Take a strand of invisible thread and stick a small square of clear tape to each end. Use the tape to attach one end of the thread behind your ear. Attach the other end to your thumb. The thread should be long enough that you can extend your arm without detaching the other end of the thread from behind your ear.
Ask a spectator to check that you have nothing in your hands or up your sleeves. Hand him a deck of cards and ask him to check them for anything suspicious. It is important that you do not tell him what you plan to do.
Allow the spectator to pick a card. Ask him to replace the card in the deck and, using whichever method you prefer, control it to the top.
Ask your spectator to guess the position of his card. He will likely say that his card is still in the middle of the deck. Explain that his card is an ambitious card, and that it has a habit of jumping around the deck. Then turn over the top card. The purpose of this is to create an off-beat. Once you've revealed that the spectator's card has magically "jumped" to the top of the deck, he will momentarily pay less attention, believing the trick to be over. It is at this point that you detach the invisible thread from your thumb and tack it onto the back of his card. This requires careful timing.
Explain that your spectator's card is so ambitious that it occasionally likes to leave the deck altogether. At this point pick up the card and spin it while simultaneously putting the rest of the deck in your pocket. The card will spin in mid-air on the invisible thread. Pass your hands around the card, taking care not to disturb the thread. Stop after about five seconds and place the card in your pocket, detaching it from the thread. As soon as you are safely able, remove the other end from behind your ear and either put the thread in your pocket or drop it on the ground.
Tie your invisible thread around your left index finger several times. Leave about 6 to 8 inches of thread trailing downward. Take a match and light it. Wait until it has burnt about halfway down then gently blow it out. Make sure that the ashes don't fall off when you do so. If they do, you need to start again. The top half of the match should be burnt, but the ashes should still be in place so that it still looks like a complete match.
Take your invisible thread and hold it between the tips of the index and middle fingers of your right hand. Explain to your spectator that you are going to cut the match in half using the power of your mind. Slowly pass the thread around the match four or five times. Wait a few seconds for effect, as though you are gathering your mental powers together, then pull very gently on the invisible thread. Your right hand should hardly need to move at all when you do this.
The burnt upper half of the match will be severed by the thread and fall to the floor. While your spectator's attention is distracted by the match, quickly put the thread back in your left hand for later disposal.