The Unexplainable Penn and Teller Card Trick REVEALED!

[@Kyrelel]

"The Card Trick That Penn and Teller Couldn’t Explain" .. except that they DID explain it, quite clearly.

[@mandisaplaylist]

You could also make the queen-ace gimmick with that special liquid. Then as you search for the ace, you can use the force to separate the 2 cards in the gimmick. The queen will be face down so it will get lost among other face down cards and no one will be any wiser and the ace will be simply a normal ace card with normal back, no need to "be careful to not flash the back side". To give yourself more control you may instead of handing the deck to the spectator, tell him "I am going to deal the cards like this, you say stop whenever you like and once you do that, the next card will be the ace of diamonds".

[@noggie]

I really like how Penn and Teller explains things very vaguely on the show. The reason they do it that is so that magicians don't risk having their tricks revealed on the show, that might prevent a lot of them from auditioning. They "keep the magic alive" so to say. They still don't just get away with just saying "we know what you did" but they vaguely explains it or sometimes one of them will show the magician a notebook with what they think the solution is. So I don't think that they couldn't explain it, rather I think they didn't want to.

[@whmozart]

thanks for explaining that, sherlock

[@vidmaster7]

Thank you for this. I have been doing magic for many years, especially card magic, and even though I know these secrets I would not have ever guessed that he did it that way. After listening to their somewhat cryptic message I am impressed that you caught it.

[@jasons5915]

“I’m going to show you how to do this without a gimmick”. Ok guys you are going to need a gimmick to do this...

[@amvybtw551]

😂

[@Paulie68000]

Just for the credits record, the method actually comes from Patrick Reymond and Jean Boucher's Proton Deck with the open prediction routine using the deck by the late, great Gary Ouellet. The method on P&T is verbatim Gary's. I've been doing it his way for the last 20 years.

[@DJAsHeRMusic]

It's not that Penn and teller can't explain....they just wont

[@tellurye]

He didnt mean they cant as in they didnt know how, he meant they cant as in "that would break the rules"

[@PleasestopcallingmeDoctorImath]

tellurye which is also not true

[@tellurye]

Please, stop calling me Doctor. I'm a the rapist. Nice username. See my other post on this thread where I cite the docs, links, and sources. Facts don't care about your ferlings.

[@PleasestopcallingmeDoctorImath]

tellurye ummmmMmMmm okay

[@PleasestopcallingmeDoctorImath]

tellurye also no i wont do that

[@danielquinlog1909]

Good catch - I used to do magic tricks as a kid and we could buy a roughing spray from our local magic shop. Super cheap to do ! And there are MILLIONS of trick ideas using the spray so its worth every penny haha

[@joinpsye7045]

They explained it very well. And glue wasn't involved at all with a double face card. Card's front surfaces were rough and the backs were smooth, and 2 face rough cards would temporarily be attached together.

[@88Doug]

Amazing and a little double lift at the end may be a nice way to show the cart. Awesome routine!

[@darcsystems]

I'm not a magician, and by no means am I good with card handling, but I know the basic principles and a few tricks. When a buddy of mine came in to work and asked if I had seen the episode, I told him no. He then explained the routine and effect to me in whatever detail he could, seeking a solution from me. My first guess was a double face card and Rough and Smooth. He told me I was mad (he knows nothing about magic tricks anyway) so we watched the episode on my phone. Penn dropped the line about Teller being smooth and him being a little more rough, and it pretty much confirmed my hypothesis. This confirms it further. Good video. And to the people bitching about you "exposing" someone else's hard work. Rough and smooth decks have existed for a long time, as have gimmick cards so there was nothing to expose.. There will still be plenty of people to impress with this routine, because 99 out of 100 people aren't looking up how card tricks are done on youtube before they see them. That's why tired routines and gimmicks still wow people on shows like America's Got Talent. Quit whining.

[@KinneKitsune]

Less than a minute in and already begging people to subscribe. Classy.

[@AyrtonMarkowski]

There's a pretty simple way to come out of this one a little cleaner. Use the roughing fluid to make the double faced card. Then you could palm off the "queen" and allow the "ace" to be turned over.

[@chanceneck8072]

I remember now, I performed a version of this trick when I was a child. I just put the four aces at the bottom. And I included a shuffle, I practiced that, but my mom figured it out, that the last shuffle move I did, went always to the bottom side.....

[@Latexpretzel]

I personally let them deal 4 or 5 more cards before the deck flip. This way you can catch the diamond and keep the other faceup in the pack still when fanning

[@MrFelixify]

It's not like they couldn't explain it. They wouldn't explain it. And that is a big difference.

