# How is this Mentalism "guess the card" trick done? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 10, 2026, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-mentalism-guess-the-card-trick-done/1029972 "2026-05-10T19:20:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 14
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-mentalism-guess-the-card-trick-done/1029972/14 "2026-05-14T04:05:44Z")
> [@Steven\_Maven](#): > > As a life-long amateur magician I will say that many magicians consider using stooges as “cheating.” I can’t say it never happens. I can think of some popular effects where it seems probable to me, but I cannot reveal which ones I suspect. Quite a few years ago, I got into an argument regarding “magic” tricks, and my personal read on some of them (in this case using a “technically not-quite” a stooge) and did a direct comparison to mentalists and why I didn’t fine mentalists or that particular type of trick interesting or amusing. Though there were plenty who disagreed with me! > [@Magic: Making Big Things Disappear](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magic-making-big-things-disappear/42794/50): > > I think there is a slight difference. For a visual illusion, there is a chance that an eagle eyed observer can figure it out, where the illusionists skill in misdirection and showmanship are put to the test to prevent just that. Having the entire premise falsified because your confederates used a Obi-wan level cheesy cheat, nope, that’s just short of bait-and-switch. Sure, it’s better than the earlier examples where everyone is in on it, or visual effects are used to create an illusion that w… --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-mentalism-guess-the-card-trick-done/1029972)._