Revealed

Close Up Magic: 10 Tips To Improve This Skill To The Next Level

Performance, Revealed
hand about to catch four dices

Performing magic takes a lot of skill, and stage presence. It also takes confidence and a whole lot of perseverance. That’s especially true when it comes to close up magic tricks.

When you perform magic for a small crowd gathered around you, there is no room for error. There are no smoke and mirrors that can save you from a spectator who is standing feet from you.

Though a stage might seem intimidating it actually affords you more space. The farther the audience is from you, the easier to deceive and misdirect them.

Magicians who perform close up magic tricks do not have that luxury, and, therefore, they need to have a few extra skills in their arsenal.

What Is Close Up Magic?

Close up magic is also called micro magic, or table magic, and it traditionally involves audience members who are less than 10 feet from the magician. Often the performer is seated at a table, although in contemporary street magic that is not a necessity.

Most close up magic involves card tricks. Card tricks fall under the classification of sleight of hand tricks, they rely on quick moves that go undetected by the audience. Other forms of close up magic involve sleight of hand tricks featuring small objects like coins, dice, or even pens.

10 Tips to Improve Your Close Up Magic Skills 

For you, close up magic is thrilling and invigorating, but there is still so much for you to learn. Perhaps you’re looking to perform more street magic to help make a name for yourself and break into more permanent opportunities.

To wow strangers on the street you’ve got hone your skills. Here are 10 tips for you to improve your up close magic and take it and you to the next level.

1. Practice in a Mirror

Woman looking on a mirror
​Image Via Pexels.com

It’s hard to spot the errors that the audience might see unless you can see them yourself. To accomplish this you need to practice using a mirror when you perform your close up magic.

You’ll get a new perspective on your performance, and make sure that your sleight of hand is undetectable from multiple angles. That’s really helpful when you are performing a new trick.

A mirror can help you make sure that your secrets remain secret from any angle that an audience member may be positioned at.

Practicing in a mirror can also help you determine if a new trick is right for you. If you find that the angles are too tricky to work with, you might have saved yourself some valuable time. It’s better to realize that now than after months of working through a trick.

2. Pay for Information

Magic is not free. That might seem kind of shocking considering all the things that you can find for free on the Internet. You can find music, movies, and books for free. You can find all the information on just about anything for free.

This is true for some aspects of magic, but overwhelmingly, if you want to learn the secret to good magic tricks, you have to pay for them. This might come in the form of buying lessons or purchasing books, or paying for a series of DVD’s. Paying for magic instruction may take many forms, but the results are the same. You end up with magic instruction that is thorough, tested, and complete.

That’s not to say that YouTube can’t provide you with lots of inspiration and tips, but don’t let it be your only source of instruction. If you’re serious about performing magic then you have to be willing to invest in its secrets. If you don’t put the money in, you can’t get the money out.

3. Examine All Finger Positions

Hand black and white
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In sleight of hand, everything rests on where your hands rest. If your fingers are not in proper position the trick can often be detected. The eyes of the audience are distracted by your error, and your misdirection fails to misdirect.

So your finger positions matter, and identifying and practicing the proper finger positions is everything. It’s important to spend time watching master magicians perform sleight of hand tricks and making note of exactly where their fingers are during the sleight.

Are they gripping the deck between their thumb and ring finger? Or does it rest between their thumb and index finger? What joint of their index finger is touching the cards? The trick is in the tiniest details, and you’ll need to get used to working on your micro magic on a truly micro level.

4. Work on Looking Relaxed

Sleight of hand takes a lot of finger dexterity and so much rides on such small and imperceptible movements of your hands. With all that pressure it’s hard not to look stressed, but the more relaxed you are the, better your tricks will go.

If you tense up then those magic hands of yours tense up too. Card tricks take a very light hand and the best way to make that happen is to stay relaxed as you perform. This is easier said than done in some cases, but it’s worth creating some of your own relaxation methods.

Some performers mediate before they appear in front of an audience. Some performers listen to specific music, or perform a sort of pre-show ritual to calm their nerves. Be sure to take time from all your rigorous practicing to find ways that clam and focus your energy before you perform.

5. Cut Out Any Extraneous Movements

Majician holding a red small ball
​Image Via Pixabay.com

This takes lots of practice, but one way to get your tricks running smoother and less detected is to cut out any extra movements. Every bend of your finger, every flick of your wrist should be done with an express purpose.

This might seem counter-intuitive at first especially when you consider the value of misdirection, but too many movements may end up making your audience suspicious. Remember, your audience is smart. They know about misdirection, and they may try really hard not to be misdirected. If you add an extra flourish, or an extra gesture you sort of automatically tip-off your audience.

Keep your movements direct and simple, and you will keep your audience guessing at every turn.

6. Talk As You Practice

man with glasses looking on the mirror
​Image Via Pexels.com

You are probably pretty used to practicing your close up magic, but how often does your practice just involve the mechanics of the trick? You might not even realize it, but you probably spend a lot of your time practicing silently.

