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Roll by Chris Congreve

Created by: Chris Congreve

Roll by Chris Congreve is a classic card trick where a freely selected card is lost in the deck, only to reappear in a visually stunning and impossible manner. This close-up magic trick is perfect for intimate performances, leaving spectators baffled as the chosen card seemingly rolls or jumps to the top of the deck with no apparent sleight of hand. Ideal for magicians who enjoy card magic with a strong visual impact, Roll is versatile and can be adapted to different decks, such as themed playing cards (e.g., pop star decks), making it a great fit for performers in niche environments like music gigs.

Key features

  • Simple to perform but highly visual and fooling

  • Adaptable to themed decks (e.g., music, pop culture)

  • No complex sleight of hand required

  • Works well in close-up or casual settings

Pros

  • Highly visual and engaging for spectators

  • Easy to learn and perform

  • Versatile—can be customized for different audiences

  • Strong reputation among magicians

Cons

  • May require practice to perfect the roll motion for maximum impact

  • Limited to card-based performances

Effect

Roll by Chris Congreve is a card trick that appears simple but leaves a strong impression on the audience. A spectator freely selects a card from a shuffled deck. The magician then rolls the deck face up, revealing all the cards one by one—except the chosen card, which remains face down. The moment is surprising and visually clear, making it a highly effective piece of magic.

Full Details

Roll is a self-working card trick that relies on a clever principle rather than sleight of hand. The method is easy to learn, but the effect is powerful enough to fool both laypeople and magicians. The trick can be performed with any standard deck, though some performers customize it for specific audiences. Andy Cooper, for example, adapted it using a deck of pop star playing cards to match his music-themed performances.

Who Should Consider the Trick

This trick is ideal for:

  • Beginners looking for a strong, easy-to-perform effect.
  • Performers who want a reliable, self-working trick with minimal setup.
  • Magicians who perform in casual settings, such as restaurants, parties, or music gigs (as Andy does).
  • Those who enjoy customizing tricks to fit their personal style or audience.

Difficulty

Roll is rated as easy to perform. It requires no advanced sleight of hand, making it accessible to magicians of all skill levels. The most important aspect is presentation—ensuring the reveal is clear and impactful.

What Magicians Say

Andy Cooper, a magician and musician, praises Roll as one of his most-performed card tricks:
"A simple effect to perform but a real fooler. I recently found a deck of pop star playing cards on Amazon... I converted it into a Roll deck using Chris's method, and it really suits my environment when I'm showing magic at my music gigs."

His adaptation shows how versatile the trick can be, proving that even a straightforward effect can be tailored to fit a performer’s unique style.

Roll by Chris Congreve is a strong choice for anyone looking for a quick, fooling, and adaptable card trick that requires minimal effort for maximum impact.

What people are saying about Roll by Chris Congreve

Andy Cooper says...

A simple effect to perform but a real fooler. I recently found a deck of pop star playing cards on Amazon and converted it into a Roll deck using Chris's method—it really suits my environment when I'm showing magic at my music gigs.

Review videos