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Whenever the subject of the ’21 card’ trick (three piles of seven etc.) crops up in various forums, it is usually met with a rather large amount of derision.
Often regarded as the preserve of ‘uncle magic’ or non-magician performances.

I have recently started to show my children a few simple tricks (and when I say simple I mean simple – on a par with the stuff you get out of crackers !) and this trick is one of them.

It always seems to bring a smile, even though the hardest part is actually getting them to remember the same card for the whole duration.

I have fond memories of this trick, first encountering it in the Ladybird Book of Magic as a boy in the late seventies.
It was of particular interest, as the majority of the book was made up of simple parlour tricks with corks, matches and the like.
But the 21 card trick seemed like real magic, using real magician’s props (cards). This in itself was enough to spur further exploration in what could be achieved with these ‘grown up’ playing card things.

I regard the 21 card trick as an important small step in the right direction, something to be cherished and thought of fondly.
Almost as a little keepsake from those early years, much the same way as a parent keeps baby’s first pair of little boots, or a lock of hair from baby’s first haircut.

So I was wondering what you folks thought ? Does it deserve its poor reputation and is there still a selective place for it these days.

And if it is indeed destined to be classed as a non-runner, would you consider this trick to be the ideal candidate to be divulged whenever the ‘teach me a trick’ request surfaces ?

Ah School boy memories back in the play ground.....

Anyway I agree with you that this is a great trick and it can be done so many different ways.
A mate of mine at work came back off holiday the other week and was gagging to show me this trick he'd learnt (he'd picked up a old card tricks book on a carboot sale while on hols)

So i sat and watched (with a little smile on my face) as he went through the procedure. and to my delight he found my card.
He figured out pretty quickly that i knew the trick at the end, and i shown him another version of it where the card rises out of the deck which floored him (HOW THE F##k DID YOU DO THAT) was the reaction i think.

This trick goes to show that alot of tricks can have different endings to them (get your mileage out of it).

HOCUS POCUS anyone?

Sometimes when I do some card tricks at school, some kid will say enthusiastically "can i borrow the cards and do a trick?". Of course 9 times out of 10 I end up watching this 21 card trick which they perform with pride because it's the one they know. And of course I watch with pride that a young kid is being brave enough to stand up and show off a card trick in front of everyone (however simple).

So just goes to show, it still has an important place in learning magic, no trick should ever be knocked.

I remeber this as the first real card trick that I learnt, and I was taught by my a family member.

Strangely enough, I was performing at a wedding reception a few weeks ago and one of the grooms friends asked if he could borrow my deck to do a trick of his own. He then proceeded to show the 21 card trick and I must say that I congratualted him on his performance in front of a crowd of 12 or so that were around the table, making sure that he got a round of applause.

What was most surprising is that virtually no one else around the table had seen this card trick before and everyone was in their early to mid twenties.

Magicians often despise the easy, the basic and the old stuff. Silly really. There are countless versions of 21 around and some have cleverly adapted it.
Byronset. If the kids find difficulty in remembering cards( as do some adults) get them to sign or initial the card.
Allen Tipton

This is the first trick everyone learns in magic for a reason. There are many elements of basic magic tecnique envloved. It was taught to me by a professional magician at around 8-10 years old. It requires showman ship, the Magicians Force and the ability to memorize and follow the directions. If you learn the 21 card, the french drop and the TT you have the basic understanding to fool people with magic for a life time.
I always encourage kids that want to show me the 21 card for several reasons. It encorages them to become more interested in magic, it is entertaining for them and their friends and family that they are showing me something and I love to get paid to watch other people try to entertain me while they are paying me to entertain them.

i finds it intressting...I've never learnt this trick with 21 cards but I suppose it's the smae meothd that I learnt with 16 cards (4 piles with 4 in cards in each)...wonder when that trick changed shape in sweden coz i think most childs can do it with 16 cards here...but I tryed to do the similar stuff but with 7 cards and got a new reaction

This is the trick I taught to my girlfriend when she said 'Teach me a trick!' after I'd pulled her card out of the deck for the fifth time.

It's the first trick that popped to my mind, and I showed her the trick first, and said I'd teach her it. She doubted that she'd be able to learn it but she got the method down after I'd shown her once.

She likes it because of the simplicity, and she can add her own dramatics to it. She went to work the next day and immediately did it for the office, and got a few gasps when she revealed the chosen card.

Now for the Elmsley Count...

My Dad showed me this. I think it was that which got me started on magic. Then I started getting those Marvin's Magic sets and so on with the plastic cups and balls That seems to me to be such a long time ago, but I was probably only 5 or 6, and I'm 14 now!

As a beginner it's really encouraging to read the posts on this thread. If only everyone was like this!

This was the 1st trick I was taught when I was about 5-6. I was told the name of it was Sim-Sala-Bim, as the reveal was spelling out Sim-Sala-Bim and then turning over the next card (the chosen card). Does anyone else have a name for it apart from the 21 card trick? Or any other history about it?

In Volume 6 of Malone Meets Marlo, Bill Malone does the 21 card trick in three stages or the same effect with three different presentations strung together- however you want to look at it. I figure if guys like Malone and Ed Marlo perform(ed) it then there's no reason for me not too.

This reminds me of Derren Brown talking about the concept of 'invisible compromise vs visible compromise' on one of his DVDs. (Can anyone remind me which?)

He'd say (if you asked him for his views on this trick and he applied this concept...) that the spectator might protest: 'Hang on, if you can read my mind (or use magic or whatever) to know what my card is... then why do you have to deal them out in various patterns on the table?'

Which, rationally speaking, is a perfectly valid point.

But that doesn't mean no one should enjoy performing this trick or that someone won't enjoy watching it! And neither does it mean that no one will be fooled by it. It's just one way of looking at it, that's all.

I certaily have good memories of being entertained by this trick. I can't remember for sure but I suspect that I have been fooled by it several times while still at school.

Though, certainly no one can deny that if you're excited by the prospect of performing this trick that you would surely be excited by the prospect of improving it, ie acheiving the same result a little more subtly... a little more *sneakily*...

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The Devil's Tailor wrote:He'd say (if you asked him for his views on this trick and he applied this concept...) that the spectator might protest: 'Hang on, if you can read my mind (or use magic or whatever) to know what my card is... then why do you have to deal them out in various patterns on the table?'

This is true of all magic though;

"If you can make her/him/it disappear why do you need to hide it under a sheet/in a box etc."
"If you can fly why do you drive a car?"
"If you can read my mind why do I have to choose a card? Why not just tell me the card I am thinking of right now?"

My mum taught me this trick when I was really young, about 6 I think, it was the second card trick I learnt after one involving a peek.

I remember my dad once using it to win some money, he said something like the next card I turn over will be your card with the spectators card plainly visible as already being turned over, he was very adamant there was no chance of this happening and said he was prepared to put money on it. I think it was only a pound or so but when my dad turned his face up card, face down, the guys face was a picture!