Get your phone ready on your lap so you can easily push the buttons. You're really good at texting without looking, you’ve been practicing your whole life for this trick!
Ask your audience to pick a favorite number between 1 and 27.
Without them noticing, secretly push the button on your phone that corresponds to the number they chose. Make sure to do it with the grace of a ninja stealing a cookie from a cookie jar.
Your phone will tell you a sequence of "TOP - MIDDLE - BOTTOM".
Deal out the 27 cards into three equal piles on the table turning them face up as you deal. Make sure they're all visible.
Ask your spectator to think of any of the cards and tell you which pile their chosen card is in.
Gather up the piles by picking them up and turning them face down again as you gather them, but be sure to put their chosen pile in the position indicated by your phone.
Deal the cards out face up into three equal piles. This time, do it with the confidence of someone who knows what they're doing, even if you don't.
Ask your spectator which pile has their card now.
Gather the piles again, but don't forget to put the right pile in the right place. You got this!
Deal the cards into three equal piles one last time and ask them which pile their card is in. You're basically a human card-dealing machine at this point.
Gather up the piles again, making sure the right pile goes in the last indicated position. You're so good at this, you could do it blindfolded...but don't.
The moment of truth! Their card is now at the exact number they named. Remember to pretend like your fancy slight of hand did the magic, don’t let on that you're just really good at following directions from your phone.
Bask in the glory of your audience's amazement. Just try not to let it go to your head...you still have to pick up the cards.