How to do the Afghan bands trick
Three paper loops, three cuts, three different results: how to make and perform the Afghan bands, the Möbius strip magic trick.
By The Online Magic Store
· 4 min read
In this story 9 sections
Make three long loops of paper: one plain, one with a half twist and one with a full twist. Cut each one lengthwise down the middle. The plain loop falls into two separate loops, the half-twist loop becomes one loop twice as long, and the full-twist loop becomes two loops linked together. Magicians call this the Afghan bands.
What does the audience see?
You show three long paper loops that look the same. You cut the first one down the middle and, as anyone would expect, you get two loops. You cut the second one exactly the same way, and it opens out into one big loop. You cut the third, and you get two loops again, only this time they’re linked like a chain.
There’s no sleight of hand. The whole secret is how each loop is joined, which makes it a good first trick for anyone who likes math, crafts or a bit of science.
What do you need?
- Three long strips of paper. Strips about 1–3 inches wide and 2–3 feet long work well. Strips of newspaper are fine, and some performers use cloth that tears easily.
- Tape or glue to join the ends.
- Scissors.
How do you make the three loops?
- The plain loop. Bring the two ends of the first strip together without twisting it and tape them, so you have an ordinary hoop.
- The half-twist loop. Before you join the second strip, give one end half a twist (180 degrees), then tape the ends together. This loop is a Möbius strip.
- The full-twist loop. Give one end of the third strip a full twist (360 degrees) before taping the ends.
Make a tiny pencil mark on each loop so you know which is which.
How do you perform it?
- Cut the plain loop. Push the scissors through the middle of the strip and cut all the way around, keeping to the centre line. You get two separate loops, each half as wide as the first.
- Cut the half-twist loop. Cut it the same way. Instead of two loops, you get one loop twice as long as the original.
- Cut the full-twist loop. This time you get two loops, each half as wide as the original, but they are linked together.
The most important thing is to stay in the middle of the strip all the way round. To start the cut neatly, fold the loop, make a small snip in the centre, then unfold it and cut from that slot.
Do you have to hide the twists?
Not necessarily. You can keep the twists hidden and treat it as a mystery, or you can show people exactly how you made each loop. Even when they’ve watched you add the twists, the result is hard to predict, which is why it works so well with a curious audience. Once you’ve shown it, hand over a strip and let them try.
What happens if you cut off-centre?
Make another half-twist loop and cut along a line about one-third of the way in from one edge instead of down the middle. Keep cutting until you get back to where you started. You end up with two loops of different sizes, a large one linked to a small one.
Where does the trick come from?
Based on our research, the earliest mention we’ve found of the cut paper loops is in French popular-science writing of 1887, associated with Gaston Tissandier. The name “Afghan bands” came later: the histories we read date it to 1901 and link it to P. T. Selbit, though it isn’t certain who used the name first.
By the early 20th century, it had become a stage trick. Stage performers including Harry Blackstone Sr. and T. Nelson Downs used it in their acts.
What helps you take it further?
- Mathematics, Magic & Mystery by Martin Gardner. A 174-page softbound book with 115 sections on the mathematics behind magic, including topological tricks with handkerchiefs and cards and how a Moebius strip works. Its description says no sleight of hand is needed for the more than 500 tricks it describes.
- Mathematical Recreations and Essays by W. W. Rouse Ball, a free PDF of the 1922 tenth edition. Its geometrical recreations include paradromic rings, alongside magic squares, arithmetical card tricks and the three pile problem.
For more tricks that run on math, try the 1089 number trick and the magic square trick. If you’d rather cut rope than paper, read our guide to the cut and restored rope, or browse our free ebooks.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Afghan bands?
A magic trick with three paper loops that look alike. Cut down the middle, one becomes two loops, one becomes a single bigger loop and one becomes two linked loops.
What is the secret of the Afghan bands?
How each loop is joined. The plain loop has no twist, the second has a half twist and the third has a full twist.
Why does the half-twist loop stay in one piece?
A loop with a half twist is a Möbius strip, and cutting a Möbius strip lengthwise down the middle gives one band rather than two.
Can I use cloth instead of paper?
Yes. Some performers use cloth that tears easily and tear the bands instead of cutting them.
