Using Marked Decks in Magic Tricks

Marked decks are one of the hottest items in the playing card market right now. There are lots of new marked decks being produced, and the market has been booming over the past year.

These are specially printed playing cards that have a unique marking system that allows the magician to perform magic effects without having to rely on any other methods. They’re also extremely useful for mentalism effects, and can be used to help connect with spectators in ways that you could not do using traditional decks alone.

There are two main types of marked decks that you will find commercially: those with a reader system and those that use coded systems to decipher the value and suit of each card. Those with a reader system will have the markings written somewhere on the back of the cards in a way that indicates the value and suit, while those with a coded system will rely on other clues to help you read the markings.

Most marked decks are printed on a custom Bicycle stock from a specialized printing company, which ensures that they provide the best flexibility and handling possible. They also feature a traditional cut that makes them easy to shuffle and perform with.

They’re also available in a range of different designs, and are often printed on a special paper to enhance their visual impact. There are even some that have been printed on elite stock by the United States Playing Card Company, which are a step up in quality from standard Bicycle decks.

If you’re thinking of using a marked deck in your next trick, you need to take some time to decide whether or not it will work for you. It will depend on your skill level, and what sort of effect you want to use the deck for.

Unless you are a professional magician who knows what they are doing, using a marked deck in your tricks will not be foolproof. You still need to construct a good effect, and present it in a way that makes people think the trick is impossible.

There are a number of different tricks that can be performed with marked decks, and there are some classic books on the subject too. The most important of these is Hidden in Plain Sight (2005) by Kirk Charles and Boris Wild, although there are several other books that offer some excellent ideas on the topic.

Some magicians have also found ways to combine this with other methods, which makes the effect much stronger and more difficult to reverse engineer. For example, you can hide a key card method with the markings, and then reveal the card by revealing your hand while the spectator is looking at the marks. Or you can conceal a deck with the marks and let the spectator shuffle the cards themselves, only to then reveal the marked card by revealing your hand.

The most successful magicians are those who are judicious in their approach, and choose the moments when they will catch glimpses of the markings as naturally as possible. This is not only easier on the eyes, but can be a powerful tool for ensuring that your spectator has no reason to suspect you’re reading their cards.