Corrupting the Classics: The Twenty-One Card Trick

Learn how to improve this much maligned self-working card trick.

21-Card Trick (Original handling)

Dealing Round	Position of Though-Of Card
Round 1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Round 2	5B	5C	4A	4B	4C	3A	3B
Round 3	4C	4C	4B	4B	4C	4A	4A
Round 4	4B	4B	4B	4B	4B	4B	4B

27-Card Trick

Dealing Round	Position of Though-Of Card
Round 1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Round 2	6A	6B	6C	5A	5B	5C	4A	4B	4C
Round 3	5C	5C	5C	5B	5B	5B	5A	5A	5A
Round 4	5B	5B	5B	5B	5B	5B	5B	5B	5B

33-Card Trick

Dealing Round	Position of Though-Of Card
Round 1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
Round 2	8C	7A	7B	7C	6A	6B	6C	7A	7B	7C	4A
Round 3	5A	6C	6C	6C	6B	6B	6B	6C	6C	6C	7C
Round 4	6A	6B	6B	6B	6B	6B	6B	6B	6B	6B	6C
Round 5	6B	6B	6B	6B	6B	6B	6B	6B	6B	6B	6B

9-Card Trick

Dealing Round	Position of Though-Of Card
Round 1	1	2	3
Round 2	2A	2B	2C
Round 3	2B	2B	2B
Round 4	2B	2B	2B

15-Card Trick (5-Cards Per Pile)

Dealing Round	Position of Though-Of Card
Round 1	1	2	3	4	5
Round 2	4C	3A	3B	3C	2A
Round 3	3C	3B	3B	3B	3A
Round 4	3B	3B	3B	3B	3B