Self-Working or Sleightless: page 2

Take a bit of “Miraskill,” a twist each of Mirabill and “A View To A Skill” and mix with “Minimal Miraskill.” Between Stewart James, Herb Zarrow, John Bannon and Dr. Bill, you will have one of the strongest effects possible to perform over the telephone.

The good doctor had been seeking a way to perform Mirabill over the phone ever since its release but it seemed impossible. Until now.

Telephone Bill looks and sounds different than any of the above but utilizes James’s original brilliant principle and is every bit as squeaky-clean as Mirabill. Live and in person it is mind bending. But over the phone? Your audience...

These are all self-working or very easy to perform effects.

One item that I would like to highlight is the Klutz Force, because it is on the same skill level as the popular Criss-Cross force, which is frequently used in self-working effects. With the Klutz Force you have an alternative that has a different feel and procedure.

• Simplex Physical & Mental
• Telephenomenal
• 21 And Then Some
• Guesstimation City
• Marked Calculation
• What Is the Question?
• Easy Prefiguration
• Klutzy Forces
• Hobson Chooses Again
• Punch-Line Division
• Simple Sync
• Is Your Pants On Fire?
• Made In the Shade
• No-Clue ...

Now, one of the mentalism's greatest "self-working" effects has been simplified to the point where it really is self-working! One early reviewer referred to Mirabill as "Miraskill minus the skill."

Personally I find any trick using a swastica not a particularly good idea today, because the swastica is loaded with meaning not necessarily appropriate for entertainment. But we should not forget that this manuscript was originally written in the 1940s.

The gem in my opinion is the last effect, "The All Clear Card Transformation."

Here are the effect descriptions as they were originally written by Stewart James.

Easy packet tricks performed with regular cards and with virtually no sleight-of-hand.

• MERELY THOUGHT-OF CARD MIRACLE (Paul Gordon): A card is mixed in a packet of eight cards, yet you reveal it.
• BUBBLE SORT (Werner Miller): Three face cards capture two selected cards.
• WEDLUCK (Peter Duffie): Cupid (a Jack) couples the Queens and the Kings.
• CHANGE IN MIND (Howard Adams): A great routine using cards torn in half and three coins.
• CHILD’S PLAY (Karl Fulves): Two selected cards appear together while two packets are dealt at the same time.
• COURTING (Aldo Colombini): Two strong climaxes using the face cards.
• TRIPLE HUMDINGER (Peter Duffie): Three...

PSI-POKER is the latest creation from Ben Harris (co-creator of 2010’s hit X-RAY).

This new effect is totally self-working, requiring no skill or gaffs. (Unless you are calling 'peeking the bottom card' a move.) The secret is ancient, but it’s never been used in this manner before. Magic’s leading historians and card experts have confirmed this claim. (To be precise, it is a new property of an old principle. Very clever indeed.)

So, what is PSI-POKER?

The effect is a multiple prediction of how a game of “Texas Hold ‘em” will play out from a shuffled deck. You hand a prediction...

"I really enjoyed all of these routines! Very nice. The White House is especially cool!" - Cameron Francis.

"You have some very nice thinking in these variations." - Peter Duffie.

A regular deck of cards is shuffled and then cut by someone a couple of times. You take back the cards and spread them between your hands and have one FREELY selected by someone. He places the card directly into...

This effect was created by Dai Vernon and was published in Rufus Steele's book The Last Word on Cards.

The deck is shuffled by a spectator. The magician removes a prediction card from the deck and places it face down on the table. The spectator creates two piles. The top card of one is turned face up. The value of that card is used to count to a card in the other pile. The card counted to is the mate of the prediction.

runtime 4min 29s

This may well be the easiest Torn and Restored card ever created. With absolutely no sleight of hand what so ever you cause a torn card to reform inside your spectators very own hand! After watching this 17 minute download, describing everything in great detail, from the deviously simple gimmick to the 'self contained' set up, you will be carrying this pocket sized miracle with you everywhere. Get Reform today. By tonight, you'll be blowing people away - it's honestly that easy!

runtime 17 minutes

Werner Miller continues with his sixth volume in this series of self-working and semi-automatic effects all based on mathematical principles. Many of them are card tricks.

