Sure does kind of make you wonder, innit?

You're right Jeff, I'm part of it. I apologized about that. I hope you don't think I'm the only responsible; I've done my best to avoid many fights. The trouble is that I have my own opinions and I consider myself as a free mind, plus a tough nature. But as I wrote, it doesn't matter anymore. As you may have noticed, I only answer to questions and provide material now. Enjoy it if you like it, it won't last long.

Cordially.

Isn't that a good thing though? Hey, those endless fights are good for something after all!

Well, personally, I would have preferred talking about gambling only. History, cheating techniques, books, paraphernalia... From all origins and cultures. From any experience. Road hustler, enthusiast, pro, semi-pro, advanced player, collector, professional dealer, etc. I'm sure it's still possible.

Well Arnold, from an enthusiast point of view, thank you for providing an insight into this legendary technique
My attempts to replicate the n-strippers have not succeeded yet, but you keep me excited about it.

Arnold, don't get me wrong. I wasn't saying that you personally are to blame for the exodus.

Just the opposite: I think that you and I are just about the only ones left. From the old guard, I mean. Now it's just youngsters and noobs.

Don't know.

Of course, the endless arguments here have caused some people to leave. But in another hand, things have evolved for the last years too. There are many places available to talk about Magic or Cheating, not only Genii and the Magic Café. Not to mention the explosion of P2P. I mean, legal or illegal, because huge broadbands now, people download a lot. They have a lot of information available. They need less places like this I suppose.

Prices have gone down too. I've purchased many DVD (from memory, Turner, Ortiz, etc.) for just a few bucks! Amazon, auctions websites etc. allow fantastic bargains.

Many sources too. The great collection from Jason England for instance. Once you have it, you have work for the next 15 years. Thus, why coming here asking for some information (that not many will give!) when $30 or $50 will be enough?

A lot of youngsters, yes. But they are really motivated. They don't realize how lucky they are to live in 2011. It took me years to get some good information about the second deal for instance (not to mention stuff like n-strippers or beanshoohters...). Today, you spend $35 or you just have a Skype session with someone...

Idealistic, obsequious, sycophantic Mai-Ling kisser-upper says "what?".

Kirjava,

Yes, it's a personal insight. I'm not fortunate enough for having met someone using it for real (albeit, once, I wonder if, lol). Information is pretty scarce, sometimes unreliable or even doubtful (I'm thinking about one famous Magician for instance). Through the years I have gathered maybe a dozen of documents providing some interesting information? And just a few videos. I think everyone has its own variant or application.

It's not an easy matter. I'm sure I would be unable to pull-out a n-stripped card out of Mr. Turner's deck for instance. He has his own sense of touch (and he is a top notch guy!). Same with Doc's deck. Just to illustrate, I pull them out from the top, some from the bottom.

I don't have an acceptable solution for multiple n-strippers though. I'm still working on a good solution for plastic cards for instance.

Not easy I said :-(.

:lol:

Respect!

Danke!

As always!

AMcD,
My bad! I forgot the goal was to make them during play. Good reason to mark only one side.I understand the reasons and must say they convinced me. Good idea practising the touch for the Ns. Personnally, I'm still practising and still seeing improvement.
In your video, just before the multiple cuts, would you say you pull the ace or just feel it and cut to it? Would guess you need a better mark to pull? I can pull mine but am trying different things in order to be deceptive. When you talk about multiple Ns, are you refering to pull more than one at the same time? Surely you don't want anything else than aces (or maybe kings)to be "marked".Frankly, the work I am doing now is definitely not for magic as you don't need all this for regular laymens. I guess I want to really take it another notch.

As for belly strippers, I got my hands on one two months ago that really impressed me and that I think could pass in a lot of games. Of course, they have been made by a professional card cutter ( so forget about doing them live). The poker player that I was 10 years ago never would have figured they were strippers. Although I think I had a false sence of security with plastic cards like copags. By the way, I never got the chance to get my hands on a good plastic stripper deck, anyone had this chance?

Finally, I have been watching the forum for about a year or two and the arguments can become a pain but it still is worth it to read this section for the insight I sometimes get.
That and the videos you do. I am happy you decided to continue posting.

Slim

p.s. For those who like historic reference, James McManus (and another historian whose name I forgot) once said that most cardsharps would cheat using kings to avoid being to obvious. That's what they would learn from their mentors. That's why I had a deck made with kings for gambling demonstration. Of course, I don't mention that the deck is a stripper, I guess I look better that way... and it's nice to keep some secrets.

You mean around 14" in the video? I'm just trying to split the deck in two perfect halves, lol. Nothing weird, just some "delay" because I was thinking "well, should I do that? How to shuffle in a way they are convinced it's really shuffled". Something like that.

Because you're not the first one to ask, I detail a bit more.

- 32". The deck is really shuffled. No idea at all where the aces are.
- 35". I feel the first Ace. I'm lucky it's about the middle of the deck.
- 37". Using a strip cup I bring it to the top of the deck.
- 39". I feel the second Ace. The move is broken just to show you. Again, I'm a bit lucky, it's located in the middle. No need to strip cut then, I just leave it on top of the cut packet...
- 41". I add 4 spacers below it.
- 44". I add 4 spacers on top of the deck.
- 47". I set a brief using the Steven's control. Again, it's exaggerated, just to show you.
- 54". I cut to the brief.

What I call a multiple N-Stripped deck is a deck with several marks. For instance one for the Kings and one for the Aces.

With Holdem now, 8 or 9 players on average around the tables. Half of the deck or more is dealt every round! Aces are not "dangerous" anymore. The point is to be "clever". Stacking a straight, a flush or a set. Stacking a 4 of a kind is risky, to say the least, as people are always convinced it's something rare. Yet, it happens "often". Last year I've played something like 100 tourneys, I think I've faced something like 25 4 of a Kind and maybe 10 Straight Flush, just at my tables. Even 1 Royal Straight Flush! I can tell you that, in the past, with games like 5 card Draw (jacks to open), Straight Flush was something less common, lol. At least, in my context.

Guys,

My website is down for 48h now. My hosting provider is trying to backup the servers. I apologize for those of you asking for the videos.

Good news though. My first booklet just needs two people from here to read/check it .

AmcD,
I see your website is back and operationnal, good for you!
I never took the time to thank you for the details of your last video. Had a busy week,so, thank you.

Happy about your booklet, don't give up...

Slim

Yes, it's back for a few hours. I was about to shoot the whole team of that company of morons. Servers out of order for 1 week, in 2011! How possible?

A few more videos soon!

Wow, the N-stripper video is quite impressive. I've always been afraid of them because of the necessary knack, but I think I'll start experimenting after I make it through all of my Ortiz books. Looking forward to the next videos.

Arnold,
was this an offering or "just" a statement?!?!?