Setup: All you need is a regular deck of cards and a cloth napkin or handkerchief. This effect only requires you to easily control the location of the selected cards. Rudy Hunter shows you how to perform two versions of a false shuffle.

When your spectator returns their selected cards into the deck, place the top half of the deck above. Then hold a pinky break halfway into the pack where they added in their cards. Next, cut smaller packets from above the break point onto the table, ending with the bottom half of the deck. This false cutting has kept their two chosen cards on the top. Finish “mixing” the cards with a false overhand shuffle, controlling the two cards to the bottom of the deck.

Then, hold another pinky break just above the two bottom cards. This will allow you to easily tilt your wrist back, dropping the rest of the cards into your lap while under the cloth’s cover.

Pro Tip: Above the cloth, hold the two cards as if they were the entire deck. This will visually convince your audience that the deck is still hidden underneath. After you reveal both cards, it’s still important to keep your hand in a position to appear as if you’re still indeed holding the deck. Of course, when you pull off the cloth, your audience will be in awe when the rest of the deck has disappeared!

Rudy Hunter teaches many more astonishing effects with cards in this series: “30 Secret Card Tricks.” Then check out these other courses on the platform for more ideas: “Super Subtle Card Miracles,” “Card Trick Stunts,” and “False Shuffles.”