How to Master the "Always Three" Coin Routine

Why repeating the same move ruins the magic

Most people try to do the same secret move twice in a row. If you put a coin in your pocket and it "comes back," your friends will watch your hands like a hawk the second time. If you use the same move again, they'll probably catch you and the "magic" is over.

How to stay one step ahead of your audience

When you change the method for every phase, you stay ahead of everyone watching. They think they know where to look, but you're already doing something different. This makes the routine look impossible instead of just like a clever trick. In "Always Three," you do the same effect multiple times, but you switch the secret move every time. By the time they think they've figured out the first part, you've already moved on to a cleaner way of doing it.

What you'll learn in Always Three

You'll learn a full routine where you place three coins in your hand and put one in your pocket. When you open your hand, there are still three coins. You do this again, and it happens again. Finally, you make all the coins vanish into thin air.

Jose walks you through how to use the techniques you’ve already practiced—like the finger palm and the classic palm—in a real performance. You’ll learn how to make the coins clink so people "hear" them in your hand, and how to use your body's movement to hide the secret work. Imagine putting a coin in your pocket, opening your hand to show three coins, and then doing it again while they stare at your fingers—only this time, your hands look even more empty.

About Jose Arcario

Jose is a professional who specializes in "micromagic." He’s competed at FISM, the world championships of magic, and won national awards for his coin work. He knows how to make difficult moves look like you aren't doing anything at all.

What's included

• How to add a hidden coin while counting out loud
• Using the Classic Palm to keep your hands looking natural
• The "Sound Pass" to make the audience hear the coins
• How to use "lapping" to make coins disappear while sitting
• The "Plot Twist" ending where every coin vanishes

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this routine hard to learn?
It uses basic moves like the finger palm and classic palm. If you’ve practiced those, you can do this. It’s more about the timing and the "flow" than it is about difficult finger movements.

What kind of coins do I need?
Any three matching coins will work. Half-dollars are great because they're easy to see, but you can use quarters or even large tokens.

Do I need a table to do this?
The version taught here uses a table for "lapping" in the final phase, but Jose explains how you can adapt it for your pocket if you're standing up.

How long does it take to learn?
You can learn the steps in about ten minutes. To make it look smooth enough to show a friend, you'll want to practice the sequence for a few days so you don't have to think about what comes next.