from the way the card is torn. The "SOUR" pieces have only one straight edge. The "SWEET" pieces have two straight edges, with one exception which has no straight edges whatsoever.

Sweet And Sour

Effect: You tell the difference between sweet and sour by means of an amazing mental ability.
Secret: On a sheet of card write the words "SWEET" and "SOUR" and tear the card into nine pieces as shown.The pieces are dropped into a bag and mixed up. When you reach in and take a card, you know immediately whether the word on it is "SWEET" or "SOUR". This is possible from the way the card is torn. The "SOUR" pieces have only one straight edge. The "SWEET" pieces have two straight edges, with one exception which has no straight edges whatsoever.

The Mystic Seven

Effect: You predict which pile of cards a spectator will choose.
Secret: One a piece of paper, you write: "You will choose the Seven pile". The paper is then folded and given to a spectator for safekeeping. You now take several cards from a pack and arrange them in three facedown piles. The three piles are formed as follows: Pile One: Any seven cards. Pile Two: The four Sevens. Pile Three: An Ace, a Two and a Four (which add up to seven). A spectator is given the choice of any of the three piles. Whichever pile is chosen the prediction is always correct.

An Impossible Escape

Effect: A handkerchief escapes from a sealed tumbler.
Secret: A coloured handkerchief is placed in a tumbler. It has a fine thread attached to one corner which hangs over the outside of the glass. A second handkerchief is placed on top of the first. Another handkerchief is placed over the glass and secured with an elastic band. Reach under the handkerchief covering the glass and pull the secret thread, pulling the coloured handkerchief from the glass into your hand. Pull it into full view then remove the elastic band and covering handkerchief to prove that the coloured handkerchief really did escape.

Card Off

Effect: A card escapes from a string.
Secret: A card and an envelope have a hole in their centre. The envelope is secretly prepared with a slit at the bottom. Put the card in the envelope but secretly push it part way out of the slit. This is hidden by your hands. Seal the envelope. Push the string through the hole. Secretly push the card back into the envelope. Ask two spectators to each hold one end of the string. Cut the bottom off the envelope and pull out the card. It seems that the card has penetrated the string by magic.

Money Making Matchbox

Effect: Two coins are placed in a matchbox and the box is closed. When the box is opened again the number of coins in it has increased to three.
Secret: Open the matchbox and hide a coin between the top of the drawer and the cover of the box as shown. Place two coins in the box and push the drawer shut. This forces the hidden coin to drop into the drawer. Make a few mystical passes over the box and then open it. Say: "That's the way a magician makes money!".

Cut And Restored Ribbon

Effect: A ribbon is cut in two then restored. Secret: You need a piece of ribbon a metre long and another eight centimetres long. Sew the short piece to the middle of the long piece. Provided you keep it moving, the short piece will not be noticed. Fold the ribbon in half and pull the centre up through your fist. In fact you pull up only the short piece. Cut through the short piece and then cut away the rest of it (including the stitched bit).You have cut the ribbon in two but you can now show it completely restored!

Royal Flush

Effect: Five cards change into a Royal Flush. Secret: Take the Ten, Jack, Queen and King of one suit and cut them in half diagonally. One half is glued on to one of four other cards of any value and suit. Add an Ace to the group and fan out the cards. It looks like five ordinary cards. Lift the cards so the backs are towards the audience. Take off the Ace and show it, as you secretly turn the other cards end for end. Replace the Ace and then let everyone see the faces. They have changed into a Royal Flush

Making Money

Effect: Three coins are placed in your hand. When you open your hand again the number of coins has increased to five.
Secret: Before your performance secretly stick two coins to the underside of your table with Plasticine. Place three coins on the table. Let everyone see that your hands are empty. With your right hand, scoop the coins from the table into your left hand. At the same time, the left fingers reach under the table and take the two hidden coins. Open your left hand and the coins have magically multiplied.

Perplexing Pencil

Effect: A pencil adheres to one hand and then to the other.
Secret: The secret is a small pin pushed into the pencil. Hold the pin between the fingers of your right hand. The pencil seems to stick to the fingers. Bring your left hand to the pencil. Turn to the left and revolve the pencil between your hands. This causes the pin to move from your right fingers to your left fingers. Remove your right hand and the pencil is now apparently stuck to the left fingers. By reversing this movement, you can move the pencil back to the right hand.

