189 entries in Cards / Principles / One Ahead
Creators Title Comments & References Year Source Page AA Categories
To name any Number of Cards in succession without Seeing them cards named one by one with deck behind backs, two methods
1876 70
The Cards having been freely shuffled, and cut into three or four heaps, to name the top card of each heap
1876 108
The Cards having been freely Shuffled and Cut into three or four Heaps, to Name the Top Card of each Heap one ahead
1889 127
Die Macht des Zauberstabes No. 44, four packets cut by performer, he names top cards of all piles
1895 52
Das Lesen mit den Fingerspitzen deck behind back, performer names one card after the other, two handlings
1896 42
Nennen zweier Karten deck cut in two piles, performer names top two cards
1896 43
Das magische Trio one card palmed from the start
1896 107
David Devant, T. Nelson Downs The Magician's Will Power with one-way deck improvement by Downs
1909 176
Al Baker Al Baker's Mind-Reading Card Trick locator cards, one-ahead, billets
1920s
The Secret Ways of Al Baker (Issue The Twenty-Five Dollar Manuscript)
474
Al Baker Two Souls with but a single Thought coincidence & prediction, two cards
Related toAlso published here 1920s
The Secret Ways of Al Baker (Issue The Twenty-Five Dollar Manuscript)
476
Friedrich "Fritz" Hügli Das Kryptoskop deck cut in four piles, top cards are divined
1927 25
Sympathetic Sympathy two decks, performer and spectator each cut to a card and put it in the same envelope, they match, repeated
1928 18
Sympathetic Connection deck cut, performer looks at top card of one half and names top half of other, repeat
1928 20
Friedrich "Fritz" Hügli Die Karte als Detektiv four spectators place a card unseen inside their pockets, detective card is placed inside the pockets, which tells performer the name of the cards
1930 93
Al Baker Mind Reading Trick locator cards, one-ahead, billets
1932
The Secret Ways of Al Baker (Issue Al Baker's Pack)
483
Ralph W. Hull Hull's Marvelous Card Prediction three cards predicted, one thought of, two methods, one with Thayer's Lock Flap Card Box, predictions written on billets in clever way
1932 6
T. Page Wright Whispering Joker card placed behind Joker, both held to ear, card named, repeated
1933 15
Theodore Annemann The Lady and the Gentleman two card prediction with billet index
Related to 1934 40
The Three Heaps spectator cuts deck in three piles, three top cards are divined, repeat
1935 10
Theodore Annemann, Al Baker The Master Mind two decks, three cards are predicted
1935 16
The Lady and Man Card Prediction No. 7, two spectators count down in the deck and remember the card at a chosen number, both predicted
Related to 1935 10
Theodore Annemann, Al Baker A Version of the Al Baker Three Billet Trick three cards that are selected (one thought-of) and written on a billet are divined, stacked deck
Also published here Apr. 1936
The Jinx (Issue 19)
108
Cards of Chance
1937 21
Charles T. Jordan Hummer Detection one-way backs that must not be set in one direction
1937 159
Theodore Annemann Two Card Slate Prophecy two cards divined and written on slates, stacked deck and forcing deck
1937 348
Reading the Cards reading cards with fingertips, two simple one-ahead methods
1937 361
Purvis W. Miller Double Prediction predictions with blue and red pencil match cards selected from blue-backed and red-backed deck, one forcing deck, other one stacked or marked
1939 30
Theodore Annemann Lady and Gentleman two card prediction with billet index
Inspired byRelated toAlso published here Mar. 1940
The Jinx (Issue 82)
529
Jack Vosburgh Double Edged Sword of Might two card prediction, one-ahead, mirage deck
1940
The Jinx (Issue 122)
713
Edward Marlo, John Scarne Marlo's Think A Card three thought-of cards are predicted on billets, one ahead, based on John Scarne's "Think a Card"
Related to 1941
Early Marlo (Issue Amazing, Isn't It?)
