2024

Effect
A spectator is asked to give ANY number from 1 to 52, this being an absolute
FREE choice (No Force). From a regular shuffled deck ANY card is named,
the spectator shuffles the pack. Both random events can be stored on their
smartphone for future reference.

The deck is given a final cut by the spectator before they deal the cards one
by one until the chosen number is reached (magician does not touch the
cards). The card is turned over to reveal it IS THEIR CARD!

Everything can be examined.

✓ Any Number from 1 to 52 can be chosen (No Force)

✓ Any Card can be chosen OR named (No Force)
✓ Cards shuffled and Cut by the spectator
✓ Cards are predominately handled by spectator
✓ No Sleights and No Angle Issues
✓ No Special deck or audience stooges

1|Pa g e
ACAAN 2024 Totally Magic

Background
Over the many years of magic one trick among magicians that stands out as
a classic is the Any Card at Any Number routine. Often referred to as The
Berglas Effect since most magicians consider the David Berglas version the
benchmark that all others should aim to achieve.

The Real Deal ACAAN 2024 is as close as you’ll come to the David’s effect
using regular cards and no difficult handlings.

While devising this version in 2010 it had to meet certain criteria; namely the
spectators had to have a choice of Any number from 1 to 52 without
limitations. The choice of card had to be non-restrictive, absolutely ANY card
from the deck chosen or named and the inclusion of shuffling and/or cutting
by the spectator.

Finally, all performed with a regular deck… Here’s The Real Deal!

Preparation
The deck of cards requires no stack or setup.

A Single card to aid a specific deck cut is required. We will refer to this card
throughout these instructions as a ‘breather’ card. Below we describe
options to consider as a control cut card.

▪ Breather Card
Prepared by creating a dome effect to
the card. Holding a card face up thumb
in centre and fore finger & middle finger
beneath card (Fig.1).
Push thumb pressure against the card
between the fingers beneath. Pull to a Fig.1
corner of the card. Repeat this move for
each corner (Fig.2). If you place the card
face down upon the table, you’ll notice it
has a dome-like appearance. A breather
aids the ease of cutting a stack of cards at
that position.

Fig.2

2|Pa g e
ACAAN 2024 Totally Magic

▪ Short Cut Card

Trim each end of a card to allow easy cut at that point (à la Svengali style).

Other methods can be employed such as thick card or a corner crimp.

Finally, make a small mark on the back of the breather for easy recognition.
This could be just a coloured in centre dot (Fig.3) e.g. Bicycle card.

Fig.3

Method
The method employs almost zero sleights but just a few basic false shuffles
and cuts.

The actual method begins with counting cards to match the spectators
chosen number. One powerful feature of this version is that the “dirty” work
is done very early before anyone knows where the trick is leading!

Knowing the Chosen Number

Although the ending of the effect is automatic the setup begins with the early
knowledge of which number the spectator selects between 1 and 52.
The following two procedures cater for the positioning of the chosen card
dependent upon the number given.

3|Pa g e
ACAAN 2024 Totally Magic

Numbers from 1 to 26
When the chosen number given is less than or equal to half the deck (26)
then the following procedure should be performed.

A ‘breather’ card begins at the bottom of the face down deck.

(optional) false shuffle (overhand style recommended) as you ask a

spectator to choose any number from 1 to 52, during this shuffle you can
encourage a lower number by suggestion of a birth date, or anniversary for
example.

Ask which value they would like; they reply 21 for example. As they name the
number you continue the overhand shuffle but ensure cards are pulled off
one by one (Fig.4) as you silently
count 19 cards – ALWAYS count
two cards less than the given
number value!

Drop the remaining cards held

on top of the 19 cards (this Breather
places the ‘breather’ card on
top) then square the deck as it’s
placed face down. Fig. 4

During the above moves ask the

spectator to write the number 21 on
their *smartphone or upon the
provided blank card as a reminder. The
card can be left number side up as it’s
not a secret as they’ve just called out
the number!

Explain that the real magic is having them name ANY card. For example, 9 of
Hearts, you will cut off approximately half the cards and as you hand them
to the spectator say “You look through those for your card, and I’ll search
these” as you pick up the cards remaining from the table.
*Most phones have an app
suitable for taking notes.

4|Pa g e
ACAAN 2024 Totally Magic

Whoever locates the card drops it face up on the table.

Then continue “as we’ve both seen the order of the cards let’s both shuffle
the packets”, allow spectator to give a genuine shuffle however, you perform
a false shuffle; your packet MUST remain in exactly the same order as when
you picked it up!

Removal Of Named Card (Fig.5)

Should the named card be in your packet behind the ‘breather’ card in the
rear portion remove as described above.

IF the card is before the ‘breather’ then you will need to slide a card from
behind ‘breather’ into the front portion to replace the card just removed.