While any practice is good practice, you’ll find your tricks will vastly improve if you work on speaking as you run through your routine. That’s because it mimics a real life scenario better and because you also use verbal cues in your magic.

Sleight of hand falsely implies that your hands do all the work, but the more you practice talking along with your routine, the more you’ll realize how much your patter influences your trick.

The way you speak, the story you tell, and the web you weave with your audience is all a part of the magic. The way you speak and the things you say will draw your audience in just as much as they way you can mysteriously produce the right cards, so don’t leave it as an afterthought.

7. Perfect Tricks Stage by Stage

Majician pulling card from his mouth
​Image Via Pixabay.com

It’s so tempting to jump ahead when you are learning a new trick, but it’s important to break tricks down into manageable stages and perfect each one before you jump to the next.

Each portion of a trick builds on the previous portion, so think of them as rungs on a ladder. You can’t reach the upper rungs without starting at the bottom first. To do this you may have to force yourself to go over a portion of a trick that you think you’ve mastered. Even if you think it’s perfect, it’s worth practicing just one more time.

8. Practice Morning, Noon, and Night

If you want to take your close up magic to the next level there are no elevators to get you there. You have to practice, and practice, and practice. That’s because sleight of hand tricks are not based on gimmicks as some other types of magic are. You’re not performing a nifty science trick that yields a magical result.

Instead, you are creating magic with your skills. Those skills need to be razor sharp, and practice is how that happens. Give yourself a daily goal of how many times you want to perform a specific trick, and then work to make that happen.

And remember that as you practice to change the scenery and the scenario. Don’t just practice in your home, or studio. You’re doing close up magic, and one of the best ways to improve it is to practice in front of an audience.

Practicing in front of other people can be challenging, especially when you are not feeling confident in your skills, but you have to challenge those skills in order to stretch and build those muscles.

Perform magic on subways. Perform magic in the street. Approach people at parties and attempt to wow them with your skills. Sometimes your routine will fall flat. Sometimes you will meet spectators who are neither impressed nor amused, but what can you learn from those people? What can you do better next time to turn those skeptics into believers?

9. Collaborate with Other Magicians

Whether it’s with a mentor, or a group of aspiring magicians much like yourself, it is important to work through magic routines with the help of others. Magicians are a hard group to impress, and they’ll be even harder than a typical audience.

That means that they can provide even better feedback to give you just the last little bit of polish that you need. Once you have practiced, honed, analyzed, and otherwise gotten your routine in tip-top shape, it’s time to enlist the help of some professionals.

Not all magicians may be willing to help you improve your act because they don’t need to strengthen the competition, but you will find that many magicians are in the same boat that you are. Those are the ones who will most likely trade you some help. Or at least they might not mind criticizing you. Both will help you in the long run.

10. Work on Being Dynamic

A boy practicing a card trick
​Image Via Unsplash.com

In close up magic, you are building an intimate little rapport with your audience. You want them to like you. You want them to be captivated by you. These are things that are hard to teach, but they all fall under having a good stage presence. Even though you might not be on a stage, you still need a persona that can put on a good performance.

The best way to achieve this dynamic, charismatic, larger than life level is to come at your audience with as much confidence and energy as possible. You might not always feel like you can learn confidence, but you can certainly practice it.

It comes from being comfortable. It comes from knowing your routine, and having sharp skills. It comes from your love of magic and your enthusiasm to share it with the world.

Take Your Magic to the Streets and Take it Up a Notch

These 10 tips along with your perseverance and love of magic can help take your close up skills to the next level. Before long you will confidently be able to hold a street audience totally captive with your skills, and you just might get a collection of onlookers who want to see what all the commotion is about.

Featured Image by fotografierende from Pexels

Very Easy Coin Trick Makes You Look Like a Professional

Coin Tricks, Revealed, Tutorial

How to do the Pinch Vanish coin trick
Coin magic is a fun way to entertain. Since coins are small, most coin tricks are considered close-up magic, as the audience must be close to the performer to see the effects. Coin magic is sometimes performed onstage using large coins. In a different type of performance setting, a close-up coin magician will use a large video projector so the audience can see the magic on a big screen. Coin magic is generally considered harder to master than other close-up techniques such as card tricks. Because coin tricks require great skills and grace to be convincing, and this takes a lot of practice to master.
Still this is one of the easier coin trick for any beginner to learn, and it will amaze your friends and family. You will definitely want to add this trick to your magician’s bag. Learn how to get this trick down pat with help from this how-to video.

First, hold the coin in between your thumb and index finger by the outer edges of the coin. Then press hard till coin falls flat between your two fingers. Practice till the coin falls, and your thumb and index finger are shielding the coin from being seen. Then your left hand comes over, grabs the coin. You can squeeze that coin into oblivion, and it is gone. This is how to do the pinch vanish coin trick.

Your audience will then think the coin has been taken in your left hand. As they watch act as if you are crunching the coin and making the coin disappear in thin air. Open your left hand to show that the coin has vanished. There you go, you have performed the pinch vanish coin trick.

