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Crimp

The Crimp is a foundational card sleight used to secretly mark a card's position in the deck for later recovery. It's a subtle technique that can be applied in various card magic routines, making it a versatile tool for magicians. This trick is part of close-up magic and is essential for beginners to learn as it opens up possibilities for more advanced routines.

Key features

  • Essential for beginner card magicians

  • Versatile application in various card magic routines

  • Subtle technique for marking a card's position

  • Can be used with any deck, though a Bicycle Chainless Deck is recommended for certain sleights

Pros

  • Foundational skill for progressing in card magic

  • Subtle and deceptive

  • Widely used in countless routines

Cons

  • Requires practice and repetition to master

  • May be challenging for absolute beginners

Effect

The Crimp is a subtle sleight that allows a magician to secretly mark a card's position in the deck. To the audience, the deck appears completely normal, but the magician can later locate the crimped card with ease. This technique is often used in card controls, forces, or as a method to track a selected card without the spectator noticing.

Full details

The Crimp involves discreetly bending or altering a card in a way that is invisible to the spectator but detectable by the magician. This can be done in several ways, such as creating a slight bend in the corner or edge of the card. The crimp allows the magician to quickly find the marked card later, even after shuffling or cutting the deck.

AMillionCardTricks includes the Crimp in their list of foundational sleights for beginners, noting its usefulness in card magic routines. They describe it as a practical method for secretly controlling a card's position without complex moves.

Who should consider the trick

The Crimp is ideal for:

  • Beginners looking for simple yet effective card controls.
  • Magicians who want a reliable way to track a card without advanced sleight of hand.
  • Performers who prefer subtle methods over flashy techniques.

Since it requires minimal finger dexterity, it is accessible to new magicians while still being useful for experienced performers.

Information on how difficult it is to perform

The Crimp is considered an easy-to-learn technique. AMillionCardTricks classifies it as a foundational sleight, meaning it is suitable for beginners. The main challenge is making the crimp undetectable while ensuring it remains functional for later recovery. With practice, the move becomes seamless.

What magicians say

AMillionCardTricks highlights the Crimp as an essential sleight for card magic, stating:

"The Crimp is a way to secretly mark a card’s position in the deck for later recovery. The video likely covers both subtlety and applications in more advanced routines."

They also include it in their list of beginner-friendly tricks, reinforcing its practicality and ease of learning. The technique is praised for its deceptive simplicity and reliability in real-world performances.

For magicians looking to expand their card control methods, the Crimp is a valuable addition to their toolkit.

What people are saying about Crimp

AMillionCardTricks says...

The Crimp is a way to secretly mark a card’s position in the deck for later recovery. The video likely covers both subtlety and applications in more advanced routines.

Tutorial videos