Self-Working Tricks

Self-working tricks are the closest thing in magic to a free lunch. You follow the steps, the deck does the work, and the trick happens. No sleight of hand, no secret moves, and very little that can go wrong.

That doesn’t mean they’re dull. Some of the cleverest ideas in card magic are self-working. They rely on counting, dealing into piles, the way cards move during a cut, or a bit of setup done before anyone is watching. Because the method is automatic, all your attention can go into the presentation, and that’s where these tricks really shine.

I’d practice a self-working trick in two passes. First, run it face up a few times to see why it works. It’s satisfying, and it means you won’t panic if something feels off. Second, practice the story. Give the spectator a reason to deal, cut or spell, and the trick feels like theirs.

Magic 21 is the classic everyone should know. All the Aces has the spectator find all four aces themselves. The Hotel is a story trick that kids love, and Lucky 13 is a good one for a fresh deck. If you like knowing why things work, you’ll enjoy the Math Tricks, and the Easy Tricks page has plenty more for beginners.

The Predictive Ace – A Powerful Mind-Reading Card Trick Easy — October 24, 2024
You convince the audience you have predicted the future when their freely selected card matches your written prediction. It is easy to learn and needs no advanced sleight of hand.
The Mathematical Shuffle – A Self-Working Card Trick with a Math Twist Easy — September 3, 2024
A spectator picks a card that is shuffled back into a mixed deck. You count down in multiples of three and the next card revealed is the chosen one.
The Invisible Switch – A Deceptively Simple Card Trick Easy — September 8, 2023
A spectator memorizes a card and it is shuffled into the deck. The top card is shown and is not theirs, then the card below it reveals the chosen card.
Slappers Easy — March 5, 2019
A spectator keeps a card in mind and the magician narrows the deck to just a few cards. Slapped from a fist one by one, the last card left is theirs.
Amazing Prediction Easy — March 2, 2019
Before any cards are selected the magician writes a prediction. After a series of free choices and deals, it matches the final result perfectly.
Magic 21 Easy — December 15, 2018
A spectator picks a card from a pile of 21 and shuffles it in. After three rounds of dealing and pile-picking, their card is found, then revealed.
Lucky 13 Easy — September 15, 2018
You shuffle a fresh deck to show it is mixed, then deal 13 piles. When turned over, every pile holds four matching cards, one of each suit.
Psychic Solution Easy — August 1, 2018
A spectator memorizes a card from one of three piles and puts it back, then you name its colour, suit and finally its number as if reading their mind.
Impossible Card Location Easy — June 15, 2018
Three people memorize cards that are buried in piles, then you deal alternately face up and down, discarding piles until only the three chosen cards remain.
Predicta-pair Easy — May 11, 2018
Two freely chosen cards are named from nothing but a single number the spectator calls out. It is a self-working trick that uses simple arithmetic.
The Four 2’s Jive Easy — May 2, 2018
You and a spectator both hold half the deck behind your backs and swap cards. At the end, all four twos are found face up in the spread.
Hands off the Pack! Easy — April 2, 2018
The spectator buries their chosen spot card by moving cards from bottom to top, then names cards as they deal. You name their card without handling the deck.
Magicians Apprentice Easy — April 1, 2018
A young apprentice mimics your moves with the real deck while you use an imaginary one, and a spectator's card is found without you touching the cards.
Only Time Will Tell Easy — March 23, 2018
A spectator thinks of a suit and an hour on a clock of cards. After the deck is dealt at random, you move their hand over the cards and the chosen card matches.
Reversa-Card Easy — March 2, 2018
A spectator’s chosen card is lost in a deck that is mixed behind their back. Yet the one card they reverse ends up next to it when you spread the deck.
The Jack’s Party Intermediate — February 28, 2018
You tell a story about a party attended by jacks, kings, queens and the police. A funny, crowd-pleasing trick that brings four sets of cards back together.
Royal Hotel Easy — February 24, 2018
A five card becomes a hotel and the picture cards and aces become its guests. A short self-working story trick that ends with an unexpected arrangement.
Poker Trial Intermediate — February 18, 2018
A poker player bribes the court into one hand to win his freedom. Eleven jurors and the judge all get three of a kind, but the player gets four.
Force Easy — February 15, 2018
A spectator seems to make free choices while rows of cards are removed one at a time. The last remaining card is the one the magician knew.
The Hotel Easy — February 10, 2018
A story about four girls at a hotel is acted out with the cards. A simple self-working trick with a funny ending that is great for beginners.
Magic Magnets Color Separation Intermediate — January 31, 2018
A deck is divided into packets and riffle shuffled, then two cards act as color magnets. With a snap of the fingers, the reds and blacks separate.
Four Kingdoms Easy — January 22, 2018
A story of four kingdoms and a wizard's spell mixes up the royal families, and in the end, each family is back together in its own castle.
Mystical 8s Prediction Intermediate — January 22, 2018
You place a prediction card aside and the spectator calls stop in a dealt deck. The two predicted 8s then appear exactly where you said they would.
Magic Partner Intermediate — January 20, 2018
A spectator memorizes a card in a fan of ten and its position. After cards are moved to the bottom and top, the last card left turns out to be theirs.
All The Aces Easy — January 15, 2018
Four piles are made and the spectator deals cards from one pile onto the others. Each pile's top card is then turned over and all are aces.
casino Easy — January 15, 2018
A magician shuffles a fresh deck and deals it into thirteen piles. When the piles are turned over, each has four cards of the same number.
The Changing Ace Easy — January 13, 2018
You show three aces fanned out, then turn them over and have a spectator tap them. When they are turned back, the Ace of Diamonds has become the Ace of Hearts.
Mental Agility Intermediate — January 12, 2018
With your back turned, a spectator notes the card at a number they thought of. You reverse 19 cards behind your back, and their card is revealed in the count.
21 Finds Your Card Easy — January 8, 2018
Twenty-one cards are dealt into three columns and the spectator only names the column. After three rounds, the eleventh card is the one they chose.
Kings Robbery Easy — January 6, 2018
You tell a tale of four Kings robbing a store, hiding them in different parts of the deck, then flip the top cards to show all four have flown back to the roof.
In My Pocket Intermediate — January 6, 2018
A spectator's card is shuffled back into the deck and you apparently fail to find it. Then you reach into your pocket and pull out the exact card they chose.
As Many As You Intermediate — January 5, 2018
A spectator takes a handful of cards in secret and the magician takes more. After both count in silence, the magician names their exact number.
Find The Card The Easy Way Easy — January 3, 2018
Sixteen cards are laid out and a spectator thinks of one. By naming only its column twice, the magician is able to find the card.
That’s Odd Easy — January 2, 2018
Ten cards are mixed and divided behind your back, but when the piles are shown each has the same number of face-up cards, all in one colour.
Four Islands Easy — January 2, 2018
Four islands hold a king, queen, jack and ace each. A hurricane hits and, in the end, every card is back where it belongs.
Double Cross Easy — January 2, 2018
A spectator directs how a suit of thirteen cards is dealt and mixed. No matter how much they mix, the cards return to the original order.