[@tellurye]

He didnt mean they cant as in they didnt know how, he meant they cant as in "that would break the rules" That is a big difference

[@MrFelixify]

And it's not like i didn't know that. My point was. pen and teller are always vague because they believe in the "gentlemanship" if you will, not to blatantly reveal other magicians tricks, you know, like this guy does in this video.

[@tellurye]

MrFelixify Oh ok sorry my bad. I thought you were responding the OP's statement when he said "Penn and Teller couldnt explain it" some folks here thought that he meant they didnt know how to do it lol. I thought you were thinking the same. Otherwise, wasn't sure why you posted that - everyone knows that P&T dont reveal the tricks. Kind of an obvious post

[@megagame]

The is no rule that say they cant tell how it is done. Everyone that goes on the show risks having told how the trick is done. P&T chooses to tell it in a way to not make it 100% clear how it is done, just enouge so it is known they know how is was done.

[@tellurye]

Um, there absolutely *IS* a rule, and not just for the show. Firstly, its in the contract that magicians who are selected to perform agree to with the show's producers which they are NOT to tell P&T without explicit consent. Additionally, magicians who reveal tricks risk getting banned from the Magic Castle membership as well as tarnished in the industry. Of course there is a risk of a leak, but to say "The is no rule that say they cant tell how it is done" is false, as it it explicitly stated in the contract when one signs up to perform. You can learn what they can or cant do more at their website.

[@rayg2317]

I think the better play would be to bring the 4 card forward as though you guessed wrong and then say "it should have been the ace" and then reveal the ace.......you don't run the risk of being caught.....good explanation...thank you

[@BillAnt]

The magic happens at 5:35 very nice video explanation.. to me the reveal is just as magical as the trick itself. For those who don't like, well don't watch it!!

[@megagame]

the card was probly not just 2 card put together as in the video, but a special made card insted.

[@ricardortega00]

I have this trick where well you decide i guess your card but the cool part is where i 3 shots to guess and show you one card and is not your card, then place face down in front of you, i blow my other 2 shots and didn't guess your card, but then i ask you if you are sure and to inspect the 3 cards and tada there is your card, people just can't handle it.

[@alyxandjaylynn8435]

Ray G he did hid best

[@crazysonoran6077]

I'd feel 2 cards stuck together so the host may have been able to feel it as well, the special card makes more sense.

[@Remmeeee]

So simple, yet its genius!

[@andrewgates9518]

Did you wear a mask bro, your genius

[@jasonterry9137]

7:45 "and you kekked"

[@aHondaaa]

I feel like this is so easy to have it messed up on the other person's end. You have them flipping cards over as they place it down. Then when you tell them to just turn over the deck and just start placing them, they could easily just do it by muscle memory and flip the bottom card (queen) over and then the whole thing is ruined

[@danpowell806]

A different method, one that requires better sleight of hand, would be to conceal the other faceup card during the spread; since the countdown was public, they merely need to count the number of cards dealt down to know where in the deck the double-backer and random faceup card were. Then just use a very gentle touch to reveal the one you want and not the other one. But it was rough and smooth, because otherwise there would be no reason to square up the pile before dealing facedown to it; if they weren't square, the mild adhesion would be to more than one card and be awkward.

[@hc-magic3498]

Great trick, u should do a deck collection

[@geckothesorcerer5211]

I actually learned this trick years ago & completely forgot about it, thanks for reminding me about it.

[@truda3720]

Penn said “he can’t be quite smooth and I can be quite rough” referring to the rough texture on the faces. He did explain it really clearly just nobody can catch it 😂

[@masonlibla247]

Are you gonna be giving out any decks anytime soon?

[@thechristiancowboy6967]

So when Penn said "I didn't see anything" was he saying it was an invisible deck? Or what was the lingo he used to let the magician know?

[@ronaldstephenson6156]

He said "Teller is smooth, I can be a little rough"

[@RICKYNOISE]

@@ronaldstephenson6156 also says "open prediction, right at the top"

[@ulktorp]

That sticky fluid sounds like an amazing thing. Can't you feel it when handling the cards? Won't the cards feel weird when you touch them? My theory was that he attached a drop of something on the card where he wanted her to place her chosen card, so they would stick together. Because when he tells her to place the card face down, it looks like he actually touches the card at the top on the table. And right before that, he has had the same finger on his right wrist. So if he had a little bit of practically invisible glue on his wrist, that would leave a drop on his finger that would then attach to the card. That way he doesn't have to paint all the cards with fluid. What do you think?

