The Haunted Card by Lynn Searles

Richard's Almanac by Richard Kaufman
The Collected Almanac (Vol.3 Summer Edition)
Page 301 et seq.

Personal Comment: It's just a method to reveal a card. And I truly believe the story, that this is basically a one handed top palm gone wrong. It happened to me. So here is a way to use that accident as an effect! Nice.

Difficulty: 2/5

Dazzling Interchange by Geoffrey Latta

Richard's Almanac by Richard Kaufman
The Collected Almanac (Vol.1 No.10)
Page 82 et seq.

Personal Comment: This is where my inability to cheat on camera shows. I suck at doing passes and culling is not my cup of tea either. But those who are great at it might find this routine incredibly nice. I did it for regular people and with proper misdirection this is a strong routine. I can recommend it.

Difficulty: 4/5

O. Henry Selections by Jim Swain

Richard's Almanac by Richard Kaufman
The Collected Almanac (Winter 1985)
Page 384 et seq.

Personal Comment: I suck at doing half passes, but if you don't this might be for you. The effect is clear and the ending provides a nice kicker. Here is a little tip, don't do the routine with brand new cards as I did. It becomes very difficult doing so.

Difficulty: 3/5

Yours, Mine And Ours by Jim Swain

Richard's Almanac by Richard Kaufman
The Collected Almanac (Winter 1985)
Page 387 et seq.

Personal Comment: I sort of like this. Easy to do, although... I need to hold my right hand in a odd position during the main move. Otherwise it would flash. I guess big hands help with this one. The effect is clear and it has a fulfilling climax. I changed a tiny bit about the ending. According to the books, one of the kings would be put in the center and the remaining one would turn into an ace. It bothered me that one got treated in a non magic fashion. So I made both kings transform into one ace. Like an upgrade if you will.

Difficulty: 3/5

Convincing Technicolor Oil & Water by Jon Racherbaumer

Richard's Almanac by Richard Kaufman
The Collected Almanac (Winter 1985)
Page 377 et seq.

Personal Comment: Meh.... Oil and Water. Still I am not sure if adding a different back colour enhances the effect. I'm actually not sure if oil and water is a good effect anyways. Feels like a cheap triumph to me. And if you think about it... 8 card unmixing for a mixed condition is a lot weaker then a whole deck unmixing after been shuffled face up into face down cards. So I will not perform this bit. Not recommended!

Difficulty: 3/5

Recollectors by Jon Racherbaumer

Richard's Almanac by Richard Kaufman
The Collected Almanac (Vol.1 No.Summer Extra)
Page 103 et seq.

Personal Comment: The routine really takes a lot of time to get to the point. I don't like that. And is the effect really that good? Something bugs me. I don't like this one.

Difficulty: 3/5

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

Autograph Round by Jon Racherbaumer

1984 The Summer Extra Almanac by Richard Kaufman
the Jon Racherbaumer Issue
Page 217 et seq.

Personal Comment: Not really practical for walk around stuff, but in a fixed close up setting this is a nice little filler. But the error margin is really little here. If you mess up during the structure, there is no out. Do I like it? Sort of!

Difficulty: 2/5

SentiMental ACES by Michael Skinner

Richard's Almanac by Richard Kaufman
Issue 16, December 1983
Page 148 et seq.

Personal Comment: Nice version of the classic plot. It needs a very soft surface which makes it difficult most of the time. I still like it, but cannot see myself performing this any time soon. But those who can control their performing environment will get a kick out of this solid routine.

Difficulty: 3/5

Bi-Way by J.K.Hartman

Richard's Almanac by Richard Kaufman
Volume 1, Number 3, November 1982 Page 17 et seq.

Personal Comment: I don't like the neither structure nor the effect, but I was told by a few other magicians, that it "kills" I highly doubt that. I think it is unclear what is going on so there is the need to tell the audience what is going on. And is a card rising up and down not much more impressive if the whole deck is involved? (aka Ambitious card)

Difficulty: 3/5

Isolated Visitors by Derek Dingle

Richard's Almanac by Richard Kaufman
Volume 1, Number 11, July 1983 Page 89 et seq.

Personal Comment: I don't like the visitors plot by Larry Jennings that much. It always feels like a cute idea rather than a fully grown idea. But Derek's handling is straight forward and I like it.

Difficulty: 3/5

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

King Flight by David Wax and Richard Kaufman

The Collected Almanac by Richard Kaufman
Page xvii et seq.
intended for The Summer Special, 1983, of Inner Circle

Personal Comment: Cute Interlude but not really practical I think. You need two different decks. Usually I don't perform with that much cards flying around. Dr. Jacob Daley's "Last Trick" feels about the same and is much more practical.

Difficulty: 2/5

The Fabulous Jumping Card by Ken Krenzel

The Collected Almanac by Richard Kaufman

Page xiv et seq.

Impromptu Version using a "Mystery Card" from a deck of a different back color.

intended for issue 6, February 1983, of Inner Circle



Personal Comment: I do this effect, but I do not take a "Mystery Card from a different deck, I use a duplicate, which is the main method explained by Richard Kaufman. The effect is straight forward and plays strong, if, and only if, the card is actually signed. It really is a free choice so this makes the effect extremely practical. I like it.



Difficulty: 3/5

Visiting Royalty by David Arthur

The Collected Almanac by Richard Kaufman
Page xix et seq.
Intended for issue 3, November 1982, of Inner Circle

Personal Comment: While I don't see myself performing this effect I can see how it can play great for others. My personal addition would be not to have the black jacks turn into the red jacks, but into the red tens. That way the change would be much clearer. Staying true to the source material sucks most of the time ;)

Difficulty: 3/5