Question for anyone who does a card to pocket routine that ends with every card BUT the selection in the pocket:

I've seen two ways to manage the two revelations at the climax. The first approach is to instantly show that the selection is all that's left in your hand, and then show the deck in the pocket. The other is to reach into your pocket first and pull out one card from the deck, then gradually pull out more and more until the whole deck is out, then showing that the selection is still in the hand.

I've got mixed feelings about both approaches. Do you guys have any opinions on which one is stronger?

I perform it the way Gregory Wilson does it, where he shows that the deck has vanished and has the spectator remove the cards

Greg wilson's pyrotechnic pasteboards DVD has that in it. great routine, but to do it to greg's standard is pretty tricky.
Also, in the WGM card to wallet there's a routine in there as well where the entire deck vanishes and the only selected card is in the wallet. same sorta thing.

I take out 1 card and say oops that's not your card, then take another one and say oh, I think I messed up, then take all the cards out of my pocket and show the climax

I do it the same way as Daniel116.

People always laugh when i get the wrong card and then pull out another, since i do not have the card signed they suspect i have more than one card in there anyway.

There is another version of this effect by Jerry Sadowitz, printed in his book Cards on the Table which i believe is unfortunately out of print.

He has the cards appear in different pockets, about 6 at a time and many times he can casually show his hand empty as he reaches in. At the end he pulls a bunch out. I would love to see it done but i have only seen it in print.

-Marc

David Williamson's version is excellent.