This principle (also called the Matrix Principle, Cross-Referencing Principle and Princess Principle) involves the strategy of methodically changing the positions of cards in several groups in order to determine a mental selection or selections in the groups. After altering the organization of the groups, each spectator thinking of a card is asked if he sees his selection in one of the new groups. His response permits the magician to determine the thought-of card. Luca Pacioli described this principle in his manuscript “De Viribus Quantitatis”, Section 1, Chapter 74 (Finding a coin, or other thing, touched by positioning it on a square) and Chapter 75 (On finding a coin or other thing thought of in a quadrilateral in the most subtle and quickest possible way), written between 1496 to 1508.

Classic tricks using the Redistribution Principle are: the Twenty-one Card Trick, Mutus, Dedit, Nomen, Cocis and the Matrix Card Divination.