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Grandmaster Easy by Philip Smith

Created by: Philip Smith

Grandmaster Easy is a powerful mentalism card trick where the magician effortlessly reveals a spectator's freely chosen card in an impossible manner. This close-up magic effect combines psychological forces and clever scripting to create a mind-blowing experience. The trick is designed to be self-working or nearly so, making it accessible to performers of all skill levels while maintaining maximum impact.

Key features

  • Self-working or minimal sleight of hand required

  • Uses psychological forces for a clean reveal

  • Highly adaptable to different performance styles

  • Includes scripting and premise guidance for stronger presentations

Pros

  • Easy to learn and perform

  • Strong audience impact

  • Versatile for close-up or parlour settings

  • Comes with detailed performance tips

Cons

  • May require practice to perfect timing and delivery

  • Relies on audience interaction, so not ideal for all settings

Effect

Grandmaster Easy is a card trick that appears to solve the classic "any card, any number" challenge effortlessly. The magician asks a spectator to name any card and any number. Without any suspicious moves or complex setups, the magician reveals that the chosen card appears at the exact position the spectator called. The effect is clean, direct, and leaves no room for doubt—making it a powerful piece of mentalism disguised as card magic.

Full Details

Grandmaster Easy is part of Phillip Smith's Mythology Codex, a collection of his best mentalism and card magic routines. The trick is designed to be highly deceptive while requiring minimal sleight of hand. It uses a clever principle that allows the magician to control the outcome without forcing or memorizing the deck. The method is streamlined, making it practical for real-world performances.

Who Should Consider the Trick

This trick is ideal for magicians who want a strong, self-working card effect that plays big. It suits both mentalists and card magicians, as it blurs the line between the two disciplines. Performers who enjoy direct, audience-tested material will appreciate its simplicity and impact.

Difficulty

Grandmaster Easy is relatively easy to perform. It requires no advanced sleight of hand, making it accessible to beginners. However, proper presentation and timing are crucial to maximize its impact. Experienced magicians will appreciate how the method stays hidden, allowing them to focus on performance rather than mechanics.

What Magicians Say

Steve Faulkner from RealMagicReview describes Grandmaster Easy as "incredible" and "almost self-working," praising its ability to "completely fry everybody." He highlights it as one of the standout routines in Mythology Codex, noting that it feels different from other "any card, any number" effects due to its deceptive simplicity. Faulkner also emphasizes that the trick is powerful enough to be a showstopper while remaining easy to execute.

The trick’s strength lies in its deceptive method, which allows the performer to focus on presentation rather than complex moves. Faulkner’s review suggests that Grandmaster Easy is a must-learn for anyone looking to add a strong, foolproof card effect to their repertoire.

What people are saying about Grandmaster Easy

Steve Faulkner says...

Grandmaster Easy is Philip Smith's answer to the 'any card, any number' challenge—it's almost self-working and will completely fry your audience.

Review videos