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We have been dazzled by magic tricks and card tricks for many generations. Maybe you’ve seen it first in a carnival or a fair or a stage performance or on your television set. Did you notice something common in all of them? You guessed it right, card tricks. Most magic acts will never be complete without the classic card tricks. But the big question here is, how are they done? And can anyone learn how to do card tricks?

Before you try some tricks, lets learn a little about the history of card tricks.

The History Of How To Do Card Tricks

The precise origins of card magic are subject to debate, though it’s generally believed that card tricks were first developed by gamblers who wanted to improve their chances of winning when playing card games.

Playing cards themselves originated in the Orient with China and India amongst the main contenders for the claim of country of origin, and it’s thought that cards may have been introduced to Europe in the 14th century by Arabs who had travelled from the Orient.

Italy, Spain and France feature in the first literary mentions of playing cards and card magic. One of the earliest, general references to card tricks is an article from 1408 which tells of a card cheat in Paris who sought to gain advantage by manipulating the cards he was playing. The first written mentions of actual performers of card tricks are in a 15th century piece of writing (apparently unpublished and co-authored by no less than Leonardo da Vinci) which describes a card trick performed by Giovanni de Jasone de Ferara, and a 16th century piece by Cardanus describing a performance by a Spanish magician by the name of Dalmau who performed for Emperor Charles V in Milan.

From the 16th century onwards, numerous written references and explanations relating to card tricks began to appear but it was in the 18th century that card magic was brought into the larger arena of the theatre by a dynamic and colorful Italian magician called Giovanni Guiseppe Pinetti. Previously, card magic had been performed only in the streets or smaller settings such as private rooms but Pinetti transformed its appeal by using wonderful theatrical settings for his card magic. He travelled and entertained extensively including countries such as Portugal, Germany, Russia and England where he even performed at Windsor Castle for King George III.

The 19th century saw the emergence of two of the greatest contributors to card magic that have ever lived – the Frenchman Robert-Houdin (1805-1871) and the Austrian Hofzinser (1806-1875).

The first casino was built in 1863 in Monte Carlo. The playing cards may not have the same design and the casino games rules may have changed over time but it is still considered one of the best casinos in the world.

Sitting Down And Learning How To Do Card Tricks

Now let’s go on with the how to do card tricks section which you’ve been all waiting for.

What would a magic show be without a few great card tricks? All magicians will incorporate card tricks into their shows. If you are starting out learning the ropes of magic, you should learn a few magic card tricks. You’ll impress anyone – who doesn’t know how to do it – with your card tricks.

When looking to learn how to do card tricks, in addition to sites like this you can start at your local toy store or discount chain store. This may seem too elementary for you, but if you have never performed card tricks before, getting a basic child’s magic kit is a great place to start. Learn the card trick in the kit and master it. Learning and mastering are two different things. To master a trick, you must be able to repeat it successfully hundreds of times with no mistakes. One mistake could be fatal to your performance.

After you have learned the basics, you may want to purchase some videos and books that show you the more advanced card tricks. But it is important to learn the basics first before trying the more advanced tricks.

Video Tutorials On How To Do Card Tricks

There are quite a few video tutories on how to do card tricks, both on this site and others. Here’s one example of a tutorial showing you a simple trick you can learn, without needing to learn other card trick skills.

The Secret To Performing Successful Card Tricks

Practice, practice, practice. That’s the major key on how to do card tricks. You should practicing your card tricks in front of a mirror. If the tricks you use involve sleight of hand, as most card tricks do, you want your brain to actually memorize the hand movements needed to perform the trick. Repetition is the key. Once you have learned it, practice. Carefully study yourself in the mirror while performing the trick. Is there any movement that you are making that can give away the secret of the card trick?

Once you have practiced in front of a mirror and you feel that you have it right, get a video camera and tape your card trick. Have a friend run the camera and do close-ups of your trick. In this way you could see and notice some mistakes if you ever see one. Study this video hard and check if you’re doing the right hand sleight movements. You should watch some videos of professional card magicians. Notice how they animate their hand. It is to avoid detection of the trick. This will trick your audience eyes. So you really should watch and learn,

After you have mastered the card trick, work on your dialog (also known as patter). All magicians have some certain lines they say when they do a trick. This helps hide the card trick too. Maintain a running dialog while performing your card trick. It is also more entertaining for the audience. After all, they came to your show to be entertained. Don’t bore them with just a series of magic tricks.

Avoid telling anyone how to do card tricks. Perform your card tricks with passion and just have fun.

Sleight away!