26
Theodore Annemann Card Voice three spectators pocket cards, a snoopy card tells them to performer, based on Jordan's "The Sagacious Joker"
Sep. 1941
The Jinx (Issue 148)
825
Martin Gardner X-Ray Touch deck cut and top card touched with first finger, then it is named, repeated
Related to 1942 32
William S. Houghton The Three-Pellet Trick Perfected one card written on piece of paper, another cut to with center cut (key card), one freely thought of, non-carbon impression gaff
Inspired by 1943 63
Theodore Annemann, Al Baker The Al Baker Three Billet Trick three cards that are selected (one thought-of) and written on a billet are divined, stacked deck
Also published here 1944 19
Theodore Annemann Lady and Gentleman two card prediction with billet index
Also published here 1944 95
Edward Marlo Overhearing the Spectator use of this psychological ruse
1945 4
Bruce Elliott Change! Thought! Coincidence! card selected, thought of and unseen are all predicted on three different colored cardboards
1945 38
Jean Hugard A Sub-Conscious Miracle performer blindfolded, deck shuffled by spectator, three cards called and any cards removed by spectator one by one
Nov. 1945 167
Warren Wiersbe Miracle Do As I Do
Inspired byRelated toVariations 1946 4
George G. Kaplan The Calcutta Mystery (First Version) two card prediction written with different colored pencils, one ahead
Inspired by
  • "The Bombay Mystery" (George Kaplan, marketed)
Variations
1948 148
George G. Kaplan The Calcutta Mystery (Second Version) without the colored pencils, with spectators initials, one ahead
1948 152
George G. Kaplan The Three-Billet Test No. 1 card chosen and two thought of, all written on billets, performer divines them
1948 193
Al Baker The Three-Billet Test No. 2
Variations 1948 194
George G. Kaplan The Three-Billet Test No. 3 three different categories
Variations 1948 226
Frederick Braue Triple Do three cards from two deck match, removed by performer and spectator
1948 12
Roger Barkann Parallels two decks, two predictions placed in books, as well as selections of spectator
Also published here May 1948
The Phoenix (Issue 151)
606
Edward Marlo Double Thought two cards, one freely thought of, one ahead, using two decks
VariationsAlso published here 1949 9
Al Baker Two Souls With But a Single Thought coincidence & prediction, two cards
Also published here 1949 24
John Scarne Calling the Cards No. 1, Shuffled deck spread face down on table, performer able to divine identity of freely selected cards with X-ray vision
Related to 1950 9
Ed Costello, Bill Simon Seeing Through the Deck No. 140, Spectator cuts deck into two piles. Magician correctly divines a card from each pile, and repeats the feat.
1950 269
Clayton Rawson Sleight-Of-Mind two cards, one freely thought of, one ahead, using two decks
Inspired by Feb. 1950 628
Card Clairvoyance card is cut in four packets, top card buried in each packet, four top cards are named
1951 27
Edward Marlo Double Thought two cards, one freely thought of, one ahead, using two decks
Related toVariationsAlso published here 1953 31
Edward Marlo Double Thoughts - Single Deck two cards, one thought of, one ahead
Related toVariations 1953 126
Harlan Tarbell How to Win Three Horse Races forcing bank of a third of the deck, one ahead
1954/27 242
Roger Barkann Parallels two decks, two predictions placed in books, as well as selections of spectator
Also published here 1956 113
Edward Marlo Matcho - Method I two decks, two spectators make a selection each, one only thought of
1959 5
Edward Marlo Matcho - Method II two cards only thought of, see also page 9 for Variation
1959 6
Edward Marlo Matcho - Method V peeked at and thought of card found
1959 9
Edward Marlo Matcho - Method VI two cards counted to predicted
1959 9
Edward Marlo Double Thought - Single Deck two cards thought of found, one ahead
  • Stooge Version
  • The Exchange Version
  • The Key Card Version
  • Memory Version
Related toAlso published here 1959 12
Edward Marlo Matcho - Method VII two cards cut to predicted by performer
1959 18
Edward Marlo Matcho - Method VIII two cards cut to predicted/matched by performer with other deck
1959 20
Edward Marlo Matcho - Method IX two cards cut to predicted by performer
1959 21
Edward Marlo Double Thought and Two Billets
Related to 1959 22
Edward Marlo Gaffed Method for "Double Thought", roughed Mene-Tekel Deck, two methods
Variations 1959 24
Edward Marlo Marked Matcho two decks
Related to 1959 27
Edward Marlo Unmarked Matcho two decks
1959 28
Edward Marlo Memory Matcho two decks, one stacked
