Andi's Top Picks from the Card Magic of Nick Trost

The Card Magic of Nick Trost was just reprinted, so I pulled my copy off the shelf last week and spent a few evenings re-reading it. The book is packed with a wide range of effects, most requiring little to no sleight of hand. But unlike many books of this nature, I found a lot of good, performable magic. Here are my picks:

1. Triumph Ace Opener

This routine features the best version of Daryl’s Triumph display I’ve ever seen. I fooled myself with it several times before stopping to analyse what was going on. It’s clever, clean, and I’ll be performing it often.

2. Bottoms, Seconds and Centres Demo

A simple gambling demonstration that suggests you can deal bottoms, seconds, and centres, while only ever dealing from the top. It requires a duplicate card, which might put some off, but the impact is worth it.

3. Showdown

Bob Farmer named Trost’s take on the Ten-Card Poker Deal as one of the six best handlings of the plot. It’s straightforward and a lot of fun to perform. The handling I use is somewhat similar to Trost’s, and while I there's no reason for me to change handlings, if you have never performed this kind of routine, this is the perfect place to start.

4. Automatic Lie Speller

I’m not usually a fan of spelling tricks, but this one has always been a favourite as you can perform it directly from Stebbins stack. It creates a clean Lie Detector effect with almost no work. Ed Marlo said that it was his favourite handling of the plot.

5. Eight Card Brainwave

This is probably Trost’s most famous effect. It’s often taught to beginners, but its real strength is its adaptability. If you need to tailor a card trick to a specific brand or occasion, this is the perfect choice.

Bonus: The Penney Paradox

Based on an idea from The Journal of Recreational Mathematics, this is more of a curious mathematical principle than a performance piece. I wouldn’t do it in a formal show, but it’s a great “betcha” game among friends. That said, Pit Hartling and David Williamson have both adapted similar ideas for the stage, so there’s potential here. Regardless, I hope you give it a go because it demonstrates just how much more we can unpack from the mathematical principles hidden inside a deck.

Ultimately, here’s what this book offers: if you’re new to card magic, you’ll find strong, accessible material. If you’re more experienced, you’ll find ideas begging to be elevated. For me, that’s the appeal: taking a solid foundation and making it my own. I highly recommend it. You can read more about it here.