Effect: You're standing at a bar, having a drink while you're busy and showing your latest card tricks. During one trick, however, you can't find the selected card. Confused and irritated, you empty your drink with one desperate gulp. Suddenly you notice something in the empty glass and say, "I can see your card. Look!"

The spectator won't see anything at first but as soon as you pour the ice cubes onto the bar he recognizes that each cube is shaped like a Club: three Clubs! His selected card must have been the Three of Clubs.

Method: You need an ice-cube mold with the four suits, Hearts, Clubs, Diamonds, and Spades. Most of these molds are made from plastic or even rubber and are available in lots of different symbols. Make three ice cubes in Club shape and secretly put them into your drink. This might be the biggest problem with this effect: when to load the ice cubes into your drink.

When performing at a private party or among friends, you should be able to use the help of the host, a friend, or family member. In your favorite bar you should already be a close friend of the bartender so he can help you by serving the "loaded" drink at the right time.

After you've received your drink, force the Three of Clubs and continue as described.

Comments: A more practical alternative to using real ice cubes would be to obtain plastic ones. Go to your favorite model-builder and have him manufacture the plastic ice cubes according to your specifications. When put into liquid they will look deceptively real. In addition they won't melt, giving you the opportunity to carry them around in your pocket and load them in the drink yourself.