Rear Portion Fig. 5

Card Breather Card

Front Portion
Card

NOTE
When you cut and hand them half the cards to look through, if the
number they gave earlier is close to the middle e.g. 24, 25, 26 then cut
less than half as you don’t want to accidently hand them the
‘breather’ card, that must stay in the lower portion.

Get the chosen card either written on the blank card (Fig.6) or have them take
a photo with their phone. The card is dropped face down on top of the packet

5|Pa g e
ACAAN 2024 Totally Magic

they shuffled then requested

to drop your tabled packet on
top to bury their card in the
middle of the deck.

Next, get spectator to cut the

deck and complete the cut.
This cut will be at the ‘breather’
ensure they cut correctly Fig. 6
(made easy because you
marked the card with a dot).

If this is seen, you do not touch the deck from now on. However, should it not
be visible you could false shuffle and cut to get the ‘breather’ card to top
yourself.

NOTE: Having used the breather card for over 13 years I’ve found it’s
success rate of being cut by the spectator very accurate, should you
not be comfortable having a spectator cut at the ‘breather’ then use an
alternative method to cut to a location or perform the final cut yourself
either openly or as a secret unseen cut.

Once the emphasis has been made on the fairness of the ANY number and
ANY card, confirm with viewing number and photo on their phone or
checking the black card written earlier.
Now have the spectator pick up the deck and deal down to the selected
number to reveal the freely named card at that position, the perfect ending
to the ACAAN.

It’s worth noting that the cards can be dealt face down or face up as there is
nothing to hide.

The clever methodology automatically causes the card to always appear at

the correct position in the deck.

6|Pa g e
ACAAN 2024 Totally Magic

Numbers from 27 to 52

If a high number is chosen, then to avoid you having to shuffle/count such a

high number of cards there is an alternative method.

When a chosen number given is more than half the deck (greater than 26)
then the following procedure should be performed.
A ‘breather’ card begins at the bottom of the face down deck. You can false
shuffle (overhand style recommended) as you ask a spectator to choose any
number from 1 to 52. Let’s assume they say a high number, at which point
you perform a slip shuffle so the ‘breather’ card is slipped under the first card
pulled from the top of the deck.

Ask the value they chose; they reply 42 for example. As they are providing
this information you continue an overhand shuffle but ensure cards are
pulled off one by one as you silently count from the number given up to 52 –
ALWAYS count up to 52 and ignore the ‘breather’ as it is included with the 1st
card pulled from the top; the first two cards are treated as one card (Fig.7).

Drop the counted packet on top of the

pack held and turn entire deck face up
as it’s placed down.

During the above moves ask the

spectator to write the number 42 on
their *smartphone or upon the provided
blank card as a reminder. The card can Fig. 7
be left number side up as it’s not a
secret as they’ve just called out the number!!

Explain that the real magic is having them name ANY card. For example, 9 of
Hearts, you will cut off approximately half the cards and as you hand them
to the spectator say “You look through those for your card, and I’ll search
these” as you pick up the cards remaining from the table.

Whoever locates the card drops it face up on the table.

7|Pa g e
ACAAN 2024 Totally Magic

Removal Of Named Card (Fig.8)

Should the named card be in your packet behind the ‘breather’ card in the
rear portion remove as described above.

IF the card is before the ‘breather’ then you will need to slide a card from
behind ‘breather’ into the front portion to replace the card just removed.

Rear Portion Fig. 8

Card Breather Card

Front Portion
Card

NOTE
When you cut and hand them half the cards to look through, if the
number they gave earlier is close to the middle e.g. 24, 25, 26 then cut
less than half as you don’t want to accidently hand them the
‘breather’ card, that must stay in the lower portion.

Then continue “as we’ve both seen the order of the cards let’s both shuffle
the packets”, allow spectator to give a genuine shuffle however, you perform
a false shuffle; your packet MUST remain in exactly the same order as when
you picked it up!

Both you and spectator place the respective packets face down.

8|Pa g e
ACAAN 2024 Totally Magic

Get the chosen card either

written on the blank card or
have them take a photo with
their phone. The card is
dropped face down on top of
YOUR packet then have their
tabled packet dropped on top
to bury their card in the middle
of the deck.

Next, get spectator to cut the deck and complete the cut. This cut will be at
the ‘breather’ ensure they cut correctly (made easy because you marked the
card with a dot).
Fig. 6
If it’s there you do not touch the deck from now on. However, should it not be
visible you can false shuffle and cut to get the ‘breather’ card about centre
of the deck.

Once the emphasis has been made on

the fairness of the ANY number and
Any card have the spectator pick up
the deck and deal down to the chosen
number to reveal the freely chosen
card at that position, the perfect
ending to the ACAAN.

Original Copyright ©2010 Totally Magic

This publication © 2024
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any
form or by any means, including mechanical, electronic, photocopy or by any information
storage or retrieval system, nor shall this publication or any part of it be used
commercially, distributed without written permission from the copyright owner.

9|Pa g e