| Listed | Price+ |
DreamworkJon Racherbaumer Several decades ago Bob Hummer invented a new principle which caused a short-lived stir among cardicians. The effect was called "The Mindreader's Dream". It sounds too good to be true: A spectator merely thinks of a card and performs a few, unseen dealing procedures with a deck of cards. The magician briefly scans the cards, consults a "dream book," and then names the mentally selected card.
Racherbaumer collects in this ebook several improvements and variations on this basic principle, including the original Hummer method. The contributors are an eclectic group of specialists including Justin Higham,... | 2011 / 2 / 1 | $5
to wish listPDF |
Lipstick TracesJon Racherbaumer Racherbaumer thinks that the greatest sleight of the 20th-century is the Double Lift Turnover. If we consider the scores of different ways to lift, turn, toss, propel, flip, rotate, and spin two cards as one—not to mention ways of getting ready, gripping, insuring alignment, and unloading, then this is certainly a pretty valid move to pick as the most important sleight. At the minimum Racherbaumer has me convinced.
In this ebook Jon collects ways to finesse the move and also traces its historical development. I am pretty sure you are using probably several times a double lift turnover somewhere... | 2011 / 2 / 1 | $5
to wish listPDF |
The Too Perfect TheoryJon Racherbaumer Can a magic trick be too perfect? Too impossible? Well, opinions differ. Some of the most prominent minds in magic disagree. Reading these essays will help you form your own personal opinion on this fundamental question. The theorists are:
[Note that this collection of essays is also part of the Ask Roberto Giobbi ebook.
1st edition 2008; 61 pages.... | 2011 / 2 / 8 | $5
to wish listPDF |
Thirty Years Ago: Contributions to the New PentagramJon Racherbaumer These are Jon Racherbaumer's contributions to the New Pentagram Magazine from 1979.
- Surprising the Princess: ESP card effect with a surprise ending that will whack you down.
- Simplex Mental Reverse
- Magical Separate Colors
- King-Currence
- Still Another Lie Detector
articles first appeared 1979; 14 pages | 2011 / 2 / 8 | $5
to wish listPDF |
Real-Gone AcesJon Racherbaumer The 'Real-Gone Aces' problem is a side branch of the classic four Ace trick. In the classic you place four aces on the table, then put three indifferent cards on each ace, and magically all aces end up in the same pile. In the 'Real-Gone Aces' plot which was originated by Marlo, after correspondence with Neal Elias, three aces vanish to join an isolated leader ace.
If this plot appeals to you then you will learn a good number of variations on it in this ebook. And I am sure, if you are the kind of guy or gal who enjoys reading such detail filled descriptions of finesses and fine points, then... | 2011 / 2 / 13 | $5
to wish listPDF |
Olram AcesJon Racherbaumer
"The Filet Mignon of Ace Assemblies." - Ed Marlo
Olram Aces is a tribute to the genius of Edward Marlo which shows how Marlo's lifetime work steadily influenced Jon.
The presentation makes maximum use of the gaffs and the Aces in the non-leader packets disappear in different ways that are successively stronger. It has been audience-tested on lay persons and magicians.
In typical Racherbaumer style you also get a history on the Ace Assembly plot starting with The Discoverie of Witchcraft.
1st edition 2009; 10 pages. | 2011 / 2 / 27 | $5
to wish listPDF |
Ladies on the LooseJon Racherbaumer This routine was inspired by a magician’s challenge that it was unfeasible and unadvisable to perform several Ace Assemblies in a row for lay audiences. In fact, he argued that most Four-Ace Assemblies are neither entertaining nor interesting to layman because they are essentially magician’s exercises. This synergism is an exercise based on an opposite view; however, a key lies in presentation. The performer ostensibly is relating a bit of history regarding how a card trick was performed in the 16th century. In the course of the explanation, he acts as a proxy for skeptical spectators who... | 2011 / 3 / 5 | $5
to wish listPDF |
Hofzinser's Lost Ace-ProblemJon Racherbaumer Karl Fulves published in Pallbearers Review an unsolved card problem wherein an Ace having the same suit of a previously selected card changes into that selection. The puzzling aspect of this problem was this: The four Aces are shown, mixed, and tabled face down. Nobody knows the order or disposition of the Aces, not even the spectator.
Jon describes eight solutions each with its own trade-offs, strengths and weaknesses.
Jon concludes his manuscript with:
The Hofzinser Lost Ace Problem is a good example of a card problem that intrigues magicians because it lends itself to "creative noodling" and... | 2011 / 3 / 5 | $5
to wish listPDF |
Gene Castillon's Redoubling the Double CutJon Racherbaumer Gene Castillon presented this lecture at a meeting of Ring #27 IBM in the early 70’s, calling it "The Double Undercut Routine". This routine was designed to feature only one sleight or move—the Double Undercut. To prove the versatility and usefulness of this one move, Gene incorporated into one routine a series of different effects all accomplished by this one move. As you will discover, there are magic appearances, a simple sandwich prediction, several Ace tricks, a poker deal, and a simple triumph trick.