Variations 1959 29
Roger Barkann Gleiche Gedanken as "Roger Barkmann", two decks, two predictions placed in books, as well as selections of spectator
Also published here 1959
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 20 No. 1)
783
Edward Marlo Svengali's Double Prediction two predictions written on faces of two cards match selections
Variations Dec. 1959
Ibidem (Issue 19)
33
Edward Marlo Double Impromptu Touch two predictions written on faces of two cards match selections
Inspired by Dec. 1959
Ibidem (Issue 19)
34
Dr. Stanley Jaks Mental Flashes triple prediction, huge cards with numbers from 1-3 predictions are written on the back of the cards
VariationsAlso published here 1960 18
Peter Warlock The Patient Telepath prediction written on big file cards, initialed by the spectators
1960 20
Alex Elmsley Double Prediction two cards, progressive spelling set-up, one-ahead, sixteenth card principle
Also published here 1967 182
Ned Rutledge Man and Woman two card prediction on two billets, clever ploy to cover one ahead
1967 20
Alton Sharpe Double Prediction Chest freely thought of and chosen card predicted, one ahead
1968 73
Karl Fulves Double Up two selections from topsy-turvy deck, position and identity are predicted, riffle shuffle method
July 1968
Epilogue (Issue 3)
23
Theodore Annemann The Pellet Trick from "Annemann's $50 Manuscript" (ca. 1932)
(Instructions by Frank Lane), three spectators select and think of cards and write them on pellets, performer divines them all
Feb. 1968 161
Eddie Fields P-O-P Effect double card location using P-O-P Peek
Inspired byAlso published here 1968 52
Albert Cohn Quasi-Mental you know top card of cut deck, bold
1972 64
Edward Marlo Impromptu X-Ray Deck four selections returned to deck, performer names them, two methods
Inspired by
  • "Electronic Vision" (Jacob Daley, Linking Ring, April 1951)
June 1972
Kabbala — Volume 1 (Vol. 1 No. 6)
45
E. S. Bentfrum Matching Prediction
Inspired by Mar. 1972
Kabbala — Volume 2 (Vol. 2 No. 3)
22
Billet Trick Mindreading No. 454, card peeked, another one thought of (or something else), both written on billets and divined
1972 128
Al Baker Al Baker's Billet Initial Mindreading Trick No. 636, three cards predicted on billets
1972 176
Karl Fulves Double Up two selections from topsy-turvy deck, position and identity are predicted, riffle shuffle method
1973 26
Frederick Braue One Pack Triple Do spectator and performer have half the deck each, three cards taken out by each, they match, two handlings
Inspired by May 1973 626
Sam Dalal Double Vision two cards predicted on paper slips, using ballpoint pen with pencil lead, mirage deck
Also published here
  • Magigram (Rough-Smooth part, by Sam Dalal)
June 1974 743
Karl Fulves Dynamic Duo two spectators each take a card from half the deck from performer's pocket, both written on slips of paper by performer
Oct. 1974 817
Dr. Dan J. Alessini Oh! Calcutta! two cards predicted, with two different colored pens
Inspired by 1974
Magick (Issue 100)
499
Nick Trost Reading the Backs Routine cards are named in shuffled deck, first singly then top cards of three cut piles
1975 4
Nick Trost Casing the Deck deck cut into two pile, top card of one is named when looking at the other
1975 5
Gerald Kosky "Tattle-Tale" several spectator select a card, cards placed inside spectators pockets and when "Tattle-Tale" card is placed inside those pockets, performer is able to name the selections
Also published here 1975 40
Harry Lorayne Triple Mate one removed and two thought-of cards found
Related toVariations 1976 25
Al Mann Astral Sight deck cut in several piles, cards on bottom are named by performer
1976 15
Thomas Alan Waters Burning Questions questions are written on paper and put into envelopes, after the questions have been answered the envelopes are burnt in a bowl
Inspired by 1979
Mind, Myth & Magick (Issue New Thoughts For Old)
20
Larry Becker Ghost Image deck of blank cards, prediction of amount of cut cards and thought of card
1979 140
Bill Wagner Three Card Prediction three card prediction, one ahead and last one forced
Also published here 1980 198
Ron Ferris, Harry Lorayne Firestorm Two top cards of freely cut to packets are divined, one ahead, red black separation kicker
1982 513
Edward Marlo Locus-Pocus two Cards, four methods
  • Locii Two
  • Locii Two II
  • Loci Two III
  • Prediction Variation
Inspired by 1983 139
Thomas Alan Waters Threesum triple prediction on selected playing cards, with Bingo chart (Stover's "irrisistible Force")