All you will need is A coin

13 Magic Symbols You Need to Know and Their Meanings

Learn Magic, Revealed
one of the many magic symbols

If you enjoy watching television or binge-watching Netflix, you'll notice an upward trend in shows that revolve around magic. From The Librarians to Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and several Netflix originals, magic-based television shows have made a comeback. That brings questions about spells and magic symbols that many don't know how to answer. To help demystify the world of magic, we've put together a list of 13 magic symbols you need to know and what those symbols mean.



What Magic Symbols Are All About

While there are definitely over 13 magic symbols, they all have some commonalities. Magic symbols are all meant to do something based on the intent of the user. Some practitioners use magic symbols, such as runes, as a magical language. Others use magic symbols to cast spells and some use them as protective sigils. Whatever the reason, you need to make sure you understand the meaning behind the magic symbol you're using if you want to get the outcome you desire.

To understand magic symbols, and their potential meanings, you need to understand that while most magic symbols are universal among magic practitioners, magic symbols can have different origins and have different uses depending on the magic is being practiced. For example, almost everyone, practitioners and non-practitioners alike are familiar with a pentagram. Someone wears it as a testament of faith but also as a protective talisman and, like most things Wiccan or pagan, got its start in Christianity.

Another magic symbol popular in movies is the Eye of Horus or the Eye of Ra. As the name suggests this is an image of an Egyptian-style eye. Whether worn as an amulet or carved on a rune the Eye of Horus is a magic symbol of protection and all-seeing divine power. Magic symbols can be a language, usually known as runes, that are of Norse origins and created by Father Odin. The word rune means secret and practitioners use them to cast spells and wards with no one the wiser.

13 Magic Symbols You Need to Know and Their Meanings

For movie watchers, understanding magic symbols can make a show more interesting. For those who are new to the art of magic, knowing what to use and when can create the spell or set the desired protection. Whether you are a believer in magic or just a history buff, the meanings of magic symbols are interesting. Below we've listed the 13 magic symbols we think are important to know and what they mean:

blazing red candle

Image source: Pexels

  • Horned God
  • Hexagram
  • Besom
  • Moon Phases
  • Mars Sign
  • Celtic Shield
  • Ankh
  • Athame
  • Air
  • Water
  • Fire
  • Earth
  • Witches Knot
blazing red candle

Image source: Pexels

Horned God

horned god

Image source: Flickr

The Horned God is sometimes depicted as a circle topped by what appears to be a crescent moon and is one of the few male magic symbols. The crescent moon, in reality, is a representation of the horns of a goat or another antlered beast. This magic symbol can mean strength, courage, or any masculine energy. The Horned God can be cast in spells of fertility or as a request for a successful hunt.

Hexagram

solomon hexagram

Image source: Pixabay

A Hexagram, also known as the Seal of Solomon or the Star of David, is actually two magic symbols. The upright triangle is the female symbol of water and the other triangle is the male symbol of fire. Both are elements of nature that are used in a variety of spells. In Christianity, the Hexagram symbolizes heaven and earth and can even be seen in the stained glass of churches. In magic, the Hexagram is used to call upon spirits or spiritual elements.

Besom

broom of a witch

Image source: commons.wikimedia.org

The Besom is another word for a broom. This is another magic symbol that is both male and female with the handle being the male and the bristles representing the female. There are several uses for the Besom in magic. Using it in a sweeping fashion can represent sweeping negativity and bad spirits from your home. Bristles up near a doorway are meant as a protective talisman when placed under someone's bed and offer the sleeper protection through the night.

Moon Phases

phases of the moon

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The phases of the moon have always been important to people. Sailors have depended on it to change the tide. People swear that the cycle of the moon can alter one's behavior. As a magic symbol, the Moon Phases tell you when to cast certain spells. Spells meant for renewal should be done during the new moon, for change during the waxing moon, for bounty during the full moon, for a fresh start during a waning moon, and for peace and harmony during the dark moon.

Mars Sign

mars zodiac sign

Image source: Pixabay

Not only is the Mars Sign notably male and representative of the Roman god of war, it is also an aggressive magic symbol. There are many practitioners who believe in harming none and in a three-fold rule. That means that whatever you cast out will revisit you times three. The three-fold rule is to curb the impulse to cast in anger or out of spite. The three-fold rule is imagined to apply only as long as you are NOT using the Mars Sign. Using this magic symbol is thought to counter any magic cast against you.

Celtic Shield

celtic shield

Image source: Pixabay

The Celtic Shield is a popular amulet design and is Irish in origin. There are two meanings to this magic symbol. The first meaning is eternity, which is represented in the never-ending flow of the design. The second meaning is that of unbroken protection. People wear Celtic Shield amulets and have intricate tattoos today, and the same symbol can be seen in the medieval shields of knights.

Ankh

golden ankh pattern

Image source: Pixabay

This magic symbol is another one of Egyptian origin and has multiple meanings. If you look at Egyptian art and hieroglyphics, you will see the Ankh everywhere, especially being carried by those thought to be gods. The Ankh is a magic symbol of life, with the top rounded portion being the female and the lower straight portion being the male. The belief is that a person can wear an Ankh amulet to extend live or to protect from evil forces and aging.

