Card tricks have always been a popular form of entertainment. From simple card tricks to more complex ones, people have always been fascinated by the art of card magic. One of the most popular and impressive card tricks is the 21 card trick. This trick involves the magician asking a spectator to shuffle a deck of cards, pick any 21 cards, and then arrange them into three columns of seven cards each. The magician then asks the spectator to choose a column and remember the bottom card. The magician can then reveal the chosen card. But why does this trick work? Let's find out.
The Setup
The 21 card trick is a combination of math and psychology. To set up the trick, the magician needs to stack the deck in a specific order. The order is as follows: Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. The magician then shuffles the deck, without disturbing the order, and asks the spectator to cut the deck into three piles. They then ask the spectator to choose one pile, remember the bottom card, and place the pile on top of the other two piles. The magician then repeats this process with the remaining two piles. The result is a deck that has been shuffled but is still in the specific order needed for the trick to work.
The Math
Now comes the math part of the trick. The magician knows the order of the cards and knows which card will be on the bottom of each pile. The magician then arranges the piles in a specific way to ensure that the card the spectator chose will always be in the same position in the deck. Let's say the spectator chose the middle pile and the bottom card was the 6 of hearts. The magician then takes the top card of the left pile and places it on top of the middle pile, followed by the top card of the right pile. The magician then takes the top card of the middle pile and places it on top of the left pile, followed by the top card of the right pile. The magician then takes the top card of the left pile and places it on top of the middle pile, followed by the top card of the right pile. This process is repeated until the magician has gone through the entire deck.
The Psychology
The psychology of the 21 card trick involves misdirection. The magician asks the spectator to choose a pile, remember the bottom card, and place the pile on top of the other two piles. This gives the spectator the impression that they have control over the deck and that the magician cannot possibly know which card they chose. However, the magician has already stacked the deck in a specific order and has arranged the piles in a way that ensures the chosen card will always be in the same position in the deck. The magician then uses their skills of misdirection to distract the spectator while they go through the entire deck, revealing the chosen card at the end.
The Conclusion
In conclusion, the 21 card trick is a combination of math and psychology. The magician sets up the deck in a specific order and arranges the piles in a way that ensures the chosen card will always be in the same position in the deck. The magician then uses their skills of misdirection to distract the spectator while they go through the entire deck, revealing the chosen card at the end. The trick is impressive because it seems like the spectator has complete control over the deck and that the magician cannot possibly know which card they chose. However, with careful planning and execution, the magician is able to pull off the trick every time.