Turn Over Card

Effect: A chosen card reverses itself in the pack. Secret: Spread the cards face down and ask a spectator to take any card. While he is showing the card to the rest of the audience, secretly reverse the bottom card then turn the whole pack over in your hands. Walk towards the spectator and ask him to replace his card in the pack face down. As you walk back to your table, turn the reversed card face up and turn over the whole pack again. All the cards are now face down with the exception of one card – the one the spectator chose

Dictionary Deception

Effect: You read someone's mind.
Secret: On the top right corner of each right hand page of the middle third of a dictionary write the word
printed at the top of the left page. Hold the spine of the book in your left hand and ruffle the pages with the
right. Ask someone to stop you anywhere. Make certain he stops you somewhere in the central section.
Open the book wide and ask him to remember the word at the top of the left hand page. You look at the word
you wrote on the opposite page then pretend to read the spectator's mind.

Flag Of The Realm

Effect: Red, white and blue ribbons change into a Union Jack.
Secret: Fold a Union Jack and place it on a sheet of newspaper. Put another sheet of newspaper on top and glue the two sheets together with the flag hidden between them. The prepared newspaper is on your table at the start of the trick. Show some red, white and blue ribbons. Wrap them up in the newspaper. Tear into the newspaper bundle and pull out the flag. Leave the ribbons hidden in the paper.

Travelling Ace

Effect: The Ace of Diamonds vanishes from the pack.
Secret: Put the Ace of Diamonds in your pocket. Arrange the remaining Aces so the Ace of Hearts is behind the other two. With the point of the Heart uppermost it looks like the Ace of Diamonds. Turn the cards face down as you say: "I will put these Aces in the pack – the Ace of Clubs, the Ace of Diamonds and the Ace of Spades". Ask a spectator to go through the cards and take out the Ace of Diamonds. When he fails to find it, you take if from your pocket

An Expensive Roll

Effect: A bread roll is broken open and a coin is found inside.
Secret: Hold a coin on the fingers of your right hand. The audience must not know this, so keep it hidden. When you are at the dinner table take a bread roll and place it directly on top of the concealed coin. Bend the roll downwards between your hands. This causes an opening in the bottom of the roll. Force the coin into this opening.Now break the roll from the top. As the roll breaks, the coin appears from the middle of the roll

Pin-through Pin

Effect: You separate two linked safety pins without opening them – proof that solid can penetrate solid.
Secret: Link two large safety pins together. Hold them as shown. Pull them apart with a sharp downward movement on the right hand pin. There is a knack to getting this movement exactly right but with practice you will be able to do it every time – and the pins will separate. What actually happens is that the pin on the right opens the left pin for a moment. The left pin closes again and it appears that you have caused metal to penetrate meta

Numbered Thoughts

Effect: While you are out of the room a three-figure number is chosen. On your return, you read your assistant's mind and reveal the number.
Secret: When you return to the room after a number has been chosen, you place your hands on either side of your assistant's head. Your friend now tightens and loosens his jaw for the appropriate number of times to signal each number in turn, pausing between numbers.As your fingers are near his temples you can feel this muscular movement so it is easy for him to transmit numbers to you without saying a word.

Link Up

Effect: Two paper clips link together without you touching them.
Secret: You need two paper clips and a sheet of paper. Fold over one-third of the paper and place a clip over the top of the doubled thickness. Fold the other end of the paper in the opposite direction to the first and place the second clip over the two thicknesses of paper just formed. The position should now be as shown. Pull sharply on each end of the paper and the clips will leap off into the air and link themselves together.

Find The Lady

Effect: A spectator tries to pick the Queen – but ends up with the Joker
. Secret: Glue a piece of a Queen to an Ace. Place a Joker on top and slightly to one side. Put another Ace exactly on top of the Joker. Show the cards (with the Joker hidden). You appear to be holding two Aces and a Queen. Turn the cards face down, as you do so spread them to separate the Joker and the Ace. Invite someone to take the Queen. He will take the centre card – but it is the Joker

Wallet Of Wonders

Effect: A 10p coin changes to two 5p coins.
Secret: To make the special wallet required you need two sheets of paper, folded as shown. Open out the folds and glue the shaded areas together. Put two 5p coins in the centre of the top sheet and fold it around them. Fold up the bottom sheet and turn the whole lot over. Place a borrowed 10p in the centre of the empty sheet and fold the paper around it. As you do this secretly turn the whole packet over.Open the paper to reveal the two coins.

