Cards in Magic & Mentalism: page 34

A bestseller on our site has been Joe Karson's The World's Fastest Card Trick. A great lesson of showmanship packed with loads of laughter for the audience. Now it is a pleasure for us to present an in-depth discussion of this trick by the great master Ken De Courcy.

In this manuscript, you will find the complete presentation of the trick by De Courcy, enriched with many different endings that make the trick memorable. The trick is a real comedy of errors in which a spectator is invited on stage to pick a card and then...the fun begins...Everything seems to go wrong while the performer tries again and again to find the card miserably...

This routine is done from a shuffled deck, under fire, and on the spot. You will never have to remember more than five words at one time so you can talk and you can concentrate on your presentation. There is only one condition – you must know Benedykt's mnemonic system from Her Majesty the Magic of Cards.

• The deck is shuffled and can be borrowed.
• There is no sleight of hand, deck switches or prepared cards.
• You can be surrounded by spectators, there are no false moves.

• Seperate face up cards from face down cards with closed eyes
• Do very unusual poker deals...

The Gambler's Peek

This is a simple, impromptu utility move that allows you to know the value of a freely selected card while you square up the face down deck. This move is completely invisible, yet very powerful. This move is taught from multiple angles and an easy card control is also taught to get the selection into the correct position.

Chance

Chance is an effect in which you will show your powers of influence over a spectator's decision. This is the perfect opener for a card mentalism set at a table. The premise is very simple, you remove a black card and a red card from the deck...

"Paul has a great eye for a good trick. He also has a knack for combining and varying existing ideas. His enthusiasm is infectious! His latest e-book, "Assemblies & 4-Ace Tricks" contains 13 great items, very well described and including Paul's humorous patter. This booklet is a winner! Press "BUY" now. You won't be disappointed!" - Mike Powers

"Assemblies and 4-Ace Tricks is an entertainers gem from a magician who has been in the real world for decades creating wonders for paying customers! Paul is offering his pet card effects -- one which he has kept underground for years. Here you...

"Much more than a mere gambling expose, Catch 33 is almost an act in itself! Twenty-first Century magic needs more brains like yours." - Guy G.

3 cards. 2 of them lose. 1 wins.

"..simple! "... Or so your audience thinks.

Each time he plays the game with you, your spectator falls into subtle traps you've set. He receives an authentic lesson on the con game that is not a game at all. Using beautifully choreographed sequences, you continually manipulate your spectator into choosing the wrong card. He just can't help himself.

Perform this routine surrounded; at a restaurant, trade...

The routines use subtle moves and principles rather than difficult sleight of hand to produce entertaining card effects that anyone can do. More important, no gimmicks, and no set-ups whatsoever. Grab an ordinary, even borrowed deck of cards and amaze your spectators with incredible card effects.

CONTENTS:

• THAT'S NEAT (Paul Gordon): You and a spectator each take half of the deck and then a card from each half. You both place these cards reversed in the middle of the two piles and the two cards magically change places.
• FULL SPEED ACE (Aldo Colombini): The Ace of the same suit of the selected...

The Great Card Magic of Nick Trost continues.

CONTENTS:

• SELECTED GEMINI: Mates to two selected cards are located by the spectators themselves.
• ROYAL ASSEMBLY: A section of a deck is cut by a spectator and dealt into four piles. The top card of each pile is a King and the bottom card is a Queen.
• DISCOVERY BY ELIMINATION: One card is selected in a very fair manner. A spectator cuts a portion of the deck and these cards are eliminated until one remains: It is the selected card.
• ROYAL REVEALMENT: You find a selected card and on the way, a Royal Flush in Spades.
• EIGHT-CARD SPELLER: A thought-of card...

Apart from initially discussing how to make the deck and a variation of it, handling tips etc., the ebook goes on to describe a number of exciting routines. (Includes a bonus routine by Arun Bonerjee.)

• The Origins Of The Mene-Tekel Deck
• The Mene-Tekel Deck - Construction
• Handling The Mene-Tekel Deck
• The 'CW Mene-Tekel Deck'
• Two At Once
• What's In A Name?
• Friends Reunited
• Come Together
• Card In Muffin
• Trapped!
• Mental Erasure
• Any Number Called For
• The Time Machine
• Mind Reading By Proxy
• The 'Black Seven And Black Eight Trick' Outdone!
• Twin-Card In Wallet
• A Further 'CW Mene-Tekel'...

