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.
Magicians Apprentice Easy — December 15, 2010
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.
All The Aces Easy — September 23, 2010
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.
As Many As You Intermediate — September 13, 2010
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.
The Jack’s Party Intermediate — March 4, 2010
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.
Hands off the Pack! Easy — December 21, 2009
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.
That’s Odd Easy — October 20, 2009
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 Kingdoms Easy — May 24, 2009
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.
The Four 2’s Jive Easy — October 28, 2008
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.
Magic Partner Intermediate — August 26, 2008
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.
Slappers Easy — August 7, 2008
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.
In My Pocket Intermediate — May 21, 2008
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.
Magic Magnets Color Separation Intermediate — February 4, 2008
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.
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.
Lucky 13 Easy — September 18, 2007
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.
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.
Find The Card The Easy Way Easy — July 24, 2007
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.
Amazing Prediction Easy — July 18, 2007
Before any cards are selected the magician writes a prediction. After a series of free choices and deals, it matches the final result perfectly.
Reversa-Card Easy — July 15, 2007
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.
Mystical 8s Prediction Intermediate — May 20, 2007
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 21 Easy — May 20, 2007
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.
Royal Hotel Easy — May 7, 2007
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.
The Hotel Easy — May 2, 2007
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.
Force Easy — April 28, 2007
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.
Only Time Will Tell Easy — April 25, 2007
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.
Four Islands Easy — April 23, 2007
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 — April 13, 2007
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.
21 Finds Your Card Easy — April 10, 2007
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.
The Changing Ace Easy — April 9, 2007
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.
Kings Robbery Easy — April 8, 2007
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.
Predicta-pair Easy — March 21, 2007
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.
Psychic Solution Easy — March 1, 2007
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.