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Hello everyone. I am new to magic. I have found an interest at a erm...shall we say mature age, and have been bitten by the bug. I had to go to a party recently as a magician, and to take it to the next level thought would learn some card tricks. The buzz I got from peoples reations was amazing (granted they were all slightly drunk so probably easy to please)Anyway, to the question. I am interested to know what everyones favourite card trick is which is not "pick a card any card" Bringing someones chosen card out in a variety of ways is becoming a bit samey to me, so I am looking into other tricks as well. One of my favourites at the moment is "this and that", OK very simply trick to do, I just like the sucker punch at the end, version I saw was told well and did not expect "other" to be final blow.
Anyway after such a long winded question, the short version is which is your favourite card trick (which does not involve "pick a card, any card")

Welcome, Albertofrog!

For starters, look here.

I think your point is a common one here on TM, and many of us have been on the search for less predictable card trick or routine. IME there are more of them out there than you'd think. Take a look through the printed and electronic format review forums. I'd say there's quite a bit there to get you started, pardon my understatement.

As far as my favorites go, I have different favorites for different audiences: poker/blackjack demonstration effects, monte effects, anything that involves a storyline where no cards are being selected. In addition, you can always use a force that never involves the magician saying "pick a card, any card." There are also quite a few packet-based effects available that don't invole the old "pick a card" line.

Good hunting!

Have a look at the Double Thought Projection effect in Mark Wilson's Complete Course. It's a lovely, simple trick that can get some brilliant reactions.

The only other card trick that I really do now is my version of Anniversary Waltz, which is another very simple but nice effect.

Welcome Albertofrog. I like the ID, i like Strange Travelers, there's always a Triumph style trick and there's various other mental style effects using playing cards rather than the pick a card malarkey which can get tiresome.

It can get a bit stagnant that kind of thing, but there are some seriously good reveals out there, and sometimes the banality of ' Pick a card ' means when you do the trick it hits even harder because people are just expecting you to find it in your pocket or something, instead you find it in a sealed envelope in the postbag of a passing postman whose name co-incides with the spectator's dog that died that day 1 year ago.