That's It

Effect: You apparently read someone's mind to identify an object selected while you are out of the room.
Secret: You need a secret assistant. While you are out of the room someone selects any object in the room. When you return, your accomplice points to objects around the room but you have arranged that the fifth object he points to will be the chosen object. Identifying objects three times in succession (after arranging a different code number with your accomplice for each repeat performance) should be enough to convince the spectators that you possess amazing powers of mind reading.

Matchless Ribbon

Effect: Matches change into a ribbon
Secret: Glue together several half matches and put the finished block into the drawer of a matchbox, together with one ordinary match. Put a ribbon in the other end of the drawer. You push open the drawer, take out the single match and let everyone see the box is apparently full of matches. Tap the box with the match you have just removed. Open the box again (but this time from the other end) and show that the matches have changed into a ribbon.

Sympathetic Diamond

Effect: A large Ace of Diamonds changes colour when coloured handkerchiefs are passed over it
. Secret: The principal diamond on the card is actually cut out. It gets its colour from a piece of card held behind the Ace. Each time you want the colour of the diamond to change the secret card is moved to a new position. To get a multi-coloured diamond, position the card centrally so all four corners on the card are visible through the diamond-shaped hole. The handkerchiefs hide the movement of the secret card, look colourful and provide a reason for the colour changes.

Walking Through A Postcard

Effect: A postcard is cut so it will go over your body.
Secret: Boast that you can walk through a postcard then make the following moves. Fold the postcard in half lengthways. Make as many cuts as possible from the edge of the card to the centre and from the centre towards the edges as shown. The more cuts you make the easier the trick is to do. Unfold the card and cut along the centre, from A to B. You can now open out the card into a large loop that will easily go over your body.

Jumping Elastic

Effect: An elastic band penetrates the fingers.
Secret: Place an elastic band over the first two fingers of your left hand as shown. With the right hand stretch the band to show it really is over the fingers. Close the left hand, at the same time secretly allowing the tips of all your left fingers to go into the band as shown in the second drawing. Open your hand and the elastic band will jump from the first two fingers to the third and fourth fingers. Keep the back of your left hand towards your audience at all times when performing this trick and it will look like the band penetrates through the first two fingers

Baffling Bands

Effect: Three loops of paper are cut with surprising results.
Secret: You need three strips of paper, each about five centimetres by one metre. Glue the ends of the first strip together to form a loop. Do the same with the second strip but give one end a half turn before gluing the ends. In making the third loop give the paper one complete turn before gluing. Cut down the centre of the first loop with a pair of scissors. This will make two loops as one would expect. When the second loop is cut in the same way it forms one extra large loop and the third one produces two loops linked together.

It's Matchic!

Effect: You reveal how many matches were moved while your back was turned.

Secret: Secretly put a small pencil dot on a match, just below the head. Do this on all four sides of the
match and then put it back in the box. When you show the trick, remove ten matches from the box and put
them down in a row. The marked match must be placed at the left end of the row. Turn your back and ask
someone to move any number of matches, one at a time, from the left end of the row to the right. When you
turn around you have only to spot the position of the marked match and count from that to the right end of
the row to know how many have been moved.

Card To Matchbox

Effect: A playing card changes into a matchbox.
Secret: Trim a playing card and glue it to the top of a matchbox. Carefully fold the card over the box as shown. Glue a matchbox label on the back of the card so when the card is folded it looks like an ordinary matchbox. Show your audience the playing card. The matchbox is hidden behind it. Bring your hand over the card and secretly fold it up over the box. Remove your hand and it seems that you have made a playing card change magically into a matchbox.

Knot From Nowhere

Effect: A knot mysteriously appears in the corner of a handkerchief.
Secret: Before your performance, secretly tie a knot in one corner of a handkerchief. Show the handkerchief but hold it with the knot hidden in your right hand. The left hand now lifts the bottom end of the handkerchief and places it in the right hand along with the top corner. Give the handkerchief a shake and drop the unknotted end. Repeat this two or three times. On the second or third attempt allow the knotted corner to drop, retaining your grip on the other corner. All you have done is change the corner you are holding but it appears that the knot has formed by magic.

Pencil Vanish

Effect: A pencil disappears.
Secret: Show a pencil or pen and drape a large handkerchief over it. As soon as the pencil is out of sight, secretly extend your forefinger under the handkerchief as you allow the pencil to drop down your sleeve. Take the handkerchief with the other hand as if holding the pencil through the material. Throw the handkerchief into the air and the pencil has vanished!

