Three-Second Wonder by Gary Ouellet

Apocalypse by Harry Lorayne
Volume 10, Number 4 April 1987
Page 1335 et seq.

Personal Comment: I have been doing a version of this for years. The version of this I've been doing doesn't require to "bring back" cards. So when I read this I was all like... dude no need... but strangely this version here, the original is much more practical. And you know how much I like bold. So this is recommended.

Difficulty 3/5

Not Alone by Bob King

Apocalypse by Harry Lorayne
Volume 12, Number 8 August 1989
Page 1679 et seq.

Personal Comment: Bob Kings Material is truly targeted towards real people. I like that. This may be boring to magician, but this is strong stuff for laypeople. Good trick.

Difficulty 2/5

If At First by Bob King

Apocalypse by Harry Lorayne
Volume 12, Number 7 July 1989
Page 1664 et seq.

Personal Comment: Cute.... Really Cute... I wonder how this plays. I haven't tried.

Difficulty 2/5

Birds of a Feather by Arthur H. Buckley

Card Control by Arthur H. Buckley
Page 160 et seq.

Personal Comment: Meh, really forgettable. The effect that is. The method is so bold, that some might actually find some use for this.

Difficulty: 2/5

The Seventh Son

Expert Card Technique: Close-Up Table Magic by Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue
Page 389 et seq.

Personal Comment: An ace production.... done with sevens. It is self working but the routine and the closing monologue offers time misdirection to get away with this. Cute side note: The trick is in the chapter about self working tricks. In the book it tells you to do a pass and all of that. Well, well... it can be self working if you openly cut the cards. I read the original patter, that is why I miscalled the Seven of Hearts as the Seven of Diamonds. It was not done on purpose, but I didn't feel like doing another video. Is the trick good. Well if you suck at doing card magic... yes. But if you suck at doing card magic, why are you doing card magic?

Difficulty: Self Working

Strange Harmony by Harry Lorayne

Cardmagic by Richard Kaufman 1979

Page 9 et seq.



Personal Comment: Good. It requires a seven card setup. Getting into that is harder than just culling any four of a kind and doing Monarch's Quartett by Larry Jennings. The effect is different, but it still feels very similar. VERY SIMILAR. This one is easier.



Difficulty 3/5

KAKAKAKA by Jim Abbrahams

The Lecture That Has Never Happened by Jim Abrahams

Page to be added



Personal Comment: Clearly filler material by Jim Abrahams. In other minds this could be a closer to a card set. But seeing the other effects in the small booklet makes me aware that this, as good as it is is filler. Maybe it's an earlier work. There are many ways to do that trick. Nicer ways. But at least the title makes sense. KAKAKAKA stands for the setup in the beginning. And that makes it charming again.



Difficulty: 2/5

Riddle's Aces by Derek Dingle

Epilogue by Karl Fulves
Issue 20 March 1974
Page 188 et seq.

The Complete Works of Derek Dingle
Page 65 et seq.

Personal Comment: Let's say it this way. If you are willing to actually practice this routine until it looks good, you will have a routine that lasts a life time. However putting in the amount of hours needed for this you can learn four other good tricks. It really helps you have long finger nails (I don't) and long fingers for that matter.

Difficulty 5/5

OverwHelm by J.K. Hartman

Apocalypse by Harry Lorayne
Volume 13, Number 9 September 1990
Page 1833 et seq.

Personal Comment: Finding four lost aces at the same time is something special. I like that a lot. Especially to close an ace routine. Getting into the setup needed fro this particular kind of production is tricky. I have worked on it on my own and found my solution. But Jerry's version is really good. Basically he decided not to have them slowly placed the deck, but to do a few effect, that get you the aces into your setup. Lovely thinking here. The title refers to the first publication of the ending effect called OverWELM... the letters stood for Wakeman, Edwards, Lorayne and Marlo, who each contributed details. So basically Jerry K. Hartman squeezed in his own letter.

Difficulty 3/5

Green Turtle by Roy Walton

The Complete Walton Vol 1. by Roy Walton 1981
Page 130 et seq.

