Cool playing card magic. Card tricks of various difficulty levels.
When it comes to table magic, card magic is so popular that it’s the first thing that comes to mind.
There’s a wide variety of tricks using playing cards, and the fact that the props are easy to carry is part of the appeal.
In this article, we’ve compiled a selection of cool card tricks that look difficult, regardless of their actual difficulty.
Card magic can make for a very dazzling performance once you get the hang of how to present it.
It’s pretty slick if you can remember a few and casually perform them somewhere.
Feel free to use this as inspiration for a show or a party piece.
- [By Difficulty] Simple Card Magic Tricks Using Playing Cards
- [Card Magic] Amazing Magic Revealed: Difficult Tricks for Advanced Magicians
- [Easy] A Beginner’s Guide to Card Magic: Tricks Even Elementary School Kids Can Do Right Away
- [Easy] Magic tricks that will liven up the classroom: Recommended tricks you can do even during recess
- Advanced, high-difficulty magic for experts. Reveals of methods and a roundup of tricks.
- Simple card magic. Tricks you can do with self-working methods or a little sleight of hand.
- With Explanations: Easy Magic Tricks for Lower-Grade Elementary School Children — How to Do Simple Tricks
- [For Upper Grades] Simple Magic Tricks for Elementary School Students: Astonishing and Impressive Magic
- Magic you can do using only your hands—no props needed! Perfect to perform at school.
- Teleportation magic and its secrets: a roundup of tricks using coins, cards, and more
- [Coin, Cards, Pen, etc.] Compilation of Magic Tricks Where Objects Disappear
- Easy! Magic tricks that liven up a Christmas party. Simple tricks and their secrets revealed.
- A roundup of finger tricks: magic you can do using just your fingertips.
Cool playing card magic. Card tricks of various difficulty levels (51–60)
An ambitious card that can be done without difficult techniques
The Ambitious Card, where the spectator’s chosen card always appears on top no matter how many times you shuffle, is a classic trick that leaves a strong impression.
You don’t need difficult techniques—there’s actually an easy method even beginners can do.
The key is a visual subtlety: make it look like you’re moving the top card while actually controlling the card beneath it.
This creates the startling effect that no matter what sequence you show, the chosen card “comes back again!” All you need is a regular deck of cards.
Because the mystery holds up through repeats, this trick is a surefire crowd-pleaser for any casual gathering.
Switching Card Magic
It’s a magic trick where, even though you think you’re tracking the chosen card with your eyes, it ends up being swapped for a completely different one.
The more someone concentrates, determined not to miss a thing, the more surprising the ending is! In addition to the technique of switching cards, you also need the focus to track the card yourself while performing the routine.
The selected card comes out of the case.
It’s a magic trick where you put the deck—after returning the selected card—back into the case, and when you shake the case, the previously chosen card pops out.
The method is that when you return the card to the deck, you secretly pull it out with the other hand and palm it, allowing you to produce the selected card from outside the case.
Since you’ll also be holding the case while the card is concealed in the inside of your hand, be very mindful of your angles so you don’t show the inner side.
After that, move the card to the bottom of the case and slide it out to produce it—done.
If you grip the card too hard it can bend, so keep your hand relaxed and hold the card lightly between your fingers.
A Slightly Difficult Card Magic Trick
As the title says, it looks simple but is actually quite difficult—a technique that takes a fair bit of practice.
The key to improving at magic is to keep working on it until it looks effortless again.
If you practice so much at your magic circle that the shape of the cards is imprinted on your hand, a new world awaits you.
Cool playing card magic. Card tricks of various difficulty levels (61–70)
No Turn Pass
This is an instructional video on magic techniques.
It’s just a technique, but it’s essentially the “secret” of the trick, where the element of mystery is hidden; the rest of the magic is merely presentation.
In that sense, it’s also a seed you can nurture with your own ideas from here.
Maxi Twist
This is a magic trick in which Roger Smith has heavily modified Dai Vernon’s “Twisting the Aces.” After performing Twisting the Aces, when you turn the four cards face up, the four Aces have astonishingly changed into the 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Spades.
It’s a very mysterious and cool trick.
Rising Card
Use a full deck of cards.
Have a spectator select just one card, return it to the deck, and give it a good shuffle.
While saying that, use a technique called a top control to secretly position the selected card on top of the deck.
After that, simply use your index finger and pinky to make it look as if the card rises up on its own.
It’s a very simple trick and easy to see through, but it should be good enough as an opener.