In the right circumstances mathematical tricks properly presented are more likely to be accepted as real magic than anything of a finger-flinging nature. - Karl Fulves, from the introduction of Gene Finnell's Card Magic, 1973.

1st edition 2010; 36 pages.

Table of Contents

3. Enough!
5. I Know
6. All You Need Is...
7. Reverse Faro Five
10. Affinities
11. Affinities - Plus
12. Double Proof
13. Double-Decker
15. Meeting One's Match
16. Numerable Clue ...

Werner Miller continues with his fifth volume in this series of self-working and semi-automatic effects all based on mathematical principles. Many of them are card tricks.

Mathematical magic has its own curious charms. It combines the beauty of the mathematical structure with the entertainment value of a trick. - Martin Gardner, from the preface of Mathematics, Magic and Mystery, 1956.

1st edition 2010; 36 pages.

Table of Contents

3. Can You See Your Card?
7. Answering to Their Names
8. Answering to Their Names – Plus
10. Calling a Spade a Spade
11. Calling a Spade a Spade – Plus
13. Ladies’ Choice
15. Starring...

Werner Miller continues with his fourth volume in this series of self-working and semi-automatic effects all based on mathematical principles. Many of them are card tricks.

The way that a magic trick works can be just as amazing as the trick itself. - Persi Diaconis, from CMI Annual Report 2006, p. 4.

1st edition 2010; 36 pages.

Table of Contents

3. Hands on Magic Squares
8. Columbus Square
11. Blind Landing
13. Matrix Force Plus
18. Persiste!
19. Dubai Dab
21. Cut of the Spade
22. Club Swinging
22. Diamond Couple
23. Call to the Colors
24. Red Stranger
25. Anagram
26. Diamond Puzzle
28. Hold the Line!
30. Diaspora
31. Computer...

Three spectators choose a card each. The cards vanish from the deck to later reappear face-up in a face-down spread. As long as you can count and do a double undercut you can perform this effect. Since there is counting and displaying of cards involved this effect requires a captive and moderately intelligent audience to play well.

runtime 9min 40s

Only one routine but what an effect - and completely self working! This must be one of the strongest self-working effects there is. Based on the Eddie Joseph principle “Staggered” you have here a unique, fantastic routine in five phases, one stronger than the other where the cards match even though everything appears controlled by the spectator. The finale is a ‘staggering’ match of all the cards! You will have fun learning it and you will make a reputation out of this routine. Uses any deck of cards.

It is quite an achievement for Aldo to take a strong effect and make it even stronger by streamlining...

"Awesome effects and highly recommended!" - Donny Orbit

"(A) really great ebook!" - Raphael Czaja

"Nothing But Trouble is no trouble at all. Lovely trick!" - Paul Hallas

"FULL is right! FULL as in FULL of effects that could easily have been released individually! Awesome stuff - the usual Francis calibre!" - Dave Forrest

OVER THE TOP
A multi-climax...

Ten amazing effects with cards that you can do over the phone. Several of the effects are so strong that you can even do them for live audiences.

Contents and contributors:

• PHONE ZONE (Peter Duffie)
• TELEMENTAL (Bob King)
• HOCUS POCUS (Eddie Joseph)
• LINEAR BLACKJACK (Karl Fulves)
• TWO CARDS (Stewart Judah)
• LIE DETECTOR (Al Thatcher)
• BREAKING POINT (Aldo Colombini)
• TAMAX (Dougie Gibbard)
• WIZARD (Peter Duffie)
• HALF AS GREAT (Max Maven)

1st edition 2009

Card College Lightest is the final volume of Roberto Giobbi's acclaimed 'Light' trilogy. In it are taught 18 thoroughly astonishing tricks of professional quality, complete with performing psychology, presentations, valuable tips and insights, all of which contribute to making these sleightless effects into near miracles.