Personal Comment: Cute... But you fail one time too many in my humble opinion. The bad thing is, that the method requires that much fail.

Difficulty 3/5

OverWELM by Randy Wakeman, Doug Edwards, Harry Lorayne and Ed Marlo

Apocalypse by Harry Lorayne
Volume 12, Number 12 December 1989
Page 1717 et seq.

Personal Comment: An Ace production. Basically it all boils down to the moment where the Aces are produced. Doug Edwards, Randy Wakeman and Harry Lorayne each offer solutions of how to get into the setup needed for this. I didn't like either one. That doesn't mean that they aren't good, it just means, they are so personal that I cannot see me doing them. So I made up this version, which is my own. But unlike Mr. Lorayne who loves to see his own name in print, I wouldn't want to add me to the credits. The idea of turning the packets face down prior to the production to hide where the cards are coming from is Ed Marlo's contribution.

The production is one I have used on many occasions. But I do it slightly differently. Let me explain. Instead of getting two of the aces in the center holding a break above them, I just cut them to the bottom. Then I split the deck in two and in the act of separating the hands I turn the former bottom half face up. It will look like nothing has changed. Then I do the production and all is well. It has served me well over the years.

Difficulty 4/5

Surprise Filling by Justin Higham

Apocalypse by Harry Lorayne
Volume 12, Number 7 July 1989
Page 1661 et seq.

Personal Comment: If you feel comfortable working with the "natural" bend of a deck, then go for this one. I do not feel good about this. "I like ma breakz!" But the effect is surprising and good.

Difficulty 3/5

Why Take Chances? by Jim Molinari

Apocalypse by Harry Lorayne
Volume 12, Number 12 December 1989
Page 1724 et seq.

Personal Comment: This is great for the magicians who just does tricks for his friends at a bar. Seriously this is exactly the stuff, that wins them beer and the fame of the evening. The performing magician might choose stronger stuff. This is good however. Really good.

Difficulty 1/5

Flash Opener by Frank Thompson

Frank Thompson's The Cold Deck by Ray Goulet
Page 1 et seq.

also known as "Thompson's Aces"
Card College 5 by Roberto Giobbi
Page 1183 et seq.

Personal Comment: That is a neat Ace production. Easy to do and has such a nice rhythm. I suggest adding the palmed aces after a spectator has shuffled the deck. Much, much stronger.

Difficulty 1/5

The Lost Aces by Arthur H. Buckley

Card Control by Arthur H. Buckley
Page 155 et seq.

Personal Comment: As I said in the video... this is the grandmother of pretty much all ace productions. And it is a good one in a way. What Arthur H. Buckley has offered is nothing but the bare bones of a routine, but I think that is the beauty of it. It basically forces you to create a presentational frame. Sure there are much better versions out there. And rightfully so. If nothing had happened since this was published it would be a poor testament to the creative output of magicians.

Difficulty: 3/5

Back They Come by David Regal

Apocalypse by Harry Lorayne
Volume 16, Number 1 January 1993
Page 2170 et seq.

Personal Comment: Reminds me of a backfire matrix done with coins for some reason. In fact I think that this trick might be combined with a matrix routine and both could benefit. This truly has potential. Personally I would switch two cards in the beginning making another clean phase possible. So if you are creative and really love the matrix effect (not me) then go for it. The magic doesn't have to be all about the coins.

Difficulty 1/5

Bargain Four by Mike Bornstein

Apocalypse by Harry Lorayne
Volume 16, Number 1 January 1993
Page 2165 et seq.

Personal Comment: Pretty to look at. Easy to do. The discrepancy is minor and the setup is bearable. What's not to like?

Difficulty 2/5

Aperetif by Roy Walton

The Complete Walton Vol 1. by Roy Walton 1981
Page 1 et seq.

Personal Comment: First trick in the book and the first trick that I needed to cheat. My hand are simply not big enough to do that one move that is required. Don't get me wrong, I can still do the move, but it looks horrible on camera. So what what is this trick.... Basically an Ace production. Is it good? Yes! Is it better than others? No!

Difficulty 3/5