Mouse Trap Vanish

“The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.” – Ancient Proverb.

Effect:

A face up (or face down) card vanishes into the thin air.

Method:

This is a very visual vanish when done properly. You’ll need a duplicate card. I recommend a notable card like a red court card. You’ll need one on top and one on the bottom. Spread the deck for a selection. There’s no need for a force.

While they look at the card, turn the deck face up and get a thumb break above the card at the back of the deck (the top card before you turned the deck face up). You now have a break above one of your duplicates (we’ll use the King of Diamonds).

The other one is staring you in the face at the face of the deck. Using your right index finger, swing cut about half of the face up deck into your left hand dealing grip. Now the face up duplicate King is in your left hand.

Have the spectator place their card (Four of Spades) face down on top of the King. So their cards is facing backwards, face to face with the King. Using your right fingertips (still holding half the deck with a thumb break above the back card), slide their selection forward about a fourth of the length of the card.

Place your left finger tip at the outer end of the selection in preparation to push it flush with the deck in a moment. Now place your right hand’s half of the deck square with the left hand’s packet, leaving the selection out-jogged.

Release the thumb break dropping off the duplicate King on top of the out jogged selection but flush with the rest of the deck. Don’t let go of the right hand’s packet. In one smooth simple gesture, swipe the right hand’s packet across the face of the left hand’s packet and to the right. This action is very much like the “paint brush” move. At the same time you swipe the right hand’s packet, your left finger pushes the selection flush with the deck.

The illusion is that the King just stayed where it’s at and the selection just vanished. This is a very deceptive vanish. Give it a try.

Face Up:

You can also do this face up. As I mentioned, there’s no need for a force. However the effect will look better if they chose a black spot card to contrast the red court card. In my opinion, doing it face down has several advantages. First you don’t need to orchestrate a black spot card as a choice. Second, the contrast of a fully red back is much better than any playing card face. Third, people may think that you simply picked up the selection underneath the right hand’s packet. If the card is face up, that’s actually a reasonable method.

However, if it’s face down, then they wouldn’t be able to accuse you of that method because if you had done it that way, their selection would be staring at them if you tilted your right hand to show the underside of the packet. However, since you didn’t pick it up, you can flash the underside of the right hand packet after you effect the vanish, and they’ll be even more fooled because their card isn’t there.

Even though I prefer not to do it face up, I thought I’d mention it in case it appeals to your style.

Usage:

I’ll leave it up to you how you use it. One of my favorite uses is simply to fool magicians. Every magician I’ve shown it to has been fooled by it. However, because the card is upside down in the deck, it’s in perfect position to do a Triumph style effect. If you do that, however, make sure you spread the deck face down to reveal the selection face up. If you spread face up to reveal the selection face down, you’ll expose the duplicate Kings because there will be one on each side of the selection.

This can also be used as a card control if you do it with the selection face up. After causing the selection to vanish, it’s second from the face in the left hand’s packet. Simply drop the right hand’s packet face up onto the table. Then drop the left hand’s packet face up on top of that. Pick up the deck and turn it over (face down) and you now have the selected card second from the bottom. Shuffle and control it as needed.

Once you’ve reproduced it, you’re in a good place to do a two card transpo using their card and the duplicates. Look at your current repertoire and see where it can fit. Enjoy.