King Castling by Tom Stone

Vortex by Tom Stone (and Steven Minch) 2010
Page 33 et seq.

Personal Comment: Based on an effect by Luke Dancy called "Royale with Cheese", which is a marketed download. This is the impromptu version. Love it actually. This could be a cool lead in to a longer sandwich/collectors sequence. I love the method... there is a certain satisfaction doing it. I cannot believe I have overlooked this in the book. I am a sucker for sandwich effects. And this is a nice one, as it is off the beaten path.

Difficulty: 3/5

Set-Reset Plus by Roberto Giobbi

Card College 3 by Roberto Giobbi
page 616 et seq.

Personal Comment: Paul Harris' effect Set-Reset has been through a lot of trouble. The inherent flaw in structure and method. The later has been worked on many, many times. This version by Roberto Giobbi is a synthesis of Paul Harris, Bernard Bilis and Richard Vollmer. I like it. I added the presentational layer, which I think has been done before. But it solves the inherent dramatic flaw well I think. Or to say it in as few words as possible: Works for me!
The original description includes a flourishy type of colour changes that I am simply unable to do. I don't have the dry hands required for the "snap action" as it is written up. Couldn't include so, I went for a more traditional type of colour change near the end.

Difficulty 3/5

The Time Machine by Steve Freeman

Card College 3 by Roberto Giobbi
page 588 et seq.

Personal Comment: You could say it is just another two card transposition, but it feels differently. Maybe due to the presentational frame of time travel. I like it, as it is very straight forward and very quick. I like quick effects. And the fact that you do not need a table makes the whole thing even more desirable to perform it.

Difficulty 2/5

The Four Seasons by Lynn Searles and Roberto Giobbi

Card College 3 by Roberto Giobbi
page 525 et seq.

Personal Comment: I like that trick. But more in terms of method than effect. There are far better examples out there, but you will get a kick out of the method.

Difficulty 1/5

Train Robbers

It went so well yesterday... so does anybody know the source?

Gemini Twins by Karl Fulves

More Self-Working Card Tricks by Karl Fulves, 1984
Page 1 et seq.

Personal Comment: I got the credits now! Thank you Justin. In the original description the spectator does all the dealing which I think is really, really strong. But why not do it twice? First the magician does it, therefore drawing suspicion and then the spectator is invited to do it in a completely hands off approach. That would clearly be a dramatical punch.

Original Post: The book Magic for Dummies by David Pogue contains this little trick. But I do not know who originated this self working miracle. It is one of those tricks that is beautiful in it's construction. There is no counting and no sleight. Yet it is extremely deceptive. This trick is part of my personal coma repertoire. When I am really drunk and pressured to do magic, this is the trick of choice. There is hardly a way to mess it up and its effect is easy to understand. In the end as the mates are displayed next to their "significant other" you will understand that this trick is easy to understand even when you are hammered.

Difficulty: Self Working

Double Reverse

The Royal Road To Card Magic by Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue
Page 185 et seq.

Personal Comment: It is basically a do as I do premise with truly magical result. And the fact that the magician names his card first makes it a lot more easy for the spectator to tell it. Eugene Burger has thought of a nice way to combine Glorpy with Double Reverse. As with most effects in the works of Jean Hugard and Fredirick Braue, the originator of the effect remains unknown. But Kudos to you, whoever you are. There are tons of selfworking card tricks out there. This is one of the better ones.

Difficulty: Self Working

Packet To Packet by Eddie Fechter

Fechter, The Magic of Eddie Fechter by Jerry Mentzer
Page 263 et seq.

Personal Comment: The last trick in the book. And a good one. Easy to do and Clear Effect!

Difficulty 2/5

No Pile by Eddie Fechter

Fechter, The Magic of Eddie Fechter by Jerry Mentzer
Page 261 et seq.