When recently asked to lecture again, Gene pulled out his old lecture notes and was surprised... | 2011 / 3 / 27 | $5
to wish listPDF |
Holistic HammanJon Racherbaumer Brother John Hamman's effects are conducive to creating strong, synergistic routines. That is, many of his individual effects, including its discrete parts, can be combined to form powerful presentations. The following nine-phase is a good example.
Holistic Hamman was originally part of an unpublished book titled Real-World Cardstuff: Synergistic Schemes.
Requisites: A regular deck of cards.
1st edition 2000, 2nd edition 2013, 15 pages. | 2013 / 12 / 10 | $6
to wish listPDF |
The Universal CardJon Racherbaumer This ebook explores variations on the Universal Card theme, is part of the Yod series. Universal Card is a classic card plot in which a single card (like the joker) transforms to one at a time to match each of the selected cards. Originally posed by Karl Fulves in his Pallbearers Review, where he used the term "Universal Card", a name that caught on.
- The Hypnotic Card
- Marlo's Favorite Universal
- Universal Solutions
- Universal IV
- Tout's Universal
- The Chameleon Card
- Universal Combine
- Hypno-Versal Way
- Cervon's Universals
- More Universals
- Not Quite Ambiguous Universal
- Full-Circle Universal
- Open-Faced...
| 2016 / 1 / 17 | $6
to wish listPDF |
AvatarRobert Walker & Jon Racherbaumer  Robert Walker was a unicycling, high-school student. Looking five years younger than he was, he was a dyed-in-the-wool card guy tutored in Marlovian ways. He was also a precocious writer-creator, obsessed with false counts and packet tricks. He spent many hours "twisting the night away," taking voluminous notes, and developing new methods and approaches. His first mini-treatise dissected a marketed packet trick by Larry West ("Wild, Wild West") which he passed onto Jon Racherbaumer to publish. It became the second installment of the loose-leaf Avatar, printed on pink paper and unadorned by illustrations... | 2020 / 11 / 28 | $6
to wish listPDF |
Criss-Crossings: Unleashing the X-ForceJon Racherbaumer This is an interesting study of the X-Force and variations thereof only the way Jon Racherbaumer can do it. The X-Force is the simplest force that every magician has learned to do at one point in their life. Jon dissects the X-Force or Criss-Cross Force and then puts it back together in different and new ways. This is fodder for those that want to go into the fine and nuanced details of performing this force.
- Introduction
- Drilling Down
- A Little History of the X-Force
- Layered-Cross-Cut Force
- First Method
- Second Method – Layered Double-Cross
- Two Cuts Are Better Than One
- Three Free...
| 2015 / 6 / 2 | $8
to wish listPDF |
Cutting Deeper: an exploration of coercive cuttingJon Racherbaumer This manuscript is ancestrally related to Criss-Crossings: Unleashing the X-Force insofar as it also deals with cutting cards. In this case, it deals with "cuts" and "turnovers."
This type of combinatorial maneuver began with Henry Christ's forcing technique that he developed in the early 1920s. He originally developed six variations but he only published the fifth one in Ted Annemann's book, Sh-h-h It's a Secret, calling it "The 203rd Force." It subsequently has been referred to as the Christ Force and it spawned many versions and applications.
Because of the cut-?turnover-?and-?replacement mechanics, the Christ Force is often confused with Ed Balducci's... | 2015 / 11 / 6 | $8
to wish listPDF |
Playing CanastaJon Racherbaumer The presentations in this manuscript are homage to the nonmanipulative, off-the-cuff approach taken by Chan Canasta.
The material is stuff Jon has published elsewhere, mostly piecemeal. The thrust of the ebook, though, is how these effects are PRESENTED in a CANASTA WAY. This then is its organizing principle. It is basically designed to demonstrate Canasta's approach. The material is easy and commercial.
- INTRODUCTION
- KISS MET
- OPTICUNNING CUTTING
- SOMATIQUE
- TACITRIX
- VOCALYSIS
- THE JOKER EATS YOUR MIND
- UNTOUCHABLY YOURS
1st edition 2016, 25 pages. | 2016 / 6 / 27 | $8
to wish listPDF |
Robert Walker's Hyper TwistJon Racherbaumer Effect: Four blue-back cards are shown. One at a time each card - the Ace, Two, Three, and Four of Diamonds - turn face up. Their backs then change to red and then one at a time the backs change back to blue. Finally, the cards change to four Fours of Diamonds.
1st edition 1975 in Paul Diamond Presents Magical Masterpieces #2, updated 2018, PDF 15 pages. | 2018 / 3 / 3 | $8
to wish listPDF |
Back To The Future ClassicEdward Marlo & Jon Racherbaumer  Edward Marlo and Jon Racherbaumer study three similar effects:
- Everywhere and Nowhere
- The General Card
- The Universal Card
2nd edition 2002, 50 pages.