A Neat Escape

Effect: You escape from a rope.
Secret: Ask someone to tie your wrists together with a large scarf. A long length of soft rope is now placed between your wrists and someone holds the ends. Another scarf is thrown over your bound wrists. As soon as your hands are out of sight move your hands back and forth to cause the rope to form a loop between your wrists. Keep working the rope until you can get one hand into the loop. When you have done this ask the person who is holding the rope to pull – the rope will come free and yet your wrists are still securely tied!

Spelling Bee

Effect: Ten cards are counted in a magical manner.
Secret: The cards you use have been secretly arranged in the order shown. The actual suits do not matter. Run the cards, one at a time, from hand to hand. This reverses the order so the Nine is now on the top. Place the 10 cards on the pack. To show the trick count off 10 cards (this gets the arrangement back to normal, with the Three on top). Take the cards one at a time from the top of the packet and place them on the bottom as you spell A C E (one card to each letter). Turn over the card on the E and it is an Ace. Drop this card on the table. Now spell T W O – again moving one card from the top to the bottom of the packet for each letter. Turn over the "O" card, a Two, and drop it on the table. Continue spelling in this way until you get to 10. For the 10th card you have only one card left but pretend to spell the letters as before to amuse your audience.

Kings And Aces

Effect: Two playing cards make a mysterious journey.
Secret: You need a special playing card. First glue an Ace of Spades and a King of Diamonds back to back. Cut an Ace of Clubs in half lengthways. Glue this on top of the Ace of Spades. Now glue a smaller strip of another King of Diamonds on top of that. Hold a King of Hearts against the special card and it looks like four cards. Place the four cards in a box. Bring out the King of Hearts and place it in another box. Secretly turn the special card over and bring it out, showing the King of Diamonds. Also place this in the other box. Show the first box empty. The Aces have vanished. Take all four cards (really only two) from the second box, showing them as you did before. It seems that the Aces have magically travelled across.

Matchbox

Effect: A matchbox obeys your commands.
Secret: Run a thread through the end of a matchbox drawer (see figure 1). Put a small eraser or a block of wood in the drawer on top of the thread (see figure 2) then close the box. You are now ready to show the trick. Hold each end of the thread, with one hand above the other. The matchbox should be near the top of the thread. If you hold the thread loosely the box will slide down the thread but if you secretly tighten the thread the box will stop (see figure 3). With practice you can make it stop or go at your command.

Folding Money

Effect: A currency note turns itself over.
Secret: Hold the note in your left hand then fold it in half lengthways towards you. Next fold it in half away from you. Finally, fold the note in half again, this time towards your body. Now slowly unfold the note from the front, making each movement in the same direction. The note is now upside down! Strangely enough, this trick is more baffling if you do it really slowly but, like all tricks, you must practise it thoroughly to make sure you can do it perfectly before showing it to anyone.

The Removable Thumb

Effect: You appear to remove your thumb!
Secret: Practise this in front of a mirror. Hold out your left hand with the palm facing you. Bend your left thumb in half towards your body. Bend your right thumb in half and place it alongside the left (see figure 1). Place your right forefinger over the front of the two thumbs where they touch (see figure 2). Move your right hand to the right and it looks as if you have removed your thumb (see figure 3). This trick should be done only to people who are directly facing you.

Floating Beaker

Effect: A plastic beaker floats in the air.
Secret: On one side of a plastic beaker attach a strip of strong paper. It is important that the paper is loose along the centre portion. To make the beaker appear to float, you push your right thumb through the paper loop. Place your left hand near your right hand and then lift your hands in the air. With practice it will appear that the beaker is floating in the air. Keep the taped side of the beaker nearest your body so the audience do not see it.

