How Does the 21-Card Trick Always Work?

[hereandnow672]

http://www.wikihow.com/Do-a-21-Card-Card-Trick

I'm too full from easter dinner to even want to attempt to figure this out... any help?

 

[JaredJames]

It's an instruction manual on how to do a card trick.

What do you mean "figure it out"? It's there explained for you.

 

[hereandnow672]

I suppose I should have said WHY does this work...

 

[JaredJames]

Because the way you handle the cards means you always end up forcing the persons card to the correct position.

If you follow the steps through with a deck of cards, you should be able to track the location of the card each time and follow it to the final location.

 

[hereandnow672]

Yes, but WHY?

Why does this sequence of events yield the same results every time?

 

[trentt]

Yes, but WHY?

Why does this sequence of events yield the same results every time?

Because that's the point of the card trick.

 

[JaredJames]

Yes, but WHY?

Why does this sequence of events yield the same results every time?

DO THE TRICK!

(Stop 'SHOUTING')

If you follow the steps through and track the card, you will notice the pattern being used.

It really wouldn't take that long, perhaps a few dummy runs of the trick with you performing both parts. Certainly a lot easier than someone trying to explain it here.

I've done it and it's easy to see, so give it a go.

 

[CEL]

Yes, but WHY?

Why does this sequence of events yield the same results every time?

Remember, the column, where the chosen card is, is in the middle of the other two.
When you lay the cards the second time, the cards that were formerly in the first column now constitute the first three cards of the first column and the first two cards of the other columns.
The cards in the column chosen will be in positions 4 and 5 of the first column, 3 to 5 of the second column and 4, 5 of the third column.
When the column is chosen again, it will have at most three cards belonging to the first chosen column.
As the cards are laid again, they will split between the three columns, so, when the column is chosen, ypu have already identified the card: it will be the 4th card in the chosen column (or the 11th after you put that column beneath another).