Inspired by 1984 557
Harry Houdini Houdini's Secret No. 64, from Houdini's notebooks, two cards selected by counting to numbers, both predicted, one-ahead
1984 94
Thomas Alan Waters Circlet two cards, one with female and one with male symbol, prediction of two cards for a man and a woman, written on the fitting cards
Variations 1985
Mind, Myth & Magick (Issue Mystyx)
688
Das dreifache Mentalmirakel three cards chosen in different ways are divined and written on billets, Monte Cristo deck
Dec. 1986
Intermagic (Vol. 12 No. 3 & 4)
168
John Bannon Three-Card Moxie three spectators remove a card from the deck that is at a chosen number with shuffles in between, all cards are divined
1986 29
John C. Wagner, Ralph W. Hull Whispering Wagner two thought of cards are found, inspired by a Hull effect from The Talisman
Variations 1987 20
Edward Marlo Four Ways To Go one card removed, two thought of, are found, one ahead, clocking
Inspired byRelated to 1988 175
Larry Jennings One Thought Behind two cards from about two thirds of the deck, one-ahead
Variations 1988 60
Edward Marlo A Mental Combination
  • A Multiple Coincidence
  • Impromptu Power of Thought
four thought-of cards matched with another deck, power-of-thought with two decks, see page 55 (Addendum) for addition
1989 33
Karl Fulves The Joker Thinks Joker apparently divines the top two cards of two cut-off packets
1989 31
John Bannon Oh Calcutta thought of and dealt-to card are predicted, one ahead
Inspired by 1990 11
Simon Aronson Two Minds and a Mate card chosen, another removed and a third one thought-of, all found
Inspired byRelated toVariations 1990 50
Edward Marlo Topping Mental Topper - Second Effect four slips of paper with predictions, four spectators think of a card of a certain suit and transfer cards from top to bottom according to their value
Variations 1990 193
Justin Higham Secrets Of The Mind two cards thought from half the deck are located by performer
Inspired by Nov. 1990
Technomagic (Issue 5)
34
Alex Elmsley A Double Prediction two cards, progressive spelling set-up, one-ahead, sixteenth card principle
VariationsAlso published here 1991 311
Edward Marlo Logical Double Thought, Plus One two cards thought of & one unknown card removed, all found, three methods
Related to Apr. 1991 8
Stephen Tucker Gag Card Miracle 52 on 1 gag, then cards are selected with coins and the gag card, prediction of selected cards
1991 6
Justin Higham Sensitivity spectator thinks of a card, performer pockets deck and spectator names card, performer removes a face-down card, then performer thinks of a card, spectator shuffles deck and performer removes another one from his pocket, both are the named cards
Mar. 1992
Tech-Notes (Issue 1)
2
Terry LaGerould Spectator guesses better one ahead
Sep. 1993
Apocalypse (Vol. 16 No. 9)
2257
Alex Elmsley Future Stock two card prediction, stack, one-ahead
1994 398
T. Nelson Downs The Pickpocket cards of one color are put in performer's pocket who removes cards which are then divined by spectator three times
1994 1083
Philip T. Goldstein Boustrophedon two cards chosen behind back divined
1994 79
Ellison Poland Marked Matcho No. 2 two decks
Related to 1994 49
Ellison Poland Ubiquitous Readers performer names cards from their back one by one, consecutive switches
1994 125
Jerry K. Hartman Peer Pairs performer and spectator alternately select a few cards from their own Ace-Ten set, performer always going first, their selections’ values match
Variations 1995 179
Harry Riser A Two Billet Test cards thought-of and written on billets
Inspired by 1996 238
Bill Wagner Drei-Karten-Vorhersage three card prediction, one ahead and last one forced
Also published here 1997
Intermagic (Vol. 21 No. 1)
26
Eddie Fields P-O-P Effect double card location using P-O-P Glimpse
Also published here 1997 46
Pit Hartling Triathlon three card challenge location, sophisticated
Inspired byRelated toVariations 1998 24
Tomas Blomberg Blabbering Blomberg two thought of cards are found
Inspired by Oct. 1998
Onyx (Issue 5)
44
Tomas Blomberg Hull Scam Handling magician divines selected card and thought-of card
Inspired by Oct. 1998
Onyx (Issue 5)
45
David Regal Coincidence Deck performer puts down card, then spectator selects one, repeated a few times, all pairs are mates
Related to May 1998
Magic (Vol. 7 No. 9)
72
Ellis Stanyon Naming the Card on Top of Four (or More) Packets No. 19, top cards named one by one, but only shown at the end
  • Variation ("Compelling a person to draw certain cards.")