[@fernandomarco295]

The gimmick is pretty much invisible to laypersons, in some presentation you may even have the spectator fanning the deck on the table.

really clever

[@sureshchandrajena9134]

Thank you so much. You are great.

[@larjkok1184]

Oh, you mean the tricked they explained? They never flat out say it, but they provided enough hints to show they knew exactly what was going on.

[@kamen42]

When I watched the trick I went back to see if the Ace of Diamonds was in the deck, even though I expected it wouldn't be there. I didn't know the rest of the trick though. But the reason why they made such a vague explanation is - they want the performer to know, but they don't want anyone else know. They could go to details, but they don't want to reveal the secret.

[@ZimCrusher]

cool video. One question: If all the cards are sticky, how do you do a card-spread? Wouldn't they clump together?

[@andrewscarr8943]

It needs both cards to be face to face or back to back depending on what trick you are performing.

[@espo7182]

I understand completely what you are explaining. It does seems plausible to me that he did it this way. However, the only issue I have, is that if the faces of the cards were prepped with roughing liquid, wouldn't the Ace of diamonds stick to the face of the card above it as well? There really is no way you can guarantee what card the spectator is going to stop at(thus you not using roughing liquid on said card). So if every face of the cards except the gimmick had roughing liquid on it, how could you assure the Ace would not stick to the face of the card above it. I do think this is a good explanation of the trick, I just can't get passed the Ace sticking in the end.

[@buereynolds7621]

Ok, I know I am late to the party, but I will admit I was 100% baffled by this trick (just watched 1 video before yours, same day as this reply), but thanks to your explanation, I was able to practice some tweaks (thought of them during your video, took ~10-15 minutes to test before posting) that make this trick repeatable...without Any gimmick cards, and even with a borrowed deck. If anyone either doesn't want to know my variation and/or doesn't like reveals, then move along nicely and no one gets hurt! The Very minor variation on what you teach here is that the prediction card and the bottom card do not need to be glued in any way. The rest is 100% as you show, including the flipping of the spectators actual reversed card, though this too can be a different number of cards further down to help make this repeatable. Each "repeat", just pick whatever card you want, use whatever method you desire to have it reversed as the 2nd from the bottom, then continue on as MLT instructs. Easy peasy.

[@turboteabag08]

Great trick

[@xl000]

If someone told me that the next card is his prediction, I'd ask him to turn it around...

[@ItsEllusive]

Glad to see it revealed, but you did clickbait title by saying they couldn’t explain it. They could but they don’t because of the show

[@stewl]

Re: the roughing treatment to create the special deck I ordered the spray he recommended and tried it on a few cards. I found it very difficult to separate the any two cards that were joined by the lightly sprayed cards after they were dried for a few hours. I also have an invisible deck purchased from Penguin magic that I can not easily separate the cards. My fingers are usually quite dry. Perhaps that is the problem, but slight moisture on them also does not help.So beware of this possible problem.

[@fernandomarco295]

Most invisible decks are like that, it's almost impossible to slide two cards, you have to reveal them differently, with not-so-dry fingers you'll normally want the first card to stick to your thumb and have the second one drop while mimicking sliding. Perhaps you may try thinning the spray using (wet?)sand paper on the cards one by one so they actually slide when you want them to.

[@stewl]

Fernando Marco thank you for the reply. Greatly appreciated. Will try the light sanding suggestion.

[@ingeborgsvensson4896]

Nice trick, thanks!

[@TheRalphHale]

Please ignore the negative comments - Nice vid mate

[@justinsmith5533]

Cool trick, but wouldn't the one dealing the cards feel that there are two cards stuck together based on the extra thickness?

[@labla8940]

how does he get the gum on the 2 hearts you mentioned all cards had gum on them? Unless I am missing something is it like contact cement where both surfaces would need the gum face to face?

[@amigocrypto7369]

thanks man! you're awesome

[@Meadhlyn]

There's no link in the description to the video

[@RaptureReady2025]

Yea I figured it out after watching the trick and posted my explanation. Nice to see your video in which you replicate the trick and confirms what I thought. Nice job.

[@jimu57]

Very good. P and T are vague for a reason. They want to hint enough so the performer knows they figured out his method. They dont give away so that everyone watching knows how its done. Dont be ridiculous.

[@1nstant459]

Do Penn and Teller watch these if they get fooled

[@syedlateefuddin94]

if that liquid(spray) is applied to every card front, why does it make cards to stick front to front only? 🤔 At 6:19 , if 2 sticks to its next face down card, then predicted card(A) would also stick to its next facedown card ryt?

