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You're doing a trick in which a card is reversed in the deck (e.g. Fastest Card Trick in the World from Ellusionist's Crash Course 1) and it comes time to reveal the reversed card. Do you

a) Spread the cards normally showing 51 cards face down and the selected card face up

or

b) Turn the deck over showing 51 cards face up and one card face down?

Just curious really. Option b lets you get one more moment of suspense out of the trick but that is somewhat offset by turning the deck being a bit of an 'unnecessary' movement. I'm probably just bored and have too much time to think about stuff.

It depends - if it was the FCTITW then surely you'd want to go for the direct reveal? My personal preference is to hand them the deck and have them go through it face-up, pause, have them name their selection or whatever and then have them turn it over.

Cardza wrote:It depends - if it was the FCTITW then surely you'd want to go for the direct reveal? My personal preference is to hand them the deck and have them go through it face-up, pause, have them name their selection or whatever and then have them turn it over.

I'm not necessarily talking just about the FCTITW but any trick with a reversed card. I like your method though, get the spectator involved a bit more.

I find a tabled spread far more visual than an in-the-hands spread, as you're kind of hands-off.

A fan can work too, but it's a bit hit and miss with 'margined' cards as to whether the turned card is initially visible.

i'd say a face up ribbon spread

One of my favourite tricks, "The Biddle Trick", has the spec's card ending up being reversed in the deck.
The beauty of this trick is that the spec holds on to the deck throughout the trick (or at least that's what they recall after the trick). I point out to the spec that their chosen card is now in their hands - even though I showed it to be in mine moments earlier . They then turn the deck over themselves and fan through the cards until they come to one face down card (you can feel the suspense at this point - I've even had some people remark "no f***ing way", even before they've turned the card over).

moonbeam,

That sounds interesting. Do you know a resource where I could find out more about the Biddle Trick?

For me, it really depends on what the effect and situation calls for.

But if it really came down to not mattering, I have always favored the face up spread.

kitaristi0 wrote:moonbeam,

That sounds interesting. Do you know a resource where I could find out more about the Biddle Trick?

Oz Pearlman's - Born to Perform DVD
It's got other tricks/sleights on it too - well worth the money

Mikey.666 wrote:i'd say a face up ribbon spread

Agreed. Along with a 'What was your card' as you gesture for them to take out the face-down card.

<my_2_pennies>
With doing the final spread face up, you actually get two kickers at the end with the singular face down card, and then that card actually being theirs when they turn it over. With a face down spread they just get the one kick of seeing their card being the only one reversed.
</my_2_pennies>

To add to what what magic monkey says, the second kick can be delayed and suspense increased, whereas as single face up card is noticed as soon as it appears, and there is no extra timing to be played with.

moonbeam wrote:One of my favourite tricks, "The Biddle Trick", has the spec's card ending up being reversed in the deck.
The beauty of this trick is that the spec holds on to the deck throughout the trick (or at least that's what they recall after the trick). I point out to the spec that their chosen card is now in their hands - even though I showed it to be in mine moments earlier . They then turn the deck over themselves and fan through the cards until they come to one face down card (you can feel the suspense at this point - I've even had some people remark "no f***ing way", even before they've turned the card over).

This is also how I do the reveal for this trick. This trick is a stunner and so well taught by Oz. Its one of those tricks where the magic is dome well before thrick ends. I love those, I can feel relaxed while I play out the ending.

For anyone looking for a brilliant yet so easy reversed card trick I can recomment the one in Mark Wilsons complete course. It has the merit of looking like the magician has got it wrong before you finally reveal the correct selected card

Gambler versus mentalist versus magician from art of astonishment is a fantastic 3 phase version. I forget which volume but it's in there somewhere