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Lie to Me

In 'Lie to Me,' a spectator shuffles a deck and deals three piles of three cards each while the magician's back is turned. The spectator freely chooses a pile, shuffles it, and remembers the bottom card. After reassembling the piles, the magician asks the spectator to lie about their card by naming any other card in the deck. The magician spells out the named card, dealing a card for each letter, then spells 'truth'—revealing the spectator's actual card on the final letter. This is a self-working close-up card trick that requires no setup and works with any deck, making it perfect for impromptu performances.

Key features

  • No setup or sleight of hand required

  • Works with any deck of cards

  • Self-working and easy to learn

  • Strong psychological impact with the 'lie vs. truth' premise

Pros

  • Quick to learn and perform

  • Delivers a strong, surprising reveal

  • Versatile for close-up or casual settings

Cons

  • May feel too basic for advanced magicians

  • Relies on the spectator following instructions precisely

Effect

The trick "Lie to Me" is a self-working card trick that creates a strong moment of surprise. The spectator shuffles the deck and deals three piles of three cards each. They freely choose one pile, shuffle it, and remember the bottom card. After reassembling the piles, the magician asks the spectator to name any card (except their actual one) and spells it out, dealing cards for each letter. Then, the magician spells the word "truth," and the spectator's chosen card appears on the final letter. The effect is clean, interactive, and leaves the audience wondering how the truth was revealed.

Full details

"Lie to Me" requires no setup and can be performed with any shuffled deck. The spectator does most of the handling, making it seem impossible for the magician to control the outcome. The trick relies on a clever principle rather than sleight of hand, ensuring consistency in performance. The final reveal is strong because the spectator actively participates by lying about their card, only for the truth to emerge in an unexpected way.

Who should consider the trick

This trick is ideal for beginners or magicians who want a quick, reliable effect with minimal practice. It works well in casual settings, close-up performances, or as an opener to engage the audience. Since it requires no advanced moves, it’s also great for those who prefer self-working tricks. More experienced magicians may still appreciate it as a foolproof routine to add to their repertoire.

Information on how difficult it is to perform

"Lie to Me" is very easy to perform. There are no difficult sleights, and the method is straightforward once understood. The hardest part is ensuring the spectator follows the instructions correctly, but the trick is designed to work regardless of their choices. Matt McGurk describes it as something you can "do by the end of this video," emphasizing its accessibility.

What magicians say

Matt McGurk calls this trick "mindblowing" and highlights its simplicity, stating that it "works every time." He praises the interactive nature of the effect, where the spectator lies about their card, only for the truth to be revealed in a surprising way. The trick is part of a set of self-working routines that require no setup, making it a strong choice for impromptu performances.

If you enjoy tricks where the spectator does most of the work and the outcome feels impossible, "Lie to Me" is a great addition to your collection.

What people are saying about Lie to Me

MattMcGurk says...

This is the cool part about this trick—they can literally name any card, and it'll work every time. [...] No matter what card they told you, if you now spell out the word 'truth,' the card will always come out on the final letter.

Tutorial videos