Personal Comment: Here is what I added: In the original version the packet under the hand of the spectator would only consist of 4 cards. Essentially the effect would be that 3 cards vanish. But having them arrive in the other packet you have another effect. You say that you want to make the selection go under the spectators hand, which is a powerful claim. At least all of the other cards go under the hand. And that is maybe not what is being anticipated, but sort of OK, because three instead of one goes. And yeah, I know my Biddle Stuff sucks!

Difficulty 3/5

Homing Card by Eddie Fechter

Fechter, The Magic of Eddie Fechter by Jerry Mentzer
Page 125 et seq.

Personal Comment: My own version of the homing card is very close to this one. I changed a few thing here and there and made the last card a lot more bold, but the effect remains the same. And Eddie's version is very much to the point. Hardly any convincers and quite a few discrepancies. Do I like it? You bet I do!

Difficulty 3/5

That's It by Eddie Fechter

Fechter, The Magic of Eddie Fechter by Jerry Mentzer
Page 59 et seq.

Personal Comment: Interesting. It is just one card that seems to change, but it seems like there is a much more complex thing going on. Certainly this will not go into my repertoire but I like it nonetheless.

Difficulty 2/5

You Would Lose by Eddie Fechter

Fechter, The Magic of Eddie Fechter by Jerry Mentzer
Page 49 et seq.

Personal Comment: Talk about straight forward method... I can see how many magicians do not like this, as it has no convincers, no nice displays and little cover for the move. There are many, many cutting the aces out there. A really nice thoughful version by David Regal comes to mind. But this is bold and I think deceptive enough to pass. Did I mention easy? I feel drawn more and more to Fechter's work, as I can see that his body of work is the result of a true worker. More of Eddie to come this week.


Difficulty 1/5

Changing Aces by Eddie Fechter

Fechter, The Magic of Eddie Fechter by Jerry Mentzer
Page 57 et seq.

Personal Comment: Lovely in a way. As most of Fechter's material. To the point with a straight forward method. Also I don't see myself doing this one, unless I am in a dimly lit room, as there is no chance for error. Unless you don't do the "snapping".

Difficulty 5/5

I've Got A Surprise For You by Eddie Fechter

Fechter, The Magic of Eddie Fechter by Jerry Mentzer
Page 129 et seq.

Personal Comment: I simply cannot get my spectators to turn over the tabled card. I ALWAYS have to do it myself. My audience is either to polite or I am not doing it right. Either way it still is a pretty good trick. Short, sweet, to the point and the method is clean. How can you not like it?

Difficulty 2/5

Port Authority Transit by Michael Farmer

Apocalypse by Harry Lorayne
Volume 3, Number 9 September 1980
Page 501 et seq.

Personal Comment: Cute, but something is missing to make it a whole routine. I cannot put my finger on it though. But I guess it is my obsession with Sandwich effects that made me include this one. Also, there are much better ways to vanish a card in sandwich. The method described in Ken Krenzel's Fabulous Jumping Card comes to mind. It would be face down then, which would eventually lead into the necessity to reverse that card at a later point in the routine, but that isn't a problem either.

Difficulty: 2/5

Boy Meets Girl

Expert Card Technique: Close-Up Table Magic by Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue
Page 297 et seq.

Personal Comment: You can tell by the patter that the trick is old. But it is a cute one. There are many ways to change a card for another. But with that particular presentation you actually have a reason. And I am sure there is a time and a place to do that one. Even with that old peom.

Difficulty: 1/5

The Famous Three Card Trick by David Williamson

Williamson's Wonder by Richard Kaufman
Page: Follows

Personal Comment: Six Card Repeat is a pretty nice trick. Doing it with just four cards makes it feel less repetitive without losing the effect. That makes it a nicer trick. I like it.

Difficulty 2/5

San-Tran by Chris Michaels

Apocalypse by Harry Lorayne
Volume 4, Number 6 June 1981
Page 501 et seq.

