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Second Deal Explained - Card Tricks

The Second Deal is a classic card trick in which the magician deals a series of cards facedown from the top of a deck, turns the top card over, and then continues dealing from the top of the deck without ever disturbing the top card.



The Second Deal is a moderately difficult trick and requires several hours of practice to perform effectively.
  1. Positioning.

    • Show your spectator the deck to prove all the cards are different. Then hold the deck facedown in the dealing position. Your thumb should be on the top card, and your index, middle and ring fingers should be holding the side of the deck and should be positioned just underneath the top card.

    The First Deal

    • Deal around 10 cards facedown in a pile on the table. This is a normal deal with no sleight of hand involved. The sole purpose of this is to increase the visual impact of the second deal.

      It is important that you ensure that the pile you deal out is about a foot away from you on the table.

    Generate Suspense

    • Turn the top card faceup and place it on top of the deck. Ask your spectator to concentrate hard on the top card. This instruction helps build a little suspense before beginning the second deal.

    The Second Deal

    • Push the top card forward with your thumb to reveal the top right corner of the card underneath. Pull that card out with the thumb and index finger of your right hand and place it on the table. As you do so, simultaneously move your hand back and forth between the pile and their original position. This movement confuses the spectator's eye and makes it impossible for him to see that you are actually dealing cards from directly underneath the top card. This movement must be performed quickly and fluidly.

      The Second Deal looks impossible as it appears that the magician is dealing from the top of the deck even though the top card doesn't appear to move.

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