Experience the Astonishing 23 Effect

Unveiled at the 2017 Magic Live convention in Las Vegas, this effect captivated audiences and sold out within just two days. Magicians who embraced the opportunity to learn it hailed it as their best investment in a decade.

The 23 Effect allows you to reveal a spectator’s thought-of card in a stunning manner. There are no forces, complex formulas, or calculations involved. The outcome is both dramatic and unforgettable, with a method that feels almost self-working.

Here’s the premise: Numbers have a profound influence on us—7 is considered lucky, 13 unlucky, and the number 23 carries a unique superstition known as the 23 Enigma. This phenomenon suggests that the more one tries to avoid the number, the stronger the connection becomes.

In this effect, your spectator cuts less than half of the deck and shuffles the selected cards. They then fan the cards in front of them and mentally choose a lucky card from the display. After turning the fan face down and shuffling again, the spectator ensures they have no idea which card they selected.

To challenge the 23 Enigma, the spectator discreetly removes a group of cards and places them in the card box. At no point does the performer influence or know which card is being thought of or how many cards have been hidden.

The performer asserts that the Enigma remains intact regardless of attempts to escape it. After counting down exactly 22 cards from the deck, the performer reveals that the card in the 23rd position is the only one with a red back, prominently displaying the number 23.

Without ever naming their selection, the spectator flips over the red-backed card to find it matches their mentally chosen card perfectly.