How to Vomit Cards

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: January 13, 2021

Vomiting cards can be a fun party trick to do on a game night with friends. The process involves holding cards to your mouth and then slowly releasing them to make it look like you're puking up cards. The process takes a little practice, as you'll have to move quickly to make the vomiting look realistic. If you practice regularly, you should be able to stun friends and family by vomiting cards.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Positioning the Cards

1
Remove about 10 or 15 cards from the top of your deck. As you need to conceal the cards, vomiting an entire deck of cards won't work. Stick to 10 or 15 cards. Choose an amount in that range you can easily hold in one hand.^{[1]
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2
Conceal the cards with your hand. Turn the cards face down and place them in the palm of your hand. Curl your fingers around the top of the deck. Curl your thumb around the bottom corner of the deck. Push the cards down so they bend into the palm of your hand slightly.^{[2]
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3
Place the tips of your fingers and the cards on your lips. Raise your hand to your mouth. The tips of your finger and the top edges of your deck of cards should just barely touch your lips.^{[3]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Vomiting the Cards

1
Pretend to cough or retch. To start the trick, act like you're about to throw up. Cough or retch slightly, like you would before actually throwing up. This will add a touch of performance and humor to the trick.^{[4]
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2
Push the cards out with your fingers. Quickly move your fingertips away from your lips so they're holding the cards near the middle. Use your index finger to push out the top card on the deck. Then, run your fingers up and down the deck to gently push the cards out one by one. As you do this, push the other cards forward using your other fingers so there's a continual flow of cards.^{[5]
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3
Keep going until you reach the end of the deck. Continue the pattern of pushing the cards forward and then out of the deck altogether. When all the cards have been pushed out of the deck, you can remove your hand from your mouth.^{[6]
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4
Add some performance. As you vomit cards, do things like gag, retch, and cough. This will make the trick more amusing and seem realistic. Practice gagging and coughing in the mirror before performing the trick.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Troubleshooting Common Issues

1
Practice until you can do the routine quickly. Vomiting cards looks most realistic if you push the cards outward quickly. Moving too slowly will make it obvious you're pushing the cards and they're not simply being expelled from your mouth. It takes a lot of practice to get the movements down. Spend time rehearsing before performing the trick and do not attempt it until you can move the cards swiftly.
2
Bite the cards if you're having trouble securing them. If you feel comfortable, you can bite the top edges of the cards with your teeth while holding them to your mouth. This helps some people keep the cards steady.^{[7]
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Change hands if you're struggling to secure the cards. You may find using your left hand over your right hand, or vice versa, provides you more control of the cards. If you're having trouble holding the cards at the beginning of the trick, try transferring them to your other hand.