1999 43
Ellis Stanyon Naming a Card in One Packet by Looking at One in Another No. 25
1999 46
Ellis Stanyon The Bottom Card - Simple No. 2, behind back, glimpsing one ahead in front of the body
1999 116
Ellis Stanyon The Bottom Card and Palming No. 3, deck behind back, card brought forward with next one palmed and glimpsed
1999 116
Ellis Stanyon Subtle Reading of the Index No. 7, glimpse when pulling up sleeve, then one ahead by glimpsing second card by lifting two and dropping bottom one after glimpse
1999 118
Karl Fulves Next of Kin no extra card
2000 153
Sam Schwartz Fourtell prediction of four cards chosen in different ways, one thought-of, cut-deeper handling
Variations 2000 103
Karl Fulves Ahead of Time predictions written on billets, one of the billets vanishes from hat and travels to card case
Inspired by 2000 104
Karl Fulves Open Invitation "Three Trix"
repeat version of Open Prediction, predictions written on backs of previously stopped-at cards, all four cards shown at end
2000 110
Lee Asher Fan-see meeting both of you here instant stooge, one ahead, two cards
2001 11
Three-Way Match No. 3, two spectators think of a card and the performer, predictions written on slips, one-ahead, without cards
2001 4
Karl Fulves Seen, Not Seen No. 41, card openly predicted, number up to ten named, repeated before both cards are shown
2001 92
Karl Fulves 3 On A Match "51 Faces North" solution in three phases, packet version of Open Prediction
2001 146
David Regal The Coincidence Deck performer puts down card, then spectator selects one, repeated a few times, all pairs are mates
Related to 2002 214
Karl Fulves An Opening two card Open Prediction type trick, card where spectator stops determined by numbers
Related to 2002 254
Jack Avis, Lewis Jones Double entendre one card thought-of from half the deck and one touched, both found
2002 59
Al Baker Best Card Trick stacked deck, one ahead
2003 683
Al Baker Second Method of the trick before that, stacked deck
2003 684
Al Baker For Two Persons with a medium
2003 684
Al Baker Wonderful Four Cards and Pellets Mystery Si Stebbins, Svengali
2003 760
Karl Fulves Clear Channel performer and spectator both deal through half the deck and leave one card face-down, both cards divined/predicted
Variations 2004 373
Jay Sankey Once in a Lifetime birthday predicted on a card, a card is also predicted
2004 116
Charles T. Jordan, Juan Tamariz, Antón "Mago Antón" López Any Cards Called For four spreads of cards on table, magician writes names of cards on pieces of paper and spectator touches matching cards in spreads
  • Mago Antón's Variation
Inspired by 2004 211
Kostya Kimlat Single-Double Thought two cards, one freely thought of, one ahead, using one deck and predictions in form of mates
Inspired by 2004 18
Kostya Kimlat Two Ahead with the Deck chosen and thought-of card are found, duplicate
2005 32
Michael Powers Tri-EASY-Thon card selected, thought of and removed, all divined
  • Impromptu Method (clocking)
Inspired by 2006 171
Edward Marlo Double Thought Stooge Version
Also published here May 2006
Antinomy (Vol. 2 No. 2)
5
Jon Racherbaumer Calling the Cards on basic handling and strategies, credit information
Related to Nov. 2006
Antinomy (Vol. 2 No. 4)
16
Jon Racherbaumer Hull Scam magician divines selected card and thought-of card, duplicate
Variations 2007 98
Karl Fulves Cross Colors deck separated in colors, unknown black card pocketed by spectator, guessed by spectator, then red card pocketed by performer and guessed by him, both match
Inspired by
  • Number Four in Joe Berg's Private Card Problems
Related to
2007
Prolix (Issue 3)
172
Karl Fulves Booking Agent performer sticks card in upright standing book, chosen card next to it, repeated, both match
2007
Prolix (Issue 3)