[@seanrichardson7295]

I don’t think you spray the ace.

[@raysgr]

nice trick thanks for the video

[@Datanditto]

God damn that was a laborious explaination

[@TyroClint]

Don't use roughing stick! I tried it and it doesn't work. Its sticky so even if a smooth card touches the rough card it will still stick. Is there one where it's dry rough? And is the screenshot u showed a dry rough?

[@MetteC5]

MLT Tricks Thanks for this. Clever, well explained and you bother to indicate the link to the original trick in description. You got yourself a new subscriber!

[@garychapman2055]

A table magician did this at our table of eight and it was very impressive. However, as soon as he left my GF turned to me and whispered "Those cards weren't right" ... She'd noticed the roughing when she was dealing. I guess because she plays poker and is used to the feel of bicycles. But she'd had the good grace to keep it to herself and not ruin a perfectly mesmerising trick. Afterwards, in our hotel room, we worked out how it could be performed. There's a reason for the magicians code. It's only captivating till it's explained ... so you should only explain the tricks to those who've shown a genuine interest in performance magic. The reveal of one good secret, such as roughing, undermines a hundred astounding effects that seem otherwise impossible. It's selfish to share... I know that sounds backwards, but public dissemination deprives others of feeling that wonder that you did before you learned the secret. A good trick, well performed, is one of the few things that can still inject a brief and unexpected moment of childlike wonder into the lives of cynical adults. Why would you ruin that? Most will just use the cop-out excuse _"It was already revealed elsewhere"_ ... but let's say I decide to upset your daughter by telling her that Santa Claus is a lie... is the fact that, elsewhere, other people already know this a legitimate excuse for taking something magical away from her? Others will say, if you look for the video - then you've made the conscious choice to know. Unfortunately, it's in the nature of people to ask _"How did you do that?"_ The performer knows not to answer that question, for the spectators own good. Explained properly it is ruined ... Faux explainations with another illusion deepen the mystery and enjoyment. Just because people think they want to know - doesn't mean they should be told. If you want to know, then take some time to learn. Magic shows are pretty much dead these days, and it's mostly due to the 'busters' who derive a little temporary recognition, by revealing tricks publicly - rather than actually performing them. Don't be a fucking Grinch of the magic world.

[@MadmanReborn]

He's not shouting this from his rooftop or walking up to your daughter and revealing the secret. You land on this page because you want to find out how it's done. And people that want to know should be able to find out. He also didn't secretely tape the performer and gave away the 'secret' or someting of te other, he figured it out for himself, which means he's allowed to share. Now, i'm not against your barking, because you do make a point, you're just up at the wrong tree here.

[@GTS00]

You are awesome ❤

[@bRadicalmagic1]

The trick that Todd did . Do you think you could get Todd to show us his trick ? Please ?

[@danielali6571]

one things i dont get about this trick. if you say stop at a random point and the next card with be the ace of diamonds wpuldnt you just keep going and not stop untill you go past the ace of diamonds?

[@michaelweston2285]

if there was sticky on the face of every card, then why wouldn't the Ace stick to the card it's facing and be hidden as well when the deck is fanned out at the end?

[@BenVowlesAEIOU]

Love this

[@fredwolf3338]

Thanks

[@jonsmith1259]

I could see this as a bar bet. The guy who is turning the cards says "I am stopping HERE", then flips the next card face up, and wins!

[@ayodeleboluwatife8624]

I really wonder how Johnny ace performs I would like to know his tricks

[@ThreeToesofFury]

nice! thanks!

[@tryingforsubswithoutcontent]

Vik almighty uses that Matt finish to customize sneakers 😂

[@SuperKillbill1234]

if he used the sticking stuff before the performance, would the cards accidently stick together?

[@sieveman]

This concept is similar to the brainwave deck where the roughing agent is applied to the face of the card.

[@MagicMan8787]

Couldn't we just rough the back of the ace & The back of a deferent card kind of a temporary double face card? Very risky but clean.

[@michaelracelis2541]

idk, but if i understood your concept of the trick the liquid was applied to the front of all card. if so then there will be multiple cards that will stick to each other unless you apply pressure as you said earlier to make them separate.not sure if thats right i just based it on what you said about the sticky liquid that you said was applied to the front side of the cards

[@jasonmcbride]

no, they would only stick together if they were front to front (rough to rough), but they weren't, they were rough, smooth, rough, smooth etc

[@Justaszz]

Says trick is unexplainable, but explains it

[@kf2139]

Do i choose the predictions or its the person that decides

[@jjnelsonnc]

screw the haters, good explanation; Thumbs UP

[@tahirali8539]

What is the card deck?

