Reset at its Best by Randy Wakeman

Apocalypse by Harry Lorayne
Volume 12, Number 4 April 1989
Page 1624 et seq.

Personal Comment: If you are working seated this is not to pass. Seriously a good version of Reset... if you wanna fool magicians. This is clearly designed for that purpose. Harry Lorayne claims that he has done it for real people, getting one "heck" of a reaction. I seriously doubt that. Because I actually did it for real people. What bothered them was that I didn't show that the tabled packet really consists of the aces before the "reset". It made the whole routine feel uneasy. For magicians, I'd say... go for it. However for laypeople I would go for Set-Reset Plus by Roberto Giobbi In that version you could actually turn over the top card of the tabled packet prior to the "reset" to show (not prove) that the cards really have transposed.

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

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!

Preset by Jim Swain and Geoffrey Latta

Richard's Almanac by Richard Kaufman
Volume 1, Number 7, March 1983 Page 62 et seq.

Personal Comment: It takes practice to get the double buckles and the triple buckles right, but it is well worth the hard work, as it really is a nice effect. And it is quite practical too. Just get them out of the deck and go on. The effect is ungimmicked which means no extra work adding and getting rid of any gimmick. I like it.

Difficulty: 4/5