Math Tricks

If you liked puzzles at school, you’ll love this page. Every trick here works because of a bit of arithmetic hiding in plain sight: a count that always comes out the same, piles that add up to a number you already know, or a deal that quietly moves a card to a fixed position.

The nice thing about math tricks is that they can’t go wrong if you follow the steps. The hard part is making them not feel like a math lesson. Nobody is amazed by subtraction. So keep the counting brisk, give the spectator something to do, and put your energy into the reveal.

Practice these face up first. Watch where the important card goes during each deal and count along. Once you understand why it works, you’ll stop worrying about it, and that makes you a much more relaxed performer.

The Year Game is a great one to start with. Kathy’s Prediction turns a simple count into a prediction, and The Lazy Magician lets the spectator do all the work while you take the credit. Mental Agility works with any pack. Many math tricks are also Self-Working Tricks, and the Memory Tricks page has a few more number-crunchers.

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 Mathematical Mind-Melder – A Card Trick That Defies Logic Easy — February 14, 2024
A spectator selects a card and you apparently read their mind through counting and calculation, then reveal their card as the next one in the deck.
Four Ace Extravaganza Intermediate — December 5, 2010
The magician bets the audience can find all the aces. After shuffling and a counted deal, the four aces turn up in surprising places.
Eight Threatening Kings Easy — May 10, 2009
Someone takes a card from the deck, and the magician tells them its suit and value, using a stack in a memorized order.
The Lazy Magician Easy — February 22, 2009
While your back is turned, a spectator moves some cards around and you still find the card they saw. The method is a mathematical principle.
Count On Me Intermediate — August 9, 2008
A spectator picks a card at any number up to fifteen in their own deck. Later, behind his back, the magician finds exactly what they chose.
Mental Agility Intermediate — October 16, 2007
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.
Rising Card Intermediate — July 30, 2007
A spectator’s remembered card is located in a layout of five piles. It then lifts itself out of a stack of cards for a magical finish.
Impossible Card Location Easy — July 29, 2007
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.
Piano Duets Intermediate — July 24, 2007
You pair up cards between a volunteer’s fingers like piano keys, with one odd card left over. A playful math trick that rewards good patter.
Fool Proof Reversed Card Intermediate — June 15, 2007
A spectator picks and replaces a card, and the deck is mixed. Looking through the cards, they find their card has turned over by itself.
Half and Half Intermediate — May 21, 2007
You count out half the deck, build three piles up to ten and have a spectator count down a calculated number. The next card turned over is the one you predicted.
Stack it Up Intermediate — May 19, 2007
A spectator’s card is located from a layout of three columns, then made to stand out of a stack of cards for a dramatic reveal.
It’s Your Deal Intermediate — April 26, 2007
A spectator halves the deck, hides a memorized card on top of one half, and deals into four piles. Through elimination they end up with only their chosen card.
The Sun Intermediate — April 9, 2007
Thirty cards are laid out like a sun, with a ring and a row. No matter what number a spectator names, the count ends on the card you remembered.
The Year Game Intermediate — March 28, 2007
You ask about weeks, months and days in a year and a week, dealing cards for each answer. After the count, the spectator’s chosen card is revealed.
Any Way You Count Them Intermediate — March 8, 2007
Cards are dealt into stacks that add up to ten and a spectator chooses three of them. A little arithmetic then reveals a card or number.
Kathy’s Prediction Easy — March 5, 2007
Cards are dealt into piles that add up to ten, and a volunteer selects three of them. You then predict the value of the top card on the final pile.
The Final 3 Easy — March 2, 2007
A spectator’s three cards are hidden in the deck. After repeated deals into two piles, only their three cards remain face down.