Athame

athame blades

Image source: Wikimedia.commons

An Athame is an interesting magic symbol because it is not just a symbol but an actual item used during certain rituals. Practitioners use an Athame as a representation of cutting. An example of this would be cutting the love of a past love away from you or releasing the thoughts of an ex from your mind. A Boline is used when there is physical cutting to be done, such as cutting a cord or carving symbols into candles.

Witch's Knot

witch knot symbol

Image source: Pixabay

The Witch's Knot is a female magic symbol and has several meanings. The most well-known meaning is one of protection, especially if the knot is drawn in a continuous line against male witchcraft. History suggests that people used the Witch's Knot for weather spells, love spells, and to bind and create strong magic circles. In olden times, you could find this symbol carved on doors to ward against evil people and evil spells.

Signs Used Together

The next four magic symbols are often used together, are important in circle casting, and have astrological ties. The affinity of each one belongs to a specific astrological sign that has deeper meanings regarding love and friendships. Another important point to make about elemental magic is that using these signs does not mean you will ever be able to control the element in question. 

Air

astrological symbol of air

Image source: Wikimedia.commons

The magic symbol of Air is an upright triangle with a line through the top. Astrologically and magically, Geminis, Libras, and Aquarius' have an Air affinity. You cannot control air, but you can work on controlling how you verbalize your thoughts and seek higher levels of knowledge. Air is a male magic symbol belonging to the North and the season of Winter, and those with this affinity work their best magic in the middle of the night. 

Water

water astrological sign

Image source: wikimedia.commons

Cancers, Scorpios, and Pisces' have a water affinity. The magic symbol of water is an upside-down triangle and a feminine symbol. What those with this affinity need to focus on in their lives, and when working magic, is emotions and learning to listen to intuition. Water belongs to the East, the season of Spring, and the best time for magic related to water is sunrise.

Fire

astrological sign of fire

Image source: wikimedia.commons

The Fire magic symbol is an upright triangle and corresponds to the zodiac signs of Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. This is another male sign, and those with a fire affinity need to work on controlling their fiery tempers and tapping into their creativity. Fire belongs to the warmest season of the year, Summer, and naturally finds its place in the South. The best magic time for Fire is high noon.

Earth

magic earth symbol

Image source: wikimedia.commons

If you guessed that the magic symbol of Earth is an upside-down triangle with a line through the bottom, you would be correct. This last symbol is feminine and goes with the last group of zodiac signs: Tauras, Virgo, and Capricorn. Earth elementals might have a harder life and need to be courageous even when things are difficult. Earth belongs to the renewal of Spring, sits in the East, and does the best magic at sunrise.

If you combine these four magic symbols, you get a pentagram. The top point would be Spirit, which is everything combined. The left and right would be Fire and Air, and the bottom points would be Water and Earth. Fire is also known as transformational magic and often requires candles and smudging. Water symbolizes the womb and is magic used to pull negativity away from you.

The magic symbol of Air means the breath of life and represents our very soul. Practitioners use feathers and incense when doing rituals that require Air. Mother Earth bears the magic symbol of Earth and is used in magic focused on abundance and fertility. Herbs, dirt, and flowers are common components of this magic. In most movies and television shows, elemental magic, whether white or black, is the type that is most often portrayed.

Conclusion

 Understanding the 13 magic symbols is a good start to learning the basics. Magic symbols have a rich history that goes back to a time when most people were illiterate and sought ways to keep their history. Egyptians used magic symbols to tell the story of their gods and goddesses. Pagans and Wiccans have pulled Christian symbols into their world and given those symbols different meanings. Even deciding whether the spell is dark magic, elemental magic, white magic, voodoo, or hoodoo can change the meaning and intent of a magic symbol.

Learning about the origins and history of magic can reveal a lot about magic symbols, their meanings, and their uses. We think a great read is The Oxford Illustrated History of Witchcraft and Magic. You can find this on Amazon.

Every culture has its own variation of magic symbols, and sometimes a knowledge of magic is unnecessary to feel a connection to a certain symbol based on your ethnicity. Those of Irish descent might like the symbolism of a Celtic Shield. Others with a Middle Eastern background could feel an attraction to an Ankh amulet or the Eye of Horus. There are some magic symbols that make for great and unique tattoos. Even the elemental magic symbols can have meaning for someone who doesn't practice magic.

Some women wear the symbol of the Triple Moon. The Triple Moon represents the maiden, the mother, and the crone; or waxing, full, and waning. Or, women in the same family may have just a portion of the triple symbol to show where they are in their life. Hectate's Wheel has a similar meaning but also means crossroads and entrances. There are people who associate this magic symbol with overcoming a difficult crossroad in life. Regardless of why you are interested in magic symbols, there is a vast history waiting to be explored and many connections to be made.

