The Online Magic Store Blog: Magic Explained

A small paper ball floating between two open hands against dark velvet

Invisible elastic thread: the hybrid advantages explained

Invisible elastic thread adds stretch to invisible thread, which steadies floats and makes pocket-ready loops possible, at the cost of reac…

Two hands stretching a fine clear thread that catches the light over black velvet

Elastic thread in magic: properties and uses

What elastic thread is, the properties that matter, and how magicians use it in pulls, gimmicks and close-up animation.

A hand holding a red-backed deck above an antique mirror that reflects its underside

Peek decks explained: mirror peeks and shiners

What a peek is, how mirror peeks and shiners let a magician secretly see a card, and how to use one without getting caught.

A deck, two red-backed cards, a plain silver disc, a magnet, a rubber band and a velvet pouch laid out on black felt

Gaff combinations explained: mixing gimmicks and sleights

How magicians combine gaff cards, trick decks and sleights in one routine, why it works, and the risks of adding more secrets.

Hands beside a long ribbon spread of red-backed cards on green felt, one card turned the other way

One-way decks: pattern reading

How a one-way back design lets you spot a turned card in a shuffled deck, and how magicians from Hoffmann to Downs used it.

A hand drawing a single card out of the middle of a red-backed deck

Stripper decks: narrowed cards

How a stripper deck’s tapered cards let you find a chosen card by touch, and how a card cheat’s tool became a magician’s classic.

Hands riffling the corner of a red-backed deck over a dark close-up mat

Svengali decks: principle and effects

How the Svengali deck’s long and short principle works, the classic effects it makes possible, and where its name came from.

Two hands turning a red-backed card over above three face-down cards

Double backer decks explained: cards with two backs

What a double backer card is, the classic effects it makes possible, and how to start using one without giving it away.

A pure white blank card standing against a red-backed deck on black velvet by candlelight

Double blank decks explained: the card with nothing on it

What a double blank card is, how magicians use a card with nothing on either side, and how to start working with one.

Red-backed cards and blank white cards scattered on a dark wooden table

Blank decks explained: blank-face and blank-back cards

What blank-face and blank-back cards are, what magicians use them for, and how to start using blank cards in your card magic.

A green baize card table around 1900 with an oil lamp, a pocket watch, poker chips, cards and an old book

Who was S. W. Erdnase?

The 1902 card book The Expert at the Card Table is still in print, but nobody knows for certain who wrote it; here are the clues and the le…

Liquid Killer fork bending magic

Metal Bending Magic: The History and Appeal of Spoon Bending (and How to Start)

Spoons, forks, keys and screwdrivers: the history of metal bending, why it's so powerful, and how to start performing it.

Absolute Zero, a gimmick-based magic trick

Self-Working vs Gimmick vs Sleight of Hand: The 4 Ways Magic Tricks Work

Self-working, gimmick-based, sleight of hand or hybrid? How each type of magic works, what it demands, and where beginners should start.

Thin Air card magic trick

What Does "Instant Reset" Mean in Magic? Reset Times Explained

Instant reset, under 10 seconds, off-stage: what reset means, how it differs from setup, and which level suits the way you perform.

Open book, Giacomo Bertini’s System for Amazement, showing a portrait of Giacomo Bertini

What is misdirection in magic?

What misdirection really means in magic, why it is more than “look over there”, and what eye-tracking research has found.

PADO card switch performed live for an audience

What Do "Angles" Mean in Magic? Surrounded vs Front-Facing Tricks Explained

Surrounded, front-facing, angle-sensitive: what angle ratings mean and how to pick tricks that work where you actually perform.

Blaze flash paper disguised as a red Bicycle playing card

Flash Paper for Magicians: What It Is and How to Use It Safely

What flash paper is, why magicians use it, and how to handle, store and travel with it safely, plus flash paper disguised as playing cards.

Three aluminum alloy magic cups with red crocheted balls on top, on a wooden table

Cups and Balls: The History of Magic's Oldest Trick

Where the cups and balls came from, how it travelled from Roman street performers to modern close-up tables, and what you need to start.

How To Do Coin Magic video course

Coin Magic Glossary: 25 Terms Every Beginner Should Know

Palms, shells, flippers, false transfers: a plain-English glossary of the coin magic terms you'll see in product descriptions and tutorials.

Touched by Morgan Strebler, a mentalism effect

What Is Mentalism? A Beginner's Guide to Mind-Reading Magic

Mentalism is magic that appears to read minds, predict the future, or influence thoughts. Here's how it differs from other magic and how to…

The Inspire Deck, a modern trick deck

Trick Decks Explained: Which Gimmicked Deck Should You Buy First?

Svengali, Invisible, tapered, marked, forcing decks: what each classic trick deck lets you do, and which one to start with.

smoke magic

The Evolution of Smoke Magic: How Modern Smoke Devices Became One of Magic’s Most Powerful Visual Tools

How smoke magic evolved from bulky stage machines to sleek, pocket-sized devices that fit into close-up performances, making dramatic visua…

Fire Magic Tricks

The Magic of Fire: Why Flames Create the Strongest Reactions

Fire magic captivates because flames instinctively grab attention with their glow, motion, and heat - when a magician controls fire, even b…

Levitation Magic - Illusions Magic Tricks

The History of Levitation in Magic: From Stage Illusions to Everyday Miracles

Levitation has always been one of the most powerful images in magic. Watching something float in midair feels impossible, which is exactly …