Switch techniques are a set of sleight-of-hand and mechanical methods in magic and mentalism, enabling the secret exchange of one object for another — such as cards, coins, billets, or even entire decks of cards. Switch techniques exploit moments of misdirection, natural gestures, and psychological timing, allowing the performer to substitute a prepared or gimmicked item for an examined or ordinary one. Switching enhances many magical effects, from transformations and transpositions to predictions and revelations.

Switching techniques include maneuvers in card magic like the Top Change, the Mexican Turnover, and the Double Lift. In mentalism, switching methods include the Annemann Switch, the Simplified Baker Switch, the Drop Switch, the One-Handed table switch, the Moldavian Switch, Cassidy’s ESP Envelope Switch, and the Microphone Switch.

To switch a deck of cards (a “deck switch”), magicians employ sleight-of-hand, time misdirection, or even mechanical apparatuses to replace an entire deck in full view or under cover of natural actions.

The effectiveness of switching methods depends on the performer’s confidence and mastery of timing — especially the use of “on-beat” and “off-beat” moments — and the ability to eliminate any telltale signs of guilt or unnatural movement. An example of an offbeat moment is immediately subsequent the climax to the previous trick when the spectators are reacting, or during the few seconds right after a joke when the audience is laughing. An easy but effective deck switch that takes advantage of an off-beat moment and requires no sleight-of-hand: drop the deck into a pocket while removing the other deck, under the pretext of grabbing something like a handkerchief, the card box, or a rubber band (the ostensible justification for going to the pocket is to contain the playing cards).