How To Solve A Rubik’s Cube Instantly (As a Magic Trick)

Party Tricks, Penn & Teller, Performance, Revealed, Stage Magic, Tutorial

Solving a Rubik’s cube is no simple task. Solving a Rubik’s cube takes a good deal of patience and effort for most people. Have you ever tried to do it? According to FunTrivia.com, it takes an average of 48 to 100 tries to solve a Rubik’s cube. If done correctly, it can be solved in 17 turns. Knowing how to solve a rubik’s cube and do a few magic tricks can be a fun and impressive skill to show at a party. Some people have combined the two, for jaw-dropping entertainment.

History of the Rubik’s Cube

To completely understand how to solve a Rubik’s cube, you must know about its purpose and construction. In this section, I will provide you with a brief history of the Rubik’s cube. Believe it or not, it was never intended to be a toy. The Rubik’s cube was invented in 1974 by a Hungarian architect, Erno Rubik. What was its intended function? It was meant to serve as a three-dimensional model to explain geometric principles.

After designing this magic cube, he realized he could not solve it. As he moved the colored squares, he said: “It was a code I myself had invented! Yet, I could not read it.” Having nine colored squares on each side, the cube can be arranged in 43 quintillion ways (forty-three followed by eighteen zeros). It took him one month of rearranging the corners of each side to solve the puzzle. Since he was living in Hungary behind the Iron Curtain at that time, it took a few years for the puzzle to reach the market. In 1979, it was shown at the Nuremberg Toy Fair and spotted as a hit. In 1980 and 1981, it won Toy of the Year in the UK. By January 2009, it has sold more than 350 million copies, making it the greatest-selling toy of all time.

How to Solve a Rubik’s Cube

Have you experienced the frustration of holding a Rubik’s cube in your hands and being unable to solve it? Don’t worry too much about it. Whether you want to impress your friends with a fun party trick or close the chapter on that childhood curiosity, this guide will walk you through the simplest way to solve the puzzle.

An important thing to note when it comes to how to solve a Rubik’s cube is that it is not always easy. Sometimes, you may need to spend several hours attempting to solve it. However, if you would rather solve the cube in your hand than be able to solve any that are given to you, there are many informative articles and videos on the internet. The satisfaction of solving it is one of the best feelings. Are you interested?

Here is the first thing you need to know. There is an algorithm associated with how many turns are required to solve the cube. These turns can be represented by letters. The algorithms are combinations of moves that rotate pieces to get them where you want them. The puzzle has six sides (or faces) all of which can be turned individually – whether it be up or down, left or right, or front and back.

The common notation for these is U, D, L, R, F, and B. These faces can be turned in three different directions: U refers to turning the upper face clockwise, U’ is a counter-clockwise turn of the upper face, and U2 refers to half of a turning the upper face either direction. The apostrophe denotes a counterclockwise rotation for any of the notated movements. An advanced notion includes turns of the middle layers, double turns, and rotations. However, these won’t be needed in this guide. Now we will look at step one, the cross.

Step One: The Cross

Alright, here is the first step for how to solve a Rubik’s cube. This step can be confusing to understand at first. To gain a clear picture, you may need to read through and practice it several times. As you may have noticed from playing with the cube, the centerpieces cannot be moved, only rotated. While this may seem frustrating, you can use it to your advantage. Build the cross around the white sticker center. Many online guides start with this as the base, so even if you get confused during the process, you can look up demonstrations with a similar model online.

first step - how to solve a rubik's cube

The first step you need to accomplish is to get the white cross on top of the cube. Don’t worry about matching the centerpieces just yet. For now, focus on getting the white edges to the top layer. Next, flip the edges of the squares so that the white stickers are facing up and form a plus. Hold the cube so that the edges that need to be flipped are facing you. Then, use the algorithm: F, R, D, R, F2. This algorithm flips the edges so that the white parts face upwards. Do this for all of the edges until you have a white cross on top.

white cross on top - how to solve a rubik's cube

Next, you will need to orient your pieces. Look at the edges of the Rubik’s cube. Are none of the pieces matching? Perhaps two pieces are matching or maybe even all of them are. If your piece has all four edges matching the centers, you have solved the cross. If none of the edges are matching, perform a U move and then take another look at the cube. You want to have at least two edges matching. If none of the edges are matching, do another U move. Repeat this algorithm until you have either two or four edges that match the center.

umove - how to solve a rubik's cube

Step 2: The White Corners

Now that you have completed the edges of the white face, all that you have left are the corners. This step is much simpler than the first, as it only requires one algorithm to complete. Take a look at the bottom layer of the puzzle. You want to locate the white, orange, and green corner. Statistically speaking, there is a fifty percent chance you will find this on the bottom of the cube. Follow these steps depending on where you locate the white, orange, and green corner.

