For most laypeople, a deck of cards tends to evoke thoughts of card games. Given that blackjack is the most popular card game in the casino, it’s surprising how few blackjack-themed card tricks there are—especially compared to the overwhelming amount of poker material out there.
With that in mind, this month I’m sharing a card effect I created years ago with a blackjack premise. Like most tricks rooted in a specific game, it hits hardest with those who know and love blackjack, but the effect is strong enough to impress any spectator who understands the basic rules of the game.
I’ll start by teaching a version that uses a simple setup, making it well within reach of an intermediate card handler. One of my favorite things about this trick is that it can also be set up deceptively, right under a spectator’s nose—making it a killer impromptu piece, perfect for those moments when someone sees you with a deck and says, “Are we playing blackjack?”