186
David Solomon Whispering Queens two Queens appear reversed in deck, they whisper names of two selections and are shown to be next to the selection
2007 33
Tom Stone White Lies (bits & pieces) classic one-ahead trick with blank cards on which writing appears with ashes rubbed on
Also published here 2007 5
Hector Chadwick A Card Behind Spectator divines identities of three cards in increasing accuracy
Variations 2008 103
Tony Bartolotta Mexican Mental two cards
2010
Prolix (Issue 8)
536
Karl Fulves Ahead Of The Game values and later suits of six randomly chosen cards divined
2010
Xtra Credit (Issue 7)
40
John C. Wagner WWII (Whispering Wagner Version 2) two thought-of cards are tabled before they are named, with third card that performer thought of
Inspired by Apr. 2010
Genii (Vol. 73 No. 4)
70
Alexander de Cova, Jan Becker Beckermental named city and chosen emotion (from eight cards) are divined and predicted
Also published here 2010 4
Tom Stone White Lies classic one-ahead trick with blank cards on which writing appears with ashes rubbed on
Also published here 2011 39
Tom Stone Deep Fried!
  • Lodestones
two cards chosen match
Related to Oct. 2012
Genii (Vol. 75 No. 10)
40
Kevin Baker One-Ahead Double Prophecy
  • One-Minute Double Prophecy
2012 16
Alexander de Cova, Jan Becker Becker-Mentalismus named city and chosen emotion (from eight cards) are divined and predicted
Related toAlso published here Oct. 2012 4
Hiroyuki Sakai Double Doppelganger two pairs are made with the performer always placing a card on the table first, they match
May 2013
Genii (Vol. 76 No. 5)
50
Dr. Stanley Jaks Mental Flashes triple prediction, huge cards with numbers from one to three, predictions are written on the back of the cards
Also published here 2014 185
Roger Gorss, Edward Boswell, Brad Henderson Have You Got The Nerve? One ahead trick with two cards chosen
2015 5
Alexander de Cova, Jan Becker Becker Mental named city and chosen emotion (from eight cards) are divined and predicted
Also published here 2015 149
Pit Hartling Echoes three selections predicted with their mates
2016 92
A.M. two spectators peek at a card, performer divines them, fair conditions
Inspired byRelated to 2017 1
R. Paul Wilson A Beautiful Mind spectator divines identities of three cards in increasing accuracy
  • First Method (Rarely Happens)
  • Second Method (Happens Most of the Time)
  • Variations
  • Another Note on the Second Card
  • Lastly
Inspired by 2017 3
Áriston Clavada Coincidencia prediction of card and position (between x & y)
2017 86
Ramón Riobóo Prophecy, Value and Suit Suits and values slowly eliminated by dealing through the deck, magician predicts outcome
2019 303
Larry Jennings New Attempt at Thought-Card Trick card fairly peeked at (really not known), another card chosen, both found
2020 423
Dani DaOrtiz Double One-Ahead first card forced instead of last card
2022 59
Dai Vernon One Ahead Variation from private lecture notes by Ernest Shattock
2022 77
Dai Vernon Chosen and Thought-of Card Location one card chosen out-of-hand (key card), other only thought of, both found from second deck, from private lecture notes by P. Howard Lyons
2022 84
Juan Tamariz Unique Double Prediction performer takes two prediction cards from shuffled deck, card freely named, one prediction is a joker (gag) and the other one matches the card
  • First Improvement (memorized deck)
  • Second Improvement (top change substitute)
  • Third Improvement
  • Fourth Improvement
2022 9
John Carey Empowered spectator peeks a card, performer thinks of one, performer places his card on table, then spectator names his guess for performer's card, performer takes out spectator's card, both shown
  • A Note from Scott
Inspired by Jan. 2023
The Hermit (Vol. 2 No. 1)
616