This trick involves a bit of preparation. It’s easiest to start the trick with your bottom card facing the opposite direction as the rest of the deck. If you flipped your deck over, it would look the same.  If you are skilled enough at sleight of hand, you can quickly flip the bottom card over after you shuffle the deck.   One way to attempt to flip the bottom card after a shuffle is to finish shuffling with an overhand shuffle. Take the last card from your overhand shuffle and flip it back onto the bottom of the deck facing the opposite direction. You have to do this quickly so no one sees. Angle your hands so your audience won’t see the bottom of the deck. With your bottom card facing the other direction, fan out the deck without showing the bottom card.  Make sure to fan the cards out more in the middle of the deck. Angle the cards down slightly so your audience mostly sees the tops of the cards. Have your volunteer pick a card from somewhere in the deck.  If you want, you can run your thumb along the outer edges of the fanned out cards and ask your volunteer to say “stop” at a certain point. When your spectator says “stop”, you ask your spectator to take the card your thumb is on. This gives you a little bit more control so you ensure your spectator doesn’t pick your upside down card. Ask your spectator to memorize the card and show it to the rest of audience.  As soon as your spectator takes a card, you want to re-stack the deck. While your audience is distracted by the card, flip your deck over so the bottom is now the top. During this moment, discretely flip your deck. To help you do this unseen, you can lower the deck a bit. Also, cover the front of it with one hand while you turn it over so your audience doesn’t see what you’re doing. Your deck will now be upside but look normal to your audience. Be careful to keep the deck stacked here so that your audience doesn’t notice that your deck is flipped. Explain that you are tapping the deck to trigger its magical properties. This will help with the illusion as you prepare to flip the deck. Then explain that you will cause the spectator’s card to magically flip over in the deck. Begin shaking the deck, and while you do, flip the deck back over.  This part can be a little tricky as your audience will be focused on the deck. The purpose of shaking the deck as you explain what you are doing is to distract your audience while you quickly flip the deck back over. All of the cards will now be facing the right way except for the bottom card, and the spectator’s. Be careful not to show your audience the bottom card. Remove your spectator’s card from the deck and ask the audience to inspect it. You can even have your spectator hold it. While this is happening, if you want, quickly flip the bottom card back over.

Summary: Start with the bottom card of the deck upside down. Fan out the cards. Ask for a volunteer. Flip your deck over as your spectator looks at the card. Ask your spectator to place the card back in the deck. Tap your deck three times. Fan out the cards to reveal your spectator’s card facing up.


Another way to get more juice from your lemon is by warming it in the microwave for 10-30 seconds. When it’s finished, allow it to cool before slicing it. You can also do this in conjunction with rolling the lemon on the counter. Simply let the lemon cool until you can comfortably touch it and then press it into the counter while you roll it back and forth. Holding a beater from a hand or electric mixer by its handle, press the beater into the cut side of your lemon half over a bowl, and twist the beater back and forth firmly. Squeeze the lemon as you twist the beater against its sides until all the juice is out. You’ll need a strainer for this step to catch seeds, or you’ll have to remove seeds with a spoon or your fingers.

Summary: Try putting the lemon in the microwave to prep it instead. Use a mixer beater to squeeze juice out instead.


This is an absolutely brilliant plan. First, pick a time when your brother doesn't think you're home and nobody else is there. Then, hide in a closet far away from he is, maybe your own. Then, quietly call the house from your cell phone. When your brother answers the phone, tell him that you need him to go to your closet (or whatever closet you're in) to check on something for you. Then, when he opens the closet, spring out at him and say, "boo!" He'll never expect to see you there and will freak out! You'll be able to hold this one against him for years. The first sentence says it all. Find a big cardboard box that you can climb inside that closes up top, place it on your front porch, and then ring the doorbell and jump inside the box, making sure to quickly close it over yourself. When your brother opens the door and approaches the box, you can jump out! This is guaranteed to make him scream. It works best if you ring the doorbell when he's a bit away from the door, so he doesn't answer it too soon and see you climbing into the box. If you can't find any big cardboard boxes around the house, then you can get some at your local grocery store. Just ask one of the employees -- many grocery stores often give away their extra boxes. Wait until he's so obsessed with what's going on with his computer that he completely doesn't notice who else is in the room. If you can do this at night, when most of the lights in his room are out, then even better. Put on a creepy clown, Scream, or Jason mask and slowly creep up to him until you're practically breathing down his neck. Then, release a guttural, terrifying howl, and watch him jump five feet in the air. If you have another friend or sibling who is as quiet as a mouse, he or she can film the whole thing for effect, and you can use it as blackmail.

Summary: Plan a big attack from the closet. Ring the doorbell and then hide in a box outside the front door. Give him a good scare.


Your leading foot (right if you’re right-handed) should be slightly farther away from the table than your other foot. This will allow you to angle your body away from the table. You’ll use this position to get more power when you turn your body into the serve. Your stance should be strong and steady. Not only will this keep you balanced as you get ready to serve, it’ll also let you move quickly when you need to return the ball. Lean over from your waist, rather than your chest. Keep your shoulders back and open. Check your balance to make sure your lean makes you feel steadier. This position is perfect for getting your arm in position to use your wrist and forearm when you serve. Keep your arm loose and don’t lock your elbow. Move your racket back and slightly up after you throw the ball. Then bring your arm forward, turning your body and shoulder as you do so. This is a backspin serve, so hit the ball from the bottom with an open racket. Stay focused on the ball throughout the throw and serve. Move your racket back and slightly up after you throw the ball. Bring your arm forward by turning your body and shoulder. Right before you make contact with the ball, put your racket into a closed position and strike the top of the ball. Stay focused on the ball throughout the throw and serve. Backhand serves involve a different arm position. Position the racket in front of your body by turning your arm across your torso. These serves can also involve different kinds of spin.  Serves with sidespin are usually delivered from the backhand position.  Stay focused on the ball throughout the throw and serve.
Summary: Angle your body about 45° away from the table. Bend your knees and keep your legs shoulder-width apart. Bend your body forward slightly for balance. Hold your racket ready with your elbow bent at a 90° angle. Move the bat down and forward for a forehand backspin serve. Hit the ball up and forward for a forehand topspin serve. Turn your arm across your body for backhand serves.