Personal Comment: Apparently there is a tiny bit of controversy around this. Al Smith published a trick call Entrapment in the Linking Ring Parade in 1980. That is identical to the version above. Only difference being the blowing in the end. Honstly, I think that is what makes up the beauty of San-Tran. And there is more. Seems like years prior J.K. Hartman published an effect called "Caught in the Middle" that is just like that.
Now that we got that out of the way... The effect might be clear as day for magicians, but I tried it. It seems not to resonate with normal people. I showed it to a few guys and most of them had a hard time to understand the effect. So I would suggest using a duplicate card. That way the selection is seen to actually go into the Sandwich.

Difficulty: 2/5

A Rapid Reverse

Expert Card Technique: Close-Up Table Magic by Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue
Page 276 et seq.

Personal Comment: It is so easy to underestimate this trick. It is really good and has a few points that speak for it. First: one handed. This makes the result seem even more puzzling, as there is no "practical" way to accomplish this feat with just one hand. Second: behind the back. At first glance it seems like this is a trivial thing. Well it is not. If the magician is not looking how can he possible locate the selection? To a layperson this seems like a condition that matters. Third: simplicity of the plot. A selection turns around. You can be drunk and still understand the trick. You don't need to speak the performers language to understand what is going on. Put 1-2-3 together and you have a really nice trick.
I dare to say it is actually an overlooked classic.

Difficulty: 1/5

Make Me Small by Larry Jennings

Richard's Almanac by Richard Kaufman
Quarterly for Spring 1985
page 246 et seq.

Personal Comment: I like pretty much all about it save one thing. I think it is a little too risky to show the queens more that one time via the Daryl lay down sequence. But I certainly like the fact that you are two ahead in the routine. Personally I would not bother too much with the three piles and such. How about simply vanishing the queens until one remains. But then again that would be an entirely different effect. But I am intrigued, as it is one effect that spawns a lot of ideas in my little brain. I like it very much.

Difficulty: 3/5

Two-Bit Sandwich by Frank Simon

Richard's Almanac by Richard Kaufman
Number 23-24, July-August 1984
Page 234 et seq.

Personal Comment: Nice!

Difficulty: 2/5

Sliding Triumph by Jon Racherbaumer

1984 The Summer Extra Almanac by Richard Kaufman
the Jon Racherbaumer Issue
Page 224 et seq.

Personal Comment: Here is what I like about it. In most Triumph routines the actual "rightening" of the face up into face down cards is not a visual. It is always implied. Usually the deck is squared up then a snap or magic gesture and then the deck is revealed to be in correct condition. Jon's attempt to make the actual magic visual needs to be credited. The way it is, is still far away from being a total worker, but I like the thinking behind it.

Difficulty: 2/5

Monarch's Quartette / Verwandlung by Roberto Giobbi

Grosse Kartenschule
Volume 2
Page 429 et seq.

Personal Comment: Monarch's Quartette by Larry Jennings. This is the version by Roberto Giobbi from the German edition of Card College. It is seemingly not part of the English version of the book. It is a nice routine that is fairly easy to do. I still have my doubts about the Jinx Switch but I tried it and it went unnoticed. "Verwandlung" is the German title and means "Change". The original version (Ultimate Secrets of Card Magic p.83 et seq.) has a slightly different handling, which a tad less practical but as bold as one could wish for.

Difficulty: 2/5

Oiled And Watered by Paul Cummins

Apocalypse by Harry Lorayne
Volume 3, Number 10 October 1980
Page 402 et seq.

Personal Comment: I cannot put my finger on, why I don't like Oil and Water routines. It is a pretty clear effect but still I cannot seem to get myself to like it. Also, most Oil and Water Routines are way too long. This one is no exception. But it is a rather good one, as you have the addition of odd colored backs to help to make it even more clear. It took me about two hours to memorize the structure and the handling, until I felt comfortable doing it for the camera. It is that complex. When you read it, it will scare ya! So is this good? I think so. You could take all the cards from two decks, but I suggest the following. Only the blue cards are from the deck, the red ones are introduced from a wallet or such a thing. Therefore much more heat will be on the red ones. That is something you want in this routine.