Ring On

Effect: A ring is magically threaded on a string.
Secret: Place the string and ring supplied on a table, together with a safety pin and a handkerchief. Cover the string, ring and pin with the handkerchief. Allow the ends of the string to remain visible at all times. Place your hands beneath the handkerchief and push the centre of the string through the ring. Open the pin then close it so it goes around the right side of the loop and the rest of the string (see figure 1). Put your left forefinger into the loop (see figure 2). Remove your right hand and lift up the right end of the string and ask someone to hold it. At the same time move your left hand along the string (keeping your finger in the loop) until you reach the end. Remove the handkerchief and show that the ring and pin are now on the string Floating

Bewildering Beaker

Effect: A beaker vanishes.
Secret: The beaker is glued to a small wooden tray. In the centre of a scarf sew a circle of cardboard. Show the beaker then cover it with the scarf or handkerchief. Lift the scarf (holding the cardboard disc so it looks as if you are holding the rim of the beaker) and turn the tray towards you. Stand the tray against something on your table – with the beaker side away from the audience. Everyone believes you are holding the beaker. Throw the scarf in the air and catch it as it falls – the beaker has vanished

Dice Deception

Effect: You read someone's mind.

Secret: Whilst your back is turned (or you can be blindfolded) someone throws a die on the table. Ask him
to remember the number thrown and then to make another throw. Tell him to double the first number he
threw and to add five to the answer. He has now to multiply his answer by five and then add on the second
number thrown. Ask him what total he has reached. Mentally subtract 25 from the answer he gives.
You will end up with a two digit number – the first digit is the first number thrown and the second is the
second number thrown. Now pretend to read the spectator's mind and tell him what numbers he threw.

Rising Pencil

Effect: The magician places a pencil into a bottle. It reacts to his commands and slowly rises and falls in the bottle.
Secret: The pencil is made to move with the aid of a very fine thread.
Props: A pencil, a vase or bottle and a fine thread.
Preparation: A very fine nylon or black cotton thread or even a long human hair (18 inches to 24 inches in length) is tied, taped or applied with wax to one end of the pencil. The other end is tied to a button on the magician's clothing.
Presentation: Drop the pencil (thread end first) into the bottle or vase (see illustration). By moving slightly away from the table the thread will become tight and, on command, the pencil will either rise or fall, depending on your movements.

Sticky Wand

Effect: This effect is similar to "Palm the Wand" but takes a little more practice to do it correctly.
Secret: A combination of holding the wand or pencil in different ways will give the impression that it has become magnetised and is sticking to your fingers magically.
Presentation: Hold the wand between your hands (see figure 1). Lift one thumb (see figure 2). The audience will still think that your other thumb is holding the wand. Then lift the second thumb (see figure 3). They will be amazed! Study figures 4 and 5 and you will see how the trick is achieved. Carefully interlace your fingers so that one is folded inside your palms (see figure 4). The wand is held behind this hidden finger (see figure 4). Pull your hands apart quickly and let the wand fall when the trick is over.

Reverse Loops

Effect: A cord, coiled around a magic wand or pencil and tied through a ring, is pulled free of the wand and yet the ring remains securely tied.
Secret: As you wind on the cord, you secretly reverse the direction.
Props: A magic wand or pencil, a ring and a length of cord.
Preparation: Practise coiling the cord around the wand until you can do it without hesitation.
Presentation: Take the cord and wind it around the magic wand in one direction for the loops then stop as if counting the loops with the first finger of the hand that is holding the wand. Leave the tip of the finger on the wand, just past the third loop (see illustration). Then add three more loops but in the reverse direction. Practise this carefully and try to get the ends of the cords to hang down about the same lengths. Cover all of the loops with your free hand, now have someone tie a ring to the two loose ends of the cord. As you say a magic word, have him pull straight down and the cord will come free from the wand.

Find The Coin

Effect: A coin is covered with any one of three cups and the cups are then moved around. You can say immediately which cup is covering the coin.
Secret: Attached to the coin is a long hair. When the coin has been covered the three cups can be moved around as much as anyone wants. Although your back has been turned while this has been going on you can easily locate which cup hides the coin. All you have to do is look for the hair sticking out from beneath one of the cups and that tells you all you need to know!

Palm The Wand

Effect: To prove that you have magical powers, place the wand or pencil across the top of the palm of one hand, with the back of the hand towards the audience. Slowly open your fingers and the wand apparently sticks to the hand as if magnetised (see figure 1).
Secret: Grip your wrist with your other hand (see figure 2). Unbeknown to your audience, your right index finger is holding the wand. Don't ever let the audience see the way you hold the wand

Rubber Wand

Effect: The magician's solid wand or pencil seems to turn to soft rubber. On command, it turns solid again.
Secret: Hold the wand horizontally in front of you between thumb and forefinger about a third of the way from the end. By moving your hand up and down in short quick moves, the wand will seem to become flexible and appear as if it were made of rubber (see illustration). This is an excellent optical illusion.
Presentation: Tap the wand on something to show that it is solid. Say the magic word and now demonstrate that it is wobbly and flexible. Another magic word and it turns solid again.

