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Lukenp Special user 560 Posts |
I am wondering if anyone would have the time to give a full in-depth review of some of the tricks in the book and their opinion about the book. Also what tricks you actually perform. Yes I have searched on this topic, but I can't find a really detailed review for the book. So if you want to help me out by posting a review I would greatly appriciate it.
"Be natural"
-Dai Vernon |
Ben Train Inner circle Erdnase never had 4639 Posts |
Not an easy book to find.
The question is why you want it. I enjoyed reading it, and the material contained within, as far as gambling expos go, its top notch. Have you seen any of his other work? well then you know what to expect.
If you're reading this you're my favourite magician.
Check out www.TorontoMagicCompany.com for upcoming shows, and instagram.com/train.ben for god knows what! |
ImpromptuBoy Special user Toronto, Canada 898 Posts |
How are the gambling tricks in the book? What's your favourite one?
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Phaedrus Loyal user Mexico City 212 Posts |
Actually, At the Card Table is easy to find just about anywhere. Cardshark is out of print and almost impossible to find, since no one seems to want to part with their copy of it.
I have this book and Scams and Fantasies with Cards. Of the two, this one is a little bit harder to work through, I believe because it was written earlier on in Darwin's career. That's not to say that the material is difficult to understand, just that you need to be prepared to really sit down and study it (which seems to be a common feature of the best magic books). To begin with, this is not a book for beginners. Most of the material here will require real practice and facility with a deck of cards. Like most of Darwin's books, it is divided into two sections, the first half devoted to the theme of gambling, and the second half focused on magic (here, he calls the sections "Card Table Artifice" and "Legerdemain" respectively). The first few effects are actually among the hardest in the book, because they require the ability to competently deal seconds and thirds. He teaches a number of techniques for making false dealing more deceptive, including Larry Jennings' Stud Bottom Deal, but unless you are already comfortable with these kinds of moves, you will probably find the material tough going. On the other hand, Mexican Poker is a reworking of the Ten Card Poker Deal, which most of us learned from Harry Lorayne. Darwin has taken an already strong effect and made it even more powerful; by using all of his experience as a performer, he has polished the effect to the point of perfection. One of the most valuable aspects of this book is that he goes into great detail after the effects explaining the thinking that went into them, so you get the benefit of a real performer's insights. If you don't already do a Three-Card Monte, there is a nice version here. He also has several effects involving riffle stacking. Again, if you don't already know the basics of this, you will have a lot of work ahead of you, but if you enjoy doing gambling-themed effects, it will be hard to beat the material presented here (provided you put in the work necessary). The highlight of this section is the last effect, "The Ultimate Card Shark." To this day, Darwin considers this to be the strongest gambling effect he has ever come across. I was surprised to find that it wasn't all that difficult; the most challenging part of it is learning to do Zarrow Riffle Stacking, but if you can do a competent Zarrow shuffle, it's fairly easy to learn. The second section has way too many effects to get into here. Suffice it to say that they are all excellent, and every one of them is worthy of study, even if you don't perform them. Darwin's version of Peter Kane's Jazz Aces is here, along with Jumping Gemini (in my opinion, the best trick you can do with Bro. Hamman's Gemini Count). "Ultimate Interchange" is an absolutely mind-boggling effect for spectators, in which you change red-backed kings and aces out of a blue-backed deck. I recently learned "New Tens Routine," which immediately became my new opener. One of the real gems in this book is "The Si Stebbins Secret." Darwin gives a method for getting into the Si Stebbins stack from new deck order. Since I learned this, I've been incorporating into performance, and it absolutely kills: you can have people bring their own deck, open it, and in a few seconds have the deck in order right under their noses. Darwin even includes an effect using the set up that is easy but really strong. In short, if you have even a passing interest in card magic, you need to get this book. Almost all of it is practical and performable, and you get the benefit of Darwin's experience in his comments about every trick. |
rudess New user 89 Posts |
That's a wonderful review,thanks man.
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T. Joseph O'Malley Inner circle Canada 1937 Posts |
It actually comes up on Ebay fairly often.
tjo'
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kerpa Special user Michael Miller 594 Posts |
I like Jumpin' Gemini quite a lot. Am polishing it up, with the help of my magic teacher. I like the entire book a lot, actually. There are some other really fine effects there. BTW, Jumpin' Gemini is related in technique to Brother John Hammon's Twins, which has a story type of presentation. That's going to be one of my next projects.
kerpa a/k/a Michael Miller Chicago area
Michael Miller
(Michael Merlin: original family --and stage-- name) |
Bobby Forbes Inner circle virginia beach, VA. 1569 Posts |
Among my favorites in the book are the New Tens Routine, Mexican Poker, and Darwins Aces.
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Amazing Samdini New user Playa Vista CA 66 Posts |
Difficult book but among my favs are Dream Card, Hitchcock Aces, Deja Vu Jokers, and Modern Jazz Aces.
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Lukenp Special user 560 Posts |
Thanks for the review. It was a little late considering I got the book a few months ago, but it was a great review and I recommend this book a lot to the advanced cardman.
"Be natural"
-Dai Vernon |
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