"I want to crawl up your nose and take a sample of your brain so I can clone it." - Iain Dunford

"It's a great book from cover to cover." - Don Theo

"Every time Sean describes a new card effect to me it feels like coming home to that place where 'Out of This World' is brand new and I wonder what's waiting on the next page." - Mike Ince

"A real treasure chest" - Felix Schellenberg

"An Exceptional Book" - Jan Forster

"If you've ever doubted whether cards have a place in mentalism, READ THIS BOOK!" - Gabe Abelson

"Cards DO have a place in mentalism. Here is over 100 pages that further proves it." - Bryn Reynolds

"I could...

POINT BLANK ASSEMBLY gives you the maximum effect for the minimum effort. Four Kings change places one at a time with four blank cards. The transposition is repeated only this time it occurs instantly. Finally the four Kings disappear altogether.

[You will need four blank-faced cards and four kings of which three have blank backs.]

IMPULSE starts as a transposition effect between a selected card and a blank card but ends with a finish that those who have seen it describe as 'NOT POSSIBLE'. Truly original thinking.

[You will need three blank-faced cards. One is gimmicked. The gimmick is easy to make with a pair of scissors, paper and glue.]

1st edition 1984, 1st digital edition 2013, 13 pages....

The best parts in this publications are the work on thimbles and billiard balls. Also included are card and coin routines.

1st edition 1980, 1st digital edition 2013, 90 pages.

Table of Contents

6. Preface
7. Alfred B. Leech: Magician—Of—The Month
10. Major Surgery
15. A Typographical Error
17. Platform Wild Card
21. A Bicycle Built For Profit
24. Too Small
27. Snap Change
30. Crooked Card
33. Three Cards Across
38. The 1971-72 M-U-M Award
39. A Card Trilogy
43. Coins And Cards
45. The Coin Star
47. Ball Manipulation
49. Chicago Balls: The Chicago Ball Trick And A Routine
54. Substitution For Chicago Balls
55. Color Changes
55. - A Color...

Four new effects using cards and coins.

"Good stuff! I really like the quarter trick ("25 Cents")." - Cameron Francis

"I really enjoyed watching these clips." - John Carey

Meet Chip: A fun, easy, and commercial routine with a signed poker chip.

A Chance Meeting: It's gambler vs. mentalist vs. magician time - hold on to your hats, people.

25 Cents: You predict a randomly chosen coin; simple but effective coin magic to liven up any card act. Includes a great variation by John Carey!

It's Still a Mystery: My short, snappy approach to the mystery card plot, inspired by Paul Gordon and John Carey. ...

Once Removed is a hands-off approach to the think-a-card plot.

You will be taught a method for revealing a mere thought of card in an extremely fair manner. There are no peeks or forces, and the deck can be given away after the performance if you so wish. Unlike most handling's, the spectator can truly think of any card, and can do this before the deck is even introduced. The clever principle at play allows you to easily discern the thought of card with very minimal memory work (no more difficult than, say, an "invisible deck"), allowing you to focus fully on presentation. The nature of the...

"Man's mind stretched to a new dimension never goes back to its original position."

Few know the simple mechanics of the forgotten Mene-Tekel deck and even fewer know its real secrets. This ebook reveals the deck's true potential as a Self-Contained Card Delivery System, a Pseudo-Copying Machine and a YIN / YANG Premonition Setup that would make Hofzinser proud.

All known variations of the Mene-Tekel are systematically discussed in exacting detail, along with the corresponding card presentations, selections, and handlings per gaffed deck. Also included are DIY chapters on mene-tekel card...

A collection of three re-worked card classics and as Dan Tong says in his Introduction, “Ian has produced three very usable approaches to three classic effects.” That says it all!

Easygoing Carlyle is a no-palm Card To Pocket with a repeat phase that any serious magician can do in a few days. It is almost self-working.

With Nicely Controlled, Ian has refashioned an old trick that was a favorite of none other than S. Leo Horowitz.

Follow The Leader is certainly a classic. What Ian offers here is a six card routine that is simpler to set up than most of the older eight card routines...

Seven more off-beat, totally impromptu card effects from the mind of Cameron Francis. Includes both written instructions and video instructions.

CONTENTS:

THE TRUTH IS IN THE MIDDLE: A "mystery card" effect where a card reversed in the middle of the deck before the trick started turns out to be the selection.

WELL TRAVELED: A "Travelers" variation that is pretty darn easy to do.