Difficulty: 3/5

Nullified by Tom Stone

Vortex by Tom Stone (and Steven Minch) 2010
Page 117 et seq.

Personal Comment: Well it is Reset. But a parlor version. Which is a rather nice thing. It is difficult though. And according to Tom Stone solved the inherent dramatic problem of Paul Harris' Reset. I disagree, the motivation of making them go back because aces are much better cards is an argumentation I don't fully agree on. Also, this is designed to be a parlor pieces so duplicates aces in the pocket would be my personal choice of method. That way you could actually prove that the aces really are in the pocket as you could briefly show them, before making the kings in the glass turn back into the aces.

Difficulty: 4/5

PS. Vortex is a really, really nice book, even though the card stuff save a few exceptions is filler. Sorry Tom!

Twisted Location by Phil Goldstein

M-U-M, Volume 66, Number 12 Mai 1988, Page 28 et seq.
also
Focus by Phil Goldstein, page 15

Personal Comment: Yet another take on the Touch Turn trick aka Twisting the Aces popularized by Dai Vernon. (Dai Vernon 's More Inner Secrets of Card Magic, page 5 by Lewis Ganson) and a good one I might add. Most version that somehow include a selection that is taken have the selection taken and remembered before the twisting takes place. That is quite a long time and chances are the spectator forgot his selection by that point in time. Not so in this version by Phil Goldstein. It is rather easy, if you are able to do the various counts and it is suprisingly deceptive given the simple structure in method.

Difficulty: 2/5

PS: If you are interested in packet tricks from a full deck, Focus is such a great book to start.

Double Coincidence by Harry Riser

The Feints and Temps of Harry Riser by Ed Brown
Page 166 et seq.

Personal Comment: Two things! Fist: The book Feints and Temps of Harry Riser should be in every non card magicians libary. It is so good. For the card magician I would say.... save your money. Except this trick maybe. Second: It is so easy to overlook this effect, as it is really a simple trick that can be achieved with many different methods. (Even selfworking versions float around). But it has a charme, as it really gets to the point quickly and the effect is strong. I like it.

Difficulty: 3/5

Modern Jazz Aces by Darwin Ortiz

Apocalypse by Harry Lorayne
Volume 3, Number 7 July 1980
Page 369 et seq.

Personal Comment: Peter Kane's Jazz Aces is certainly a trick that needs refinement because it has a lot of potential. Darwin Ortiz version certainly is a good refinement and in my opinion the better version. I like it, but again as with so many card tricks I do not see myself doing this for laymen. I am told that the routine kills. I think it is dull. Opinions are different, so I guess I am wrong on this one.

Difficulty: 2/5

Another Royal Miracle by Jon Racherbaumer

Apocalypse by Harry Lorayne
Volume 3, Number 1 January 1980
Page 296 et seq.

Personal Comment: This effect is Jon Racherbaumer's variation on Acrobatic Card Extension by Larry West. (Also Apocalypse Vol.2 No.3 March 1979 p.171 et seq.) I don't see me performing this effect. It is cute yes, but more for the hobbiest to show his magic buddies. It is not practical to get into this effect but it is rather easy to do. The revelation of the selection takes place way too late in the process. I really do not want my spectators to remember the card for that long. But it is a terrific piece for magicians. Which is most of the stuff that Jon Racherbaumer put out.

Difficulty: 2/5

The Delayed Sandwich by Edward Marlo

The Legendary Hierophant by Jon Racherbaumer
Page 199

Personal Comment: I like Sandwich effects. I certainly do. So naturally I have to like this one, as the final sqare up and spread can be done by the audience. And it is easy too.

Difficulty: 1/5

Have Another Sandwich by Edward Marlo

The Legendary Hierophant by Jon Racherbaumer
Page 200 et seq. March 1970

Personal Comment: There is a time and a place for everything. But the times and places for this trick are limited. The angles are not good on this one, but the method is certainly workable. Do I like it? Nope, yet I can see quite a few magicians with "huge" hands turning this into a full routine.

Difficulty: 4/5