Appearing Wand

Effect: From a small purse you produce a large solid magic wand or pencil.
Secret: Obtain a small money purse and cut a small hole at the bottom.
Presentation: Have the wand partly up your sleeve and the other end inside the purse, through the hole. Show the purse, then open it and slowly pull out the large wand. This impressive illusion should be practised in front of a mirror. It is a real fooler and worth the extra trouble in obtaining a suitable purse.

Ring And String

Effect: A ring threaded onto a loop is released, although a spectator is holding the string.
Secret: Read PREPARATION carefully to see how you can solve this puzzle.
Props: Any ring and one cord.
Preparation: Get someone to help you practise this item before presenting it. Tie one piece of cord into a loop (circle). Slide the ring onto one end of the loop. Have your friend hold up his fingers. Put each end of the loop over one finger (see figure 1) but not too tight. Take a section of this cord and make another loop over the finger on the other side of the ring (see figure 2). Be sure you put the second loop below the first loop on the finger. Take the original loop and carefully lift it above the finger (see figure 3). Tell the holder to tighten up on the cord. As he does, you let go of your loop. The ring will fall free even though the string is still on his fingers. You will have to practise this a number of times before you can expect to do it smoothly.

Wand Power

Effect: The magician makes some mysterious passes around a wand or pencil which uncannily starts to move on its own.
Secret: The magician secretly blows on the wand, which causes it to roll.
Props: Use a wand or pencil. A smooth, firm surface is essential.
Preparation: Practise blowing toward the wand gently and secretly.
Presentation: Lay the wand on the table and very slowly trace circles around the outside of the wand with a finger. Then, as you move the finger away, the wand seems to follow. You claim to have created a static field that pulls plastic like a magnet. The trick is that as you draw the finger away from you and from the wand, you blow gently on the wand. The audience is so busy watching the movement of the finger, they won't notice that you are blowing towards the wand, which causes it to roll easily on the flat surface.

Amazing Wild Card Bend

This is an excellent card trick where a spectator is seen to randomly pick a playing card from the deck. The magician then holds the card out in front of the spectator and it is seen to bend back and forward at will. This easy card trick is visually stunning and is a good ice breaker.

Effect:

A playing card is randomly chosen from the pack. The card is then seen to bend back and forward wildly as if by magic.

How To Do The Trick :

A few simple items are all that is required to perform this easy magic trick. the magic instruction video shown here will show you the magic illusion being performed and then reveals the secret to this clever wild conjuring stunt.

Tips:

This trick works best when the spectator thinks they have randomly chosen the card. Practice an easy force such as the riffle Force so that you can get the most effect out of this trick.

Practice your angles when performing so that the back of the card is not visible to the spectator when it is bending.

Cup Through Table

Effect: A cup or glass vanishes when wrapped in a sheet of paper.
Secret: A piece of paper wrapped around the cup or glass will retain the shape of the cup – even after the
magician has secretly dropped the cup into his lap.
Props: A cup or glass, any small object and a sheet of newspaper or tissue paper.
Preparation: Select a piece of newspaper slightly larger than the cup so that it will cover it completely with
some overlap.
Presentation: Place the cup over any small object and wrap the paper around it. Ask the audience what is
under the cup. Everyone will, of course, suspect that you are about to vanish the object. Lift the paper and
cup to reassure everyone that the object is still on the table. Moving the wrapped cup slightly towards you,
just clear of the table relax your hold so that the cup is allowed to quietly drop into your lap, out of sight of
the audience, of course, whose attention is still focused on the object.The paper will retain the shape of the
cup. When you again place the paper over the object, you must maintain the illusion that you are replacing
both paper and cup. Wave your hand mysteriously over the "cup" and claim that you will make the object
vanish. When you lift the "cup" the object is still there. Remove the object but replace the "cup". Tell the
audience that something must have gone wrong and you are unable to vanish the object, so you have decided
to vanish the cup instead! At that moment dramatically smash your hand down onto the paper which will
flatten, giving the appearance that the "cup" has penetrated the table. Bring the cup from under the table
(removing it from your lap, in one smooth movement) and replace it on the table.