TRI THE SANDWICH: A Triumph routine and sandwich routine all rolled into one tasty treat.

OUT OF SIGHT, INSIDE THE BOX: A magical variation of Dai Vernon's "Out of Sight, Out of Mind".

FAUX SHOW: A five phased...

A card routine that is a combination of Hofzinser's Royal Marriages and Peter Kane's Wild Card.

[Please note that this ebook does not come with any gimmicks or cards. You will need four ordinary Kings; two blank faced cards; and four Queens with blank backs.]

1st edition 1986, 1st digital edition 2013, 9 pages.

Over 30 effects and ideas using Faro Shuffle. It contains Marlo's analysis of the Faro Shuffle, the In Shuffle, the Out Shuffle, and other faro techniques. He details a lot about what happens to the deck in the various shuffles, and adds card effects that you can do with these shuffles.

• Less Than 52
• With Two Cards
• For 2 Cards At Undetermined Positions
• The Faro Calculator
• The Chain Calculator
• The Left Over Faro Shuffle
• Shuffling The Aces
• Placement Shuffle
• Control Of The Aces
• An Out Shuffle Effect
• Progressive Miracle
• New Deck P.M.
• 76-76-67-67
• The Memorized Stack
• Fingertip Miracle ...

After the success of the first two volumes, Cameron offers here five more incredible packet tricks using some special cards which are very easy to find.

CONTENTS:

• SON OF A WAVE: A unique double prediction using only eight cards.
• DALEY DOSE: Daley's Last Trick with a big Twist.
• MAGICIAN'S HOLD 'EM: A crazy game of Texas Hold 'Em involving a transposition, an appearance of a Royal Flush and color changing backs.
• UNFATHOMABLE: A great combination of mentalism and magic.
• MAKING FRIENDS: A printing effect with a funny kicker ending.

More great packet tricks using some special cards, which are very easy to find.

CONTENT:

• FRYER: One selection and four Aces make for a unique assembly effect with a killer kicker ending.
• WHAT THE BLANK, TOO: An examinable Wild Card routine with four blank cards and four sections. Three of the blanks print copies of three selections before a huge twist at the end.
• SKETCHERS: A three phase stunner! Three "stickmen artists" drawn on blank cards, sketch a selection on another blank card. The drawing then switches places with the selection. Finally, the stickmen all turn into mates of the...

Great packet tricks using some special cards, which are very easy to find.

CONTENT:

• B-O-X-!: A truly offbeat four King assembly.
• TROUBLEMAKERS: Xs appear on the backs of four Jokers, then two of them jump to the faces of two other Jokers.
• NO LONGER: Four double blank cards are shown. A mentally selected King appears on one of them. Then it is seen to be printed on all the cards. One is placed aside and the magician claims that the other three are no longer Kings. He proves it by turning the cards over. On their faces are printed NO LONGER KINGS! Totally examinable.
• MIXED PERCEPTION:...

A collection of new card routines.

Card to Envelope
In the book Inspirations (published by Martin Breese in 1987) I included an effect called 'Envelope Prediction'. This is a different version which I performed as part of my close-up act at the Blackpool convention in 1979. There is no palming or copping of cards, in fact you could call this near-self-working!

Lie To Me
A card is selected and lost back into the deck. You give the spectator an old coin/medallion which they hold in their hand. This, you say, will send "truth waves" to the deck. You now ask the spectator a series of questions about his card: he...

Aldo Colombini performs and explains an amazing three phase routine from Nick Trost, which requires only a regular deck. Very easy to perform.

EFFECT:

1) The deck is shuffled and divided in half. A spectator reverses a card in one half. Both halves are placed side by side face down. You turn the top card of each half over dealing them above the halves. The dealing continues. All the pairs are different. When the spectator´s card is reached, the card of the same color and value turns up in the other half!

2) The spectator now riffle shuffles the halves together (read that again). You hold the...

Imagine you are anywhere but on stage, and you are unprepared. Somebody asks you to do a 'magic trick' (yeah, they know who you are!). You answer you would like to, but you have nothing with you, but a pen and a few business cards. You take out your business card holder or box, and you start amazing your audience.

Now, imagine you would take a deck of cards. It would be all different … Nobody would believe you are unprepared!

This ebook is a compendium of Gerard Zitta's effects, that can be done with business cards. They all 'look' impromptu, and most of them are indeed impromptu...