Here is What You Should Do if You Find it on the Bottom Layer: If the green, white, and orange corner are on the bottom layer of the puzzle, use the required D move until the cube looks as pictured below. The required algorithm is as follows: R, D, R, D.

whitecorner - how to solve a rubik's cube

Here is What You Should Do if You Find it on the Top:

If the green, white, and orange corners are on the top of the Rubik’s cube, turn the cube to face you until the colors look like this picture below. Then, perform the R, D, R, D algorithm as many times as needed. Repeat this process until you completely solve the top layer. Start with the corners on the bottom, as this might save you a couple of unnecessary turns.

finditonthetop - how to solve a rubik's cube

Middle Layer Edges:

Now, you are on to step three on how to solve a Rubik’s cube. Now that you are finished with all of the white pieces, you are ready to move on to flip your cube so it is all white on the bottom. Look for a piece on the top of the cube that is not yellow. Use a U move so that the color on the edge’s front face matches that of the center. It could go either left or right. Repeat this process for all four of the middle edges.

middlelayeredgesleft - how to solve a rubik's cube

Left

middlelayeredgesright - how to solve a rubik's cube

Right

Step 4 Yellow Cross:

You are now two-thirds of the way through the puzzle. Every piece left to be solved has yellow on it somewhere. Now, we are going to solve the edges of the top layer in two steps. The first of the two steps involves orienting all of the yellow pieces so that they are all facing up. The second step involves moving these pieces around and thus solving the puzzle. Are you ready?

Ignore the corners at first. Look at the edges only. Are they oriented correctly? Here are the possible edge positions that you can have:

yellowcross - how to solve a rubik's cube

Are your edges currently solved in a cross pattern the way that we began this process? If so, you can go on and skip this step. If not, listen carefully. Besides the cross shape, it is possible to have a dot, L-shape, or a line as pictured above. To speed up the process, perform the following algorithm: F, U, R, U’ R’, F’.

Now, you should have an L shape, where the two yellow pieces that are showing are adjacent to one another. Complete the necessary number of U and U’ shapes to achieve this picture. Then, perform the following algorithm: F, R, U, R’, U’, F’. The four edges should now be oriented correctly.

Step 5: Sune and Antisune

Don’t be off-put by the names. Sune and antisune are beloved by many puzzlers due to their simplicity. After you have oriented the edges, there are seven different corner positions available to you. Sune and antisune are two of these which we will discuss in a minute. This is what your Rubik’s cube should look like by step five.

Sune and antisune - how to solve a rubik's cube

How do you get to the spot where you only need to orient one more corner? Follow this algorithm: R, U, R’, U, R, U2, R’. When you get to this desired spot, there are two variations that can occur. They will look something like this:

how to solve a rubik's cube

This is sune and antisune:

Sune and antisune algorithm2 - how to solve a rubik's cube

The yellow front-facing corner can be in two positions. It can face either the front or the right. In the first image above, the yellow is facing the front. This means that you have a sune position. To solve sune, do the aforementioned algorithm one more time to solve the top layer The antisune position occurs when the right-facing corner appears as it does in the second picture illustrated above.

Step 6: Finish the Rubik’s Cube

We are almost there! Hang on. Step six is the last part to solve the cube. While there are twenty-one cases for the top layer, we only need a few algorithms to figure them out and get it all sorted. First, we want to locate the headlights. The term ‘headlights’ refers to two corners that have the same color on one side. There are only two cases without headlights. For the case without headlights, perform the following algorithm from any angle: R’, F, R’, B2, R, F’, R’, B2, R2. At this point, you should have either finished the Rubik’s cube or a pair of headlights on every side of the puzzle.

After you performed the above algorithm in step six, there are five possible positions that your cube can be in now. Perform the necessary amount of U moves to ensure that each corner is in its right place. Do you have a completely solved bar? If so, perform the following algorithm and make sure that the bar is at the back: R, U’, R, U, R, U, R, U’, R’, U’, R2. If your cube is still unsolved, perform the above algorithm one more time, keeping the completed bar at the back of the cube. If you do not have a solved bar, you can perform this algorithm from any angle that you would like to. This will give you a solved bar and then you can do the algorithm one more time in order to complete the puzzle. Congratulations, you have completed the cube!

Magicians and a Sleight of Hand

A few days ago, we were watching Penn and Teller’s hit TV show, Fool Us. On this show, magicians are given the challenge to trick two of the greatest minds in magic, Penn and Teller. A magician named Steven Brundage performed a magic trick using a Rubik’s Cube that blew away the audience and fooled two of the greatest minds in magic. You might be wondering ‘How is a Rubik’s Cube used in magic?’ The classic Rubik’s Cube magic trick is to solve it instantly… faster than humanly possible. The magician literally throws the toy (randomly mixed) into the air and by the time he catches it, it’s solved.

This is what it looks like:

Believe it or not, this is actually one of the simpler magic tricks to accomplish. The action involves the magician first taking a scrambled cube and showing it to the audience. Then, he attempts to solve it before throwing it up in the air. When he catches it, the Rubik’s cube is solved. So how is this trick done? There are actually a few ways to perform this magic trick.

How exactly did he do it? We’ve done our research and there are several common ways that a magician solves a Rubik’s cube instantly. We’ve broken them down in the sections below. Read through each of the possible methods and see if you can identify which one he used. We have to say that we are particularly impressed with Steven Brundage. Even after some heavy duty research, we’re still not exactly sure how he pulled it off. See if you can figure it out.

classic rubiks cube magic trick

As you can see, it’s solved instantly.