THE FINGER KNOWS-AND TELLS

People have liked psychic effects ever since magicians first began performing them, and in recent years the public has leaned even more to that branch of magic. When a magician discovers a thought which one person alone knows, which hasn't been whispered to someone else or even written down, it is particularly impressive. The effect I am about to describe appears to be something of a miracle to the spectators, especially to those who take part and have their minds read. Of course, it needs to be presented with showmanship, as do all other tricks, to be completely effective. Showmanship with a psychic effect means presenting the trick exactly as if you had the power you pretend. It should be performed in as quiet a manner as possible, without any flourishes and, seemingly, without any pretense. The performer is a scientist who has discovered something greatly in advance of the knowledge of the rest of the world--he does not boast about it, nor does he rant about it. He merely, and quietly, proves it.
This is the effect of the trick. The performer removes five cards from a pack. The cards are the ace, deuce, trey, four, and five spot of any suits. It makes no difference whether they are of different suits or all of one suit. The cards are placed on a table in a row and in sequence. While the performer turns away, a person is asked to look at the cards and choose one, and only one, mentally. Then the magician turns to him and instructs him to think that his thumb represents the ace, his index finger the deuce, his middle finger the trey, and so on. Above all he is to concentrate on the card he has mentally selected by keeping his thoughts firmly on the finger which represents it. When the spectator thoroughly understands what he is to do and announces that he is ready, he is told to hold up his hand, with his fingers apart. With the tip of his index finger the performer lightly touches the tips of each of the spectator's fingers as he says, "Ace, deuce, trey, four, five." Then without saying anything else, or doing anything more, the magician turns to the table and picks up from the row of cards the very card of which the spectator is thinking.
The secret is very simple, the clue being given, quite unconsciously, by the spectator himself. But perhaps it would be best to explain the routine in order. After the performer removes the five cards from the deck, he places them face up on the table running from left to right--at the extreme left is the ace, to the right of it the deuce, again to the right the trey, and so on. When I speak of left and right I mean the spectator's left and right. The cards are put in this order because the spectator is asked later to raise his right hand, palm toward the magician and in that position the thumb is towards the left and the fifth, or little finger, toward the right. It will be recalled that the thumb represents the ace and the little finger represents the five. As the cards are put on the table, they run in the same direction as the spectator thinks of his lingers. This is a minor point but one which makes a great deal of difference to the success of the trick, for it eliminates much confusion in getting the spectator to follow instructions.
When the trick has reached the point where the specttator has his hand raised, seemingly nothing has happened which would give the magician the least clue as to which card is being held in mind by the spectator. As the magician lightly touches the tips of the spectator's fingers with the tip of his index finger, it seems merely as if the magician were trying to concentrate. It is not his concentration which matters, but the concentration of the spectator. When a person thinks hard upon one finger he stiffens that finger without being aware of it himself. When the performer touches the person's fingers he will get the impression he wants, namely that one finger is stiffer than the others. The performer does not push the fingers back and forth, nor exert any pressure on them, for the lightest touch will give him his clue. He merely touches them, apparently as a reminder to the spectator.
Once the magician knows which finger is being thought of by the spectator, he knows which card has been selected. He does not name the card nor even immediately pick it up. He goes back to the table and runs his hand over the cards a time or two and perhaps names them over "Ace, deuce, trey, four, five." He then picks up the chosen card or, as I prefer doing, turns the chosen card face down and announces: "That is your card."
The trick may he repeated again and again, and I have never failed to pick the correct card in four out of five tests with any group. The trick is not one hundred per cent certain but the percentage of success is very high. The few failures merely seem to make more convincing to the spectators that they have been witnessing a true demonstration of mind-reading.
The trick is particularly effective when shown to only a few people such as to a group of newspaper reporters.
When properly presented they will forget the hand and fingers part of the feat and recall only that the magician was able to tell which cards they had mentally chosen. They are apt also to forget that they were limited in their choice and that they had but five cards from which to make their selection.
Of course, it is just as possible to write numbers on five pieces of paper instead of using cards. Anything at all may be used from which to make a selection as long as there is something to take their minds off their fingers.
Incidentally, it is not a trick for magicians, although I have performed it successfully for a number. It is a trick for laymen. Laymen are only interested in the effect and they don't care, when the effect is good, whether what they have seen is difficult or easy, whether a new sleight is used or whether the gimmick is silver plated.
Any further explanation is unnecessary. I feel certain that if you try it a few times you will find it to be a trick you will like.