PigCake Magic Academy by PigCake

Effect

The PigCake Magic Academy trick creates a strong mentalism effect where the magician appears to divine a spectator's freely chosen card. The spectator shuffles the deck, yet the magician can still locate and reveal their card with precision. The performance builds suspense as the magician slowly reveals characteristics of the chosen card before finally turning it over to confirm the correct selection.

Full Details

The trick relies on a specially prepared "thick" card, made by adhering two cards together with repositionable glue. This thick card (in this case, the five of Spades) is placed at the bottom of the deck. The magician then uses a spread force technique to subtly guide the spectator to select the forced card.

A key part of the method involves maintaining a pinky break below the thick card while spreading through the deck. When the spectator calls stop, the magician pushes the cards above the break and points to the forced card. Since the magician knows the identity of the forced card, they can confidently reveal it even after the spectator shuffles the deck.

The thick card also serves as a key card, allowing the magician to locate it by feel during the performance. This enables additional presentations, such as slowly revealing aspects of the chosen card before the final revelation.

Who Should Consider the Trick

This trick is ideal for magicians who enjoy mentalism-style card effects with a strong psychological presentation. It works well for close-up performances and requires minimal setup. Those who appreciate techniques like the spread force or key card applications will find this method versatile.

Difficulty

The trick is not overly difficult but does require practice to execute smoothly. The spread force must be performed naturally to avoid detection, and handling the thick card convincingly takes some rehearsal. Magicians familiar with basic card forces and breaks will find the learning curve manageable.

What Magicians Say

PigCake describes the trick as "very easy to do" and highlights its deceptive simplicity. He emphasizes the versatility of the thick card, stating, "You could keep that card in the deck and now you have a key card... having a thick card in a deck is very useful."

The performance style draws inspiration from Darren Brown's "Extreme Mental Effort," where the magician slowly reveals details about the chosen card before the final revelation. PigCake also mentions that the PigCake Magic Academy offers additional training on related techniques, including bonus content for subscribers.

The trick is presented as a pro-level effect with a straightforward setup, making it accessible to intermediate magicians while still delivering a strong impact.