Here’s the full performance:

The Classic Rubik’s Cube trick revealed

Here’s the tutorial on how the basic trick works.

How to Solve a Rubik’s Cube with Magic Instantly Explained:

Method 1:

The first one involves using a fake Rubik’s cube. When it is solved, one of the sides appears to be scrambled. This is not possible to do on a normal Rubik’s cube. By carrying out six simple moves on the cube, the cube appears to be completely scrambled. Using this cube, you can show the audience all sides. Then, hold the scrambled side facing the audience and undo the six moves you previously did, pretending to solve it. With a slight sleight of hand, the audience will believe they have seen all of the sides.

Method 2:

The next most common magic trick involves taking a mixed up Rubik’s cube, showing it to the audience, and then putting it inside of a paper bag. After the cube is taken out of the bag, it is solved. How can this be? Popular opinion is that this trick is a gimmick. In every performance with this trick, the paper bag is immediately thrown away without the audience being able to get a second look at it.

Method 3:

This is the most likely speculation for how Brundage could have pulled off the magic trick. In his live performance, he scrambles his own Rubik’s cube while speaking to the crowd, leaving the selected one untouched. Brundage then asks Teller to hold the cube in his hands. When he opens his hands, the cube matches the one that Brundage had scrambled. Brundage performed a set of moves on one cube and then repeats it on the scrambled cube while talking to the audience later on. While this sounds highly plausible, there is one thing wrong with this method. The theory would not work unless Brundage already knew which cube Teller would choose from the two that were scrambled. It is highly likely he had a plan for both cubes but we cannot know for sure.

Now that you know each of the magician’s methods used to solve a Rubik’s cube, let’s go back and watch Steven Brundage perform one more time. As you can see, it’s solved instantly. What an amazing sleight of hand! If you look at it over and over, you can see that he actually makes 4 moves. Did you catch it? Watch carefully. It’s extremely quick.

The Classic Rubik’s Cube trick is revealed:

Here’s the tutorial on how the basic trick works. As you can see, it’s a gimmick cube. That’s the classic way that the trick is done. However, Steven does not use a gimmick cube for his routine. He could perform that trick with any Rubik’s Cube according to his interviews. Steven states that there was no switching going on. That means: There weren’t extra trick cubes hiding behind the table that he was switching around. He states: “With all the being said… Yes, I am extremely good with Rubik’s Cubes.”

The classic Rubik’s Cube technique makes a lot of sense. He does say in his interview that if he were to use trick cubes, every one of his tricks would look identical as they did when he wasn’t. But even as he points out these subtle hints, it’s impossible to tell just how he performed this trick without a gimmick cube. Thanks to PerryThePly, a reader of Rebel Magic for sending in this update! He’s found something that gets us closer to understanding how this trick is done.

Thanks to PerryThePly, a reader of Rebel Magic for sending in this update!

He’s found something that gets us closer to understanding how this trick is done.

See also:

How To Hypnotize Someone (Powerful Techniques)

Easy Magic Tricks You Can Learn Today

How to Do The Double Lift

Fist Squeeze Coin Vanish Trick Tutorial

Coin Tricks, Party Tricks, Revealed, Tutorial

Do you want to learn about easy coin tricks that make you look like you have superhuman strength? Take advantage of this opportunity and add another magic act to your repertoire of tricks. This is a bit more difficult to learn than card tricks and is an excellent example of close-up magic. Those searching for some great magic tricks for kids will be happy to know that the coin vanishing trick is suitable for all ages, little ones included.

You’ve probably seen this coin master hack before. It’s one of the oldest tricks in the book. The magician takes a coin in his fist. Closing his fist, he squeezes hard. After 5-10 seconds, he opens his hands back up and the coin is gone.

What is Coin Magic?

Coin magic involves the manipulation of a coin in front of a single spectator or small audience. Since most coins are small, magic coin tricks fall into the category of close-up magic or table magic. Stage magicians generally do not perform this type of magic. Should they choose to, they will use a large screen projector so that the audience can get a good view of the trick.

As we mentioned earlier, coin magic is more difficult to learn than card magic tricks. It not only requires a great deal of practice but also some serious skill to hone. There are very many different types of coin tricks. Some examples include productions, vanishing, teleportations, penetrations, levitation, and mental magic. In this article, we will focus on one of the best vanishing coin tricks.

Simple effects could be as simple as borrowing a coin, making it vanish, concealing it, and then returning it. More complex acts may involve multiple coins and other objects or props (e.g. a handkerchief, a piece of paper, a glass cup, etc.). The key to most coin magic lies in how small and portable the object is. You will be surprised at what a basic sleight of hand can do. An audience is often amazed by the simplest mystery.

