I remember watching a documentary about Ricky Jay where in one scene he has several people come in to a room one by one and he bets them that he will get a higher poker hand. I think they were allowed to cut and deal the cards. He won every round. Does anyone know the name of this routine, and a source for it?

Here is the clip you are talking about http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHxVpRvlCfI

pretty obvious whats going on for those who play poker

It's the 10 card poker deal. There are dozens of versions in print.

And dozens more coming to print when Bob Farmer finishes his Bammo Ten Card Poker Deal Dossier...

http://forums.geniimagazine.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=42636

Hi ssibal,

Darwin Ortiz has an excellent version of the 10 card poker deal in his book Darwin Ortiz at the Card Table. It's named Mexican Poker, page 29.

All the best

Michael

A couple of excellent versions that jump to mind are Tony Binarelli's 'Cincinnati Poker Kid', as well as Ernest Earick's version in 'Unseen Forces' and Bruce Bernstein's (my current favorite) in his book 'Unreal'.
And, while it's not a Ten Card Poker Deal, do yourself a favor and check out Lennart Green's recycling poker stack on 'Masterfile'.

I don't recall Rick Jay being quite this brash before his rôle in a James Bond movie.

"A lot of personality." Sheesh!

Thanks guys.

Derren Brown did a great version too.

I've been told (by many) that I started the 10-card poker deal craze when I published my version/handling back in 1967 in Deck-Sterity - re-written, updated, etc., in The Classic Collection, Vol. 1 (2005). You might also want to check out A Much Better Chance, originally in Personal Collection (2001) - also included in Special Effects (2011). Just for the record. Best - Harry L.

Ricky Jay for real?

Ricky Jay roughs up some spectators

The act is named, "A Correctly Structured Drama". I'm sure he was there to demonstrate what he can do. I didn't like the character Ricky Jay played, but I do like him, and he's clearly a great actor.

I have seen this also referred to as the Jonah card if this helps in your search.

Having said that, one has to ask oneself: What was Mr. Jay hoping to accomplish with this presentation? Is this entertaining in some way? Or, perhaps more appropriately, while it might be amusing and entertaining to the audience watching the video in a black-humor or gallows-humor sort of way (for example, I thought "Breaking Bad" was often hilarious), it is hard to imagine that the spectators in this performance found this entertaining.

I think of magic as being an entertainment art form; and before someone says, "Yes, and one of the goals of art is to provoke!" you have to put this in context of remembering that as magicians we are just above mimes and just below jugglers in the public's perceived hierarchy of entertainers. I believe Mr. Jay realizes this -- so, again, why do this?

He's not giving a magic performance.

"magicians we are just above mimes and just below jugglers in the public's perceived hierarchy of entertainers."

Perhaps that has something to do with slavishly following the imperative "to entertain."

Yes, R.E., this is a performing art. As such, it requires an audience. The audience wants to be entertained. As the performing artist, then, you have an obligation to entertain them. That doesn't mean you have to pander, but you do have to entertain, whether that means make them laugh, make them think, or make them reflect on some greater truth.

I just believe it goes with the territory -- it is what we signed up for.

The full documentery that the above clip is from is here if anyone has not seen it - well worth a watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWM4qQWwnu0