Table of Contents
- Afterword
- A Future Classic
- Streamlined Classic
- Comedy Classic
- Quick Three-Way
- In Lieu of the Hindoo Shuffle
- Mini-Classic I
- Mini-Classic II
- A Sixy Effect
- Early Marlo: Everywhere and Nowhere
- No Deck: Everywhere and Nowhere
- Spade Book: Everywhere and Nowhere
- Marlo's Hofzinser
- Additional Climax
- Future Classic Double-Cross
- Four Eightses Classic
- 'Tis Rough On Hofzinser
| 2011 / 1 / 29 | $10
to wish listPDF |
Unlimited 3.0Norm Osborn & Edward Marlo & Jon Racherbaumer  This manuscript explores in detail the possibilities of the 'Double Count'. As the title implies, the possibilities seem unlimited. After reading this PDF you will surely come up with your own variations and takes on the effects presented. The Double Count in its basic form is to show five cards absolutely cleanly as six. One of the five cards is a double facer.
1st edition 1953, 2nd edition 1983, 3rd edition 2002, 48 pages.
Table of Contents
- The Card Goes Home (Norm Osborn)
- Improved Double Count (Edward Marlo)
- Effect One
- Effect Two
- Effect Three
- Effect Four
- Effect Five
- Effect...
| 2011 / 2 / 6 | $10
to wish listPDF |
Synergistic SandwichesJon Racherbaumer Sandwich tricks, long popular with cardmen, are nothing more than glorified locations. What makes them a little different is that the selections are found at specific places: between two other cards. Perhaps the best way to present these stunts is to perform a few in a rapidfire, successive way—each phase following the preceding one in a logical, progressive way. Also, each phase should be stronger than the preceding
one. When such phases unfold in this manner, the overall impression will likely have more impact and be memorable.
And this is exactly what Racherbaumer has engineered in... | 2011 / 2 / 27 | $10
to wish listPDF |
Good TurnsJon Racherbaumer Even though the small packet card trick goes at least back to Hofzinser's times Jon argues that the modern small packet trick started in the 1940s when the Buckle Count was introduced by Dai Vernon and got into full swing when the Ghost Count (Elmsley Count) entered the stage.
Jon writes:
When the Elmsley Count became more widely known, the genie was out of the bottle. Vernon’s “Twisting The Aces” provided momentum. Marlo’s groundbreaking work on “Think Ace” and “Touch Turn” was privately circulating and then was eventually published in The Linking Ring. By the time Larry West and Verne Chesbro published Tricks You Can... | 2011 / 3 / 13 | $10
to wish listPDF |
ClockworkJon Racherbaumer On the Clock Effect
The clock effect/principle is a variant of the automatic placement principle. It allows you to force a card. The procedure typically is that the spectator freely selects any full hour on the clock (1-12). Cards are then dealt into a clock pattern where one card takes the place of each hour. The card at the spectator's freely chosen hour is the force card, which for example could have been predicted beforehand.
The Clock Effect using playing cards originated at the turn of the century. Potter's Index subsequently listed thirty-eight (38) references—one of the earliest... | 2011 / 3 / 13 | $10
to wish listPDF |
Compleat K.M. MoveJon Racherbaumer This is the fourth revised treatment that Marlo and Jon worked on during the last year of his life. Their objective back then was to publish a new old-book by expanding the original work to include ideas, finesses, and variations devised after 1962. More important, the revision was to be more organized
and cohesive than the original.
The original K.M. MOVE booklet was typed on twenty-three pages. There were only eleven hand-traced, inked drawings [by Marlo]. The material faithfully duplicates Marlo's hand-written notes and was typed by Muriel Marlo. All in all, the finished product had an unpretentious,... | 2011 / 3 / 27 | $10
to wish listPDF |
Burn: Surviving Riffle ForcesEdward Marlo & Jon Racherbaumer & Steve Reynolds  The five techniques explained in this treatise are directly or tangentially inspired by Ed Marlo’s An Updated Force (1987).
Techniques taught are:
- An Updated Force (Ed Marlo)
- Piffle Force (Jon Racherbaumer)
- Balm-Applied Riffle Force (Steve Reynolds)
- Drop-Block Riffle Force (Jon Racherbaumer)
- Slip-Less Clip Force (Jon Racherbaumer)
1st edition 2009; 20 pages photo illustrated | 2011 / 12 / 28 | $10
to wish listPDF |
Winning WinnowingJon Racherbaumer Ways To End Up With the Only Thing You Want
From the introduction:
This paper is an introductory effort yearning to be a disquisition. Please forgive its discursive style. So far, this recondite subject has resisted an in-depth, organized treatment. The subject at hand is an exploration of reduction and the process of indirectly seeking information. Or, to use the jargon term, it is about elimination and fishing as applied to card magic—more specifically to the Think of a Card effect.
- Two Ways to Convincingly Disclose One of Two Possibilities
- A Card That Lies, A Deck That Tells...
| 2013 / 4 / 5 | $10
to wish listPDF |
