Cards and Envelopes

The numbers 1-5 are written on five pieces of card. A spectator chooses into which of five empty envelopes each piece of card is placed. The spectator then mixes the envelopes and chooses one of them. Despite all this, the magician has predicted which number the spectator will choose.

This trick isn’t limited to a choice of numbers. You could use shapes, symbols, drawings, colours, dates – anything you can write or draw on a piece of card.