The tricks Giobbi has selected this time range from time-tested classics to little-known wonders by masters of the craft, including Larry Becker, Henry Christ, Aldo Colombini, Paul Curry, Alex Elmsley, Karl Fulves, Martin Gardner, Stewart James, Howard Adams, Richard Vollmer and more.

Also explained are simple methods for achieving false shuffles,...

From the disturbed mind of Paul Voodini comes this latest ebook - Hypno-Mental Self-Working Card Tricks. Simple and classic self-working card tricks are taken and thoroughly shaken up in a way and manner that only Paul Voodini could conceive of.

While on a trip to Bermuda, séance host and mind-reader Paul Voodini is forced to while away the hours by entertaining his fellow travellers with his favourite self-working card tricks. However, as you can imagine, the card tricks soon become demonstrations of the untapped power of the mind. Spectators are placed into light trances which allows them...

This is Aldo's second volume of impromptu card tricks. Once again the rules that he required were simple: That the tricks be based on subtle moves and principles only rather than difficult sleights. Most importantly, the tricks had to be totally impromptu with no set-ups. Eventually he did, however, allow a few easy moves such as a card control, a force or a simple sleight; moves that still are very easy to master and perform.

Tricks are organized into the following categories. The last one is a section on simple sleights and procedures:

• The Four Aces
• Amazing Coincidences
• Baffling Revelations ...

90 amazing card tricks by some of the most recognized magicians (including three past FISM winners), with stringent conditions: no set-ups and no sleights. organized into the following sections:

• Selected Cards
• Aces and Gambling
• Mental Discoveries
• Spelling Effects
• Amazing Coincidences
• Lie Detectors

This is a great routine using just a regular deck of cards - totally impromptu and no sleight-of-hand; in three entertaining phases. You have in your possession a great routine by the late George Blake (written originally in Magigram magazine). George is also giving you here the patter that he used. Just perform the routine as written and the whole thing works itself. The effect needs no set-up and can be done with a borrowed deck of cards.

1st edition 2007; 14 pages.

Werner Miller continues with his third volume in this series of self-working and semi-automatic effects all based on mathematical principles. Most of them are card tricks. A total of twenty effects for the magician looking for subtle math to enable stunning miracles. Everything is clearly explained with drawings, diagrams and tables.

Peter Duffie (review from Magic Magazine), Feb 2010: "Miller knows how to work with strange and wonderful arithmetical principles, and he comes up with some brilliant ideas. ... If mathematical magic scares you or you find it dull, Enigmaths could well change your mind and pull you over...

Werner Miller continues with the second volume in his series of self-working and semi-automatic effects all based on mathematical principles. Most of them are card tricks.

Aldo Colombini: "This material is both compelling and provocative. I like it very much. My compliments! My personal favorite so far: A SERIES OF SURPRISES and POLE POSITION. But of course, I am sure I'll find more..."

Peter Duffie (in Magic Magazine, Feb 2010): Enigmaths 1, 2 & 3. Warm up the slide rule; Werner Miller has written three new e-books on math magic.

I first became aware of the work of Werner Miller through his 2006 book Ear Marked, published by Shane of Leaping...

Here you will find 20 self-working effects all based on mathematical principles. Most of them are card tricks. This is the first volume in a series of ebooks.

Max Maven: "I am a fan of Werner Miller."

Scott Cram: "Werner Miller has a great knack for taking simple mathematical principles to highly entertaining levels."

Walt Lees: "[Werner originates] card and mental magic based on subtlety and well-hidden mathematical principles. Unlike so much of that kind of thing, Werner's ideas are distinguished by their clean-cut methods and easy-to-understand effects."

R. Shane: "Werner [...] is a frightening man. Not 'Norman Bates' frightening....