The 3 Best Mind Reader Tricks Revealed!

Have you ever watched a mind-reading performance and wondered how it was possible?

Can a mentalist really read minds?

Sorry to burst your bubble, but no, they can’t. 

So how do they do it?

Well, today, we’re going to talk about the 3 best mind reader tricks revealed! This way, you know exactly how it’s done and, in turn, you can perform these tricks, too. 

So without further ado, let’s get into it! 

Revealing the 3 Best Mind Reader Tricks

Of course, there are a lot of mind-reading mentalism performances out there. And, yes, each one has its own technique. 

But to help you get an idea, and also to help you perform these mind-blowing tricks yourself, we’ll focus on the simpler ones. This in no way means it is any less amazing.  

Three Dates

How about we start with the easiest? 

American magician David Ginn popularized the Three Dates trick for the younger audience. It’s simple, yet it leaves quite an impact, particularly on kids. 

Props: For this trick, you’ll only need a calendar and basic math skills.

How to do it?

1. Pick a volunteer and give them a calendar. 
2. Ask the volunteer to pick three consecutive dates.
3. Tell the volunteer to add the numbers and tell you the sum. 
4. From there, you can reveal the three dates they thought of. 

How to determine the three dates?

It’s all in the computation.

1. First, divide the sum by three to get the average. The result will be the middle date.
2. Subtract one to get the first date.
3. Add one to get the third date.

Easy, right? 

But trust me, your audience will be pleasantly surprised when you reveal the dates the volunteer thought of. 

Now, always remember that when you’re just starting to learn magic and mentalism skills, you’ll have to begin with easy ones, and then work your way up from there. Incorporating mental math in your tricks is a sure way to pull off a successful act (we will discuss this more in the next trick). 

Sure, the Three Dates trick will probably only work in children’s parties, perhaps with a couple of first graders, but it’s a stepping stone. What matters is how you entertain your audience, no matter how young or old they are. 

Try this on your younger sibling or your kids, and see how they react! 

The Dictionary Trick

The dictionary trick is an easy one, yet it seems complicated when you perform it. 

Set up: You will need two volunteers, one who will check the dictionary and one who will operate the calculator. You will use mathematical calculations here, so someone will need to check. You want to appear convincing, though, so you will have one of your volunteers do the computations for you.

How to do it?

1. Instruct your volunteer to think of any three-digit number. The only rule is that the digits all have to be different. As an example, we will begin with 614.
2. Tell your volunteer to reverse the number and deduct the smaller from the bigger number. For example, 614 – 416 = 198. 
3. Now ask them to reverse the resulting number, such that 198 becomes 891. 
4. Then, tell them to add the last two numbers like such, 198+891 = 1089.

Here’s the fun part: no matter what three-digit number your volunteer chooses, the final number will always be 1,089.

5. Next, ask the volunteer for the first three digits of the number, and instruct the other participant to turn the dictionary to that page. In this case, it will always be the 108th page.
6. Tell them to find the word corresponding to the last digit, which will be the number 9. Make them think of that word repeatedly so that you can read their minds.
7. Finally, reveal the word either by announcing it or by reading it from a prepared piece of paper secured in an envelope.   

How did it happen?

This trick is similar to the popular Grey Elephant from Denmark in a way that it uses math to let the audience think that they are in control of the performance and that you have no way to know the answers beforehand. 

Since you know the final number is always 1,089, go through the dictionary beforehand and memorize what the 9th word is from page 108. 

Guess the Card Trick

This third trick requires a sleight of hand and a deck of cards. Good shuffling skills will also help enhance your performance. 

Props: In this trick, you will need a deck of cards and the cardboard box that comes with the deck. Before your performance, cut a small peephole on the bottom right corner of the box to give you a peek later on. Make sure the cut will be hidden from your participant’s view. 

How to do it?

1. Start by spreading your cards and then asking your participant to pick one out. Alternatively, you can shuffle the cards and then ask them to tell you to stop. 
2. Show the card to your participant and assure them that you are not peeking. 
3. Then, pretend to put the card back with the rest of the cards. In reality, you’re replacing it with another card while placing the selected card at the bottom of the deck. This is where you’ll need a quick sleight of hand.
4. Place the cards back in the cardboard box that comes with the deck. 
5. Take a quick peek through the hole you’ve cut earlier.
6. Give your participant a quick show, as if you are trying to read his or her mind. Crease your brows a little for a bit of acting, and then reveal the name of the card. 

Finally, pull out the card from the box to blow your audience’s minds a little more. 

Conclusion

Like other performing arts, mind-reading is about providing entertainment and enjoying the craft yourself. 

While it feels great to receive some “oohs and aahs” from your audience, you also have to be in the moment and have some fun. 

Engage well with your crowd, be confident, and don’t let little failures stop you. 

You’re bound to make mistakes sometimes, but all you have to do is learn from them and keep practicing until you master the craft of mind-reading. 

Now that we’ve given you the 3 best mind reader tricks revealed, you can go out and perform these tricks to your friends, family, or random strangers.