[@TopFitnessStrategies]

If you use that sticky stuff on the cards, wouldn't all the cards stick to each other? If all the cards have it, why would only the card you want stick to the other card?

[@ronaldstephenson6156]

The spray does not make the cards sticky, it makes them rough, like very very fine sandpaper. Now think if you were to try and slide 2 pieces of sandpaper with the rough sides facing each other, they would not slide apart easily. But if you slide them with the paper sides together, or even one paper side and one rough side, they would slide apart easily. Same principle here. If the cards are face to face...rough sides together...they won't slide apart easily. But front to back...or smooth to rough...they will slide apart normally.

[@NinjaOnANinja]

That opiate nose inhale and dry mouth. GG merica

[@gillesvanlommel5932]

it is a litlle less hands-off but you can place your prediction at the bottom of the deck place the deck on the table and ask them to deal(with the deck lying on the table) when they stop you talk to them( a joke or something) and casually pick up the deck and you do a bottom deal for the face down card. And then you or the spectator place the rest on top tadddaaaa same efffect but litlle less hands-off(hope my english is good enough)

[@glenjamindle]

You've got some video in your ad. You might want to consider removing it.

[@johnthetrickster1957]

I assume you do not spray the ace of diamonds. Or it would have stuck.

[@westerreich]

What if they stop after 1 or 2 cards? Any backup plan? ;)

[@4Aernie]

westerreich just Tell them lauter to stop where ever they want. Just let them Deal 10 or more

[@nice-qz7gk]

in the start i saw 2 queen of clubs

[@24wanye]

Are you from canada?

[@iWhacko]

if you apply pressure to a roughed deck it will NOT slide apart. you have to use litlle to no pressure. That being said, allowing a spectator to handle a gimmicked deck like that would be quite stupid if it failed

[@all4Hisgloryalone2Tim215]

but how does the person know what they are going to pick or when they will say stop???

[@nickcarter1616]

If you watch the actual Penn and Teller airing of the trick, he didn't fool them. They gave him the key phrases to let him know they knew exactly how he did it, which means they could've easily explained it, but chose not to to keep the trick a secret. Nice click bait though.

[@maxmartin4225]

But if you have to put that liquid on the face of all the cards how do they separate when you fan them out on the table?

[@lunymoony4062]

Yeah and whose seen a normal pack of cards double the thickness as what they should be?

[@jeremiasjaranavarrete2589]

Hola.. una pregunta.. cual es el nombre de esa baraja de cartas?.. 🤔

[@jeremiasjaranavarrete2589]

Brian Helfrecht buena.. gracias bro..

[@cardguy2000]

it's in Bruce Cervon's Black and white book... but who reads them these days :)

[@Boomflashz136]

thanks bro

[@josegarcia-qf6hv]

I’m looking for the one were the deck is divided and they are mixed with one half facing opposing side then when he ends it the all face the same way

[@garychapman2055]

Hi Jose, The technique revealed here, is the basis for over a hundred different card tricks. It sounds as though the answer for that trick... IS the answer for this trick. It is just the performance that changes. But I'm just guessing, based on your very short description of the trick.

[@davem2312]

Re-title this: "Turning a 2 minute explanation into an 11 minute video."

[@grahamblake3188]

I could not see the ace of diamonds when the pack was sawn face up.

[@kenhaley4]

I don't like the part where the spectator actually handles the double card. Most people would notice the double thickness.

[@jasonirelan1737]

329th Take care and God bless.

[@1023Endurance]

man you ramble a lot. We get it. A liquid was used. Pressure can be used to separate. We get it.

[@6977warrior1]

Why on earth is this simple video 12 minutes long??? I keep hearing the same things repeated over and over.

[@gtbones]

It's absolutely false that Penn and Teller couldn't explain the trick....after they spoke (in magician code mind you) Lamanske agreed that they knew how he did it.

[@perseohernandez755]

very nice, I suscribe right now.

[@kstudio7634]

Plzzz Do A Reveld For VOODOO Trick America's Got Talent 2014 Quarter Final_ Mike Super's Invisible Touch

[@yassinamr7017]

that is amazing

[@yogeshpatel-zq7bx]

nice

[@RealDragon_Yt13]

Hi

[@ramirorodriguez7812]

They would have seen the queen when you lay the ace down