Coin Magic Performances

Some coin magic uses gimmicks (e.g. modified coins or trick coins). While this may sound a bit disappointing to those learning magic, you should know that these objects are not entirely responsible for creating the magical effect. If you would like to purchase one, several prominent manufacturers create gimmick coins. Tango Magic, Sasco, Johnson, and Sterling are a few of these brands.

Keep in mind that performers who rely entirely on special equipment are not as impressive to the audience. While it does take a lot of practice, coin acts are fairly easy magic tricks. Most spectators are more impressed by an effect that depends on sleight of hand and misdirection rather than a set that is entirely made of props. Nonetheless, a person who has learned simple magic tricks can use gimmicks without it being obvious to the audience. Most well-known magicians started by learning simple tricks with a coin and a deck of cards.

So How Does the Coin Vanish?

Most people brush it off as either a gimmick coin of some kind or some really advanced sleight of hand that they probably couldn’t do anyway. When you see how it’s actually done, you’ll see that just about anybody can do this trick. In addition to the video below, we will give you all the tips and tricks on how to perform the coin vanish act. You will be a coin master before you know it!

What You Will Need to Learn Coin Magic Tricks

Yes, the coin vanish is kind of a gimmick trick. You need to do some preparation beforehand in order to pull it off. There are a few ways to do the trick. You can choose to do the coin vanish trick by making it stick to your hand (as explained below) or by hiding the coin between your thumb and index finger. We will explain how to do the trick using both methods, but first, here’s what you’ll need for each method:

For method one, you’ll need:

  1. Chapstick or a regular glue stick
  2. A coin – preferably a quarter

For method two, you literally just need the coin. And that’s it!

How to Do Magic Tricks with a Coin

Here’s How Method One Works

First, you’ll need to apply the chapstick or glue stick to the back of your hand. Choose whichever hand you’re going to pretend to squeeze the coin in. You’ll need to apply quite a bit of it – enough to make a coin stick to it and not fall off. Here’s the big secret: The coin isn’t even in the fist when the magician squeezes on it. He moves it to the back of his fist (which is out of sight from the spectators) and then squeezes it there.

vanishing coin tricks

Watch the video below to see how you get it to the back without being caught by spectators.

Here’s How Method Two Works

Place the quarter in your hand, positioning it so it rests near your middle finger, close to your palm. This is an ideal place to put it because you can easily keep the quarter in place with your thumb in this position. Next, hold out both of your hands to the audience to show the quarter in one hand and the other hand empty. Make sure you are talking to the audience to distract them. Explain that the magic is in your hands, not the quarter.

Now, it is time to make the coin disappear. It will take a lot of practice to make it look smooth and effortless. Bring your empty hand under the hand holding the quarter. Move your empty hand in and act like you are dropping the quarter into it. While the audience thinks that the coin has transferred hands, you will actually keep the quarter in the original hand and hold it in place with your thumb.

As you act like you are changing hands with the quarter, make a loose fist with your empty hand as if you are about to catch the quarter. Move your hands apart from one another after you have ‘transferred’ the quarter. To keep the focus on your hand (which is actually empty), bring it up higher near your face and slip your original hand (holding the quarter) down by your side and put it away.

Show that the quarter has vanished. To show off the vanishing act, there are a number of flourishes that you can do. Tap your knuckles with a magic wand, squeeze your fist tightly, or blow into your hand and then reveal the coin is gone. This is one of the most fun coin tricks for beginners.

Does Anyone Know the Coin Trick Revolution?

A number of performers who learn the coin trick vanish also have an active interest in the coin trick revolution. Have you heard of this magic act before? Practicing this trick will put you well on your way to becoming a good magician. Here’s how to do it:

To start, stand at a slight angle facing the audience with the hand with the coin close to your pocket. You want to make sure that it is unnoticeable.

As you pick up the coin with your fingers covering it, bring the coin between your index finger and thumb. Then, let the coin casually slip into your pocket. Bring your hand up with your index finger and thumb in the same position. Pretend to clutch the make-believe coin in the palm of your hand. Then, open your hands to reveal that the coin has disappeared. You can find a video showing the act here.

When to Perform Coin Magic Tricks

Since the trick utilizes angles (ex. you can see the coin from behind or even side angles), it’s best when you have the full audience directly in front of you. Also, you will want to perform this carefully. It requires an audience with kind manners. You don’t want to do this for your friends and have them smack your hands right after you’re done. If performed right, it looks absolutely amazing. The glue/chapstick is kind of a turn-off for more advanced magicians, but the effect is spectacular.

Practice and Prepare to Wow the Crowd

That’s it – these are the coin magic tricks revealed! There is a great amount of fun to be had in performing tricks with coins or a money note. Due to their size and portability, both of them are a great choice for performing the vanishing object magic tricks. For anyone who wants to learn magic tricks, this is a great place to start. One of the best tips that we can give aspiring magicians is to practice their act a lot before they take it in front of an audience. There are plenty of great online information resources, blogs, informative videos, and books that can help you along your journey. Have patience, take your time, and you will get there.

See also: 

How to Do The Double Lift

Easy Magic Tricks You Can Learn Today

How To Hypnotize Someone (Powerful Techniques)