Magic Techniques - The BASICs

1. Double Lift

A common technique to make two cards appear as one.

When performed correctly, the double-lift is one of the most powerful and useful techniques in the magician's repertoire. If you want to move two cards (or more) as one - while having your spectators see and believe there is only one card, then your actions must the exact same as when you are simply moving one card. This takes practice, practice and more practice.

Push two cards out slightly as show in Figure A and secure a pinky break between this two cards and the rest of the deck. Then as you attempt to turn the top card over, take both as one and flip it over in one complete natural motion as seen in Figure B. If you do it correctly, it should appear to be a single card instead of two.

2. Top Palm

The most common and effective palming of card. This is useful for stealing the spectators card as you appear to be squaring the deck of cards.

1. Using your thumb, push out the top card at an angle as shown.

2. Move your right hand over the card. While doing so, squeeze it into your palm.

3. This is what it looks like when the card is fitted nicely into the palm.

3. Back Palm

A variation of the palming technique to palm the card to the back of your hand.

1. This is the starting position as you are holding a card facing the audience.

2. Curl your middle two fingers and hold the card as shown.

3. Move your outer two fingers towards the card as you prepare to bend it.

4. Bend the card slightly using your outer two fingers and straighten your fingers as shown in the picture.

5. This is what the audience see in the final state. The card is invisible to the audience.

Basic Coin Techniques

Coin tricks can be considered hard to learn to most people because they are round and cannot altered in anyway. For this class of tricks, those with a big palm will have a significant advantage. Many coin tricks uses the techniques described here to achieve. Coin tricks are hard to master so for a start, here are a few fundamental techniques for you to practice and understand.

1. French Drop

A common tool to make coin vanish or teleport from one place to another.

This technique is great for appearing to be holding a coin in one hand when its not the case. It is ideal for making a coin teleport or seem to disappear.

1. Hold a coin at the tips of your fingers in one of your hands as seen in picture.

2. Bring your other hand over to grab the coin.

3. Before your hand grabs the coin, release the coin from the tips of your fingers and let it fall into the base of your fingers.

4. Continue with the motion of the “grabbing” hand and act as if you have actually taken the coin with it. In reality, the coin remains in the original hand.

5. Take the hand away as if it holds the coin. You can point with the other to further emphasize to make people think it is there.

2. Classic Palm

The most common palming method.

The coin is held in the center of the palm by the contraction of the muscles at the base of the thumb and little finger. Basically is like trying to hold something in your hand, but without getting a grip on the object by using your finger. Not just one, but several coins may be held in this manner. This is one of the most difficult of concealments to master, but it is worth learning it because it is one of the finest. No one thinks it possible to conceal a coin in this way.

3. Downs Palm

A variation of many palming methods.

The coin is held horizontally in the fork of the thumb by pressure of the latter and the base of the first finger pressing together against opposite edges. Image A shows this position but from a different angle than viewed by the audience (the image does not get to see your hand as in image A). To bring the coin to this position, hold it vertically between the tips of the first two fingers, as in image B. Then curl these two fingers inward, depositing the coin behind the thumb, where it is gripped against the base of the first finger. When the fingers are straightened the hand appears empty, as in image C.

4. Thumb Palm

A variation of many palming methods.

The coin is clipped by its edge in the fork of the thumb by pressure against the base of the first finger (figure A). The coin should be held rather loosely to permit the thumb to assume as natural a position as possible. Practice this in front of a mirror. To place the coin in this position, begin with it between the tips of the first two fingers (figure B). Curl these two fingerss inward until the top edge of the coin touches the upper palm at the crotch of the thumb, then bring the thumb down and grip it by its edge (figure C) as the fingers straighten out. To transfer the coin from the thumb palm to the classic palm, bend the second and third fingers inward as you lower the thumb (which action brings the coin closer to the palm), press the tips of these two fingers against the flat side of the coin and press it into the palm.