Incredible Jumping Jacks

A spectator mixes up four Jacks and places them face-down on the table. One of the Jacks is randomly selected and, before it is even turned over, you reveal your prediction showing which Jack was chosen in a most impossible manner!

Secret: For this trick you need the eight very special cards found in the envelope.

You receive four ordinary blue backed Jacks. To prepare for this trick you should place small pencil marks on the back of each card so that you can identify each one. For example a small pencil dot in the corner of the Jack of Hearts, two pencil dots for Diamonds, three pencil dots for Clubs and no pencil dots for Spades.

You must make these markings as subtle as possible so that only you know they are there. Maybe instead of pencil dots you could add slight bends to the cards or, for a really subtle mark, you can scratch the backs with a pin. Once you are done, these subtle markings will allow you to secretly identify each Jack when they are face-down.

You also receive four other cards: Two ‘double-backed’ cards with a red back design on one side and blue back design on the other. A card which has a red back design and on the face, the Two red Jacks – Hearts and Diamonds – one on each end. A card which has a blue back design and on the face the two black Jacks – Clubs and Spades – one on each end.

Set up the cards in the following order from bottom to top, then keep them in the envelope in preparation for your performance: A double backed card (blue side up), the red backed double Jack card (Jacks side up), the blue backed double Jack card (blue back side up), and double backed card (blue side up).

Now if you spread the cards you will see all blue backs and the Jack of Hearts (fig. 1).

If you rotate the cards end for end and spread them again you will see all blue backs and the Jack of Diamonds (fig. 2).

Turn the pile of cards over…

Now if you spread the cards you will see all red backs and the Jack of Clubs (fig. 3).

If you rotate the cards end for end and spread them again you will see all red backs and the Jack of Spades (fig. 4).

To perform, give the four blue backed ordinary looking Jacks to one of your spectators and ask for the cards to be shuffled. While they are being shuffled, take the envelope with the other four cards and leave it in full view on the table, explaining it contains your prediction.

Ask the spectator to randomly place the four cards face-down on the table and point to one. By secretly reading the markings on the back of the chosen card you will discover what suit it is. You can now show your prediction before even your spectator knows which Jack was chosen.

If the chosen card, is a Heart, bring the cards out from the envelope with the blue side up and spread them.

If the chosen card is a Diamond, bring the cards out from the envelope with the blue side up and rotate them end for end before spreading.

If the chosen card is a Club, bring the cards out from the envelope with the red side up and spread them.

If the chosen card is a Spade, bring the cards out from the envelope with the red side up but rotate them end for end before spreading them.

When the spectator turns over their selected card your audience will be amazed to see you have predicted which card would be chosen.

As an extra climax, you can show that not only is your prediction card the only face-up card, it also has a different coloured back. To do this, simply slide out the face-up Jack and turn it over. If you do this in one continuous movement, no-one will notice the other suit on the card.

This is an absolutely stunning trick. It is important to memorise which way round the Jacks are and make yourself familiar with the markings on the back of the cards so that you can perform this trick gracefully and without fumbling.