ACAAN by David Berglas, Craig Petty, RFSleights, Nikolas Mavresis, Peter Turner, Lloyd Barnes, Tobias Dostal, John Carey, Lloyd Barton, Syouma & Tejinaya Magic, Matthew Underhill, Asi Wind, Allan Ackerman, Ken Krenzel, Rob Bromley, Dan Harlan, Rich Relish, Kaan Akdogan, and Larry Jennings

Effect

ACAAN stands for Any Card At Any Number. A spectator names any playing card and any number from 1 to 52. The magician then deals cards from a shuffled deck. When they reach the named number, the card at that position matches the spectator's chosen card exactly. The effect appears to be a perfect coincidence or an impossible prediction.

Full details

ACAAN is a classic card magic plot often called the holy grail of card magic. The spectator has complete freedom to choose both the card and the number. The deck can be shuffled by the audience. Some versions allow the spectator to deal the cards themselves. The magician does not need to touch the deck during the dealing process in many modern versions. The trick creates a strong mentalism effect that feels like mind reading or synchronicity.

Who should consider the trick

ACAAN suits magicians who want to add a strong mentalism piece to their repertoire. It works well for close-up performers, street magicians, and those who perform in walk-around settings. Mentalists will find it valuable for creating impossible coincidences. Beginners can find simplified versions that require minimal skill. Professional performers use it as a reputation-making trick that leaves a lasting impression.

Information on how difficult it is to perform

Difficulty varies widely between different ACAAN methods. Some versions require no sleight of hand and are self-working. These are suitable for beginners. Other versions use memorized decks or require practice with false shuffles and controls. As Reid Ferry notes about his J30ACAAN method, "No sleight of hand, no gimmicks, no stooging of any kind." Craig Petty's Destiny Deal requires "minimal sleight of hand" according to his tutorial. The Atomic Deck offers a method that "works every single time" with no memorization or roughing required. Most reviewers emphasize that presentation skills are more important than technical difficulty.

What magicians say

Reid Ferry demonstrates ACAAN with a borrowed deck where "the spectator chooses the Jack of Hearts and the number 30. The 30th card dealt is the Jack of Hearts, matching their choices." He emphasizes that "the trick relies on psychological influence and card control."

John Carey includes ACAAN in his eight desert island tricks, calling it "the holy grail of card magic, fulfilling a timeless magical premise." He values effects that "connect with audiences on a human level."

Marc Paul reviewed Craig Petty's Atomic Deck, stating "That is the Berglas effect... You've cracked it. This is every magician's dream... It's the closest version to the Holy Grail that I've seen anyone do." He called it "the cleanest version of any card at any number that I've ever seen in years."

Craig Petty's RCARN method is described as "100% hands-off performance with the magician never touching the deck" and "instantly repeatable with no reset needed." This makes it ideal for multiple performances.

Josep Vidal performs a "clean and direct handling of this classic effect, where a spectator's freely chosen card is revealed at a randomly selected position in the deck." His performance shows how ACAAN can be integrated into entertaining close-up magic.