60% of the time, it hurts every time.

Chris Ramsay delivers a captivating tutorial on the classic card trick, 'The Ambitious Card,' emphasizing a natural and engaging performance style over complex sleight of hand. Ramsay believes the trick's success lies in creating genuine surprise and wonder for the audience. The core concept revolves around a controlled double lift and subtle maneuvers that create the illusion of a card repeatedly rising to the top of the deck. He dedicates significant time to refining the double lift, advocating for a 'thumb fan' variation, and covers essential moves like a false shuffle, deceptive card placement, and a subtle peek. Beyond the mechanics, Ramsay stresses the importance of developing a character and narrative, framing the card as having a 'personality' and using misdirection to guide the audience's attention. He encourages magicians to pause, allowing the audience to react, and to experiment with different presentations to find their unique style. Ramsay highlights that 'The Ambitious Card' is a routine, requiring careful planning and rehearsal, and notes its effectiveness in close-up magic settings. He also acknowledges Dai Vernon's view of the trick as a cornerstone of card magic, making it a worthwhile pursuit for any serious card magician.