Maybe some of you noticed that Andy Nyman's fantastic CODE thread was removed whole here some time ago - even though it was voted as the #2 effect last year by Café members as I recall.

With that even a Google search shows almost nothing at all on the Code here in the Café - no tips, hints, reviews, nada.

So I thought WTH, lets start a new one. If you have it you know it is one of the best and most elegantly ingenious MD's ever created. It incorporates ideas and principals that are layered and allow many effects that were only once possible for those who took the time to learn a skill that many might not have taken the time to learn.

But the main reason I decided to resuscitate THE CODE thread was that last night I was reading through the lecture notes of one of my top 3 Mentalists and dear friends Marc Spelmann. In his notes "Prothoplastus Of Plures" Marc has a fantastic effect called "Progressive Improbability" that actually exactly uses and foreshadows the identical methodology Andy Nyman uses in The Code. So far I don't remember any attribution to Marc, who states that this idea goes back to his fabulous 2004 Chapters Of Marc Spelmann DVD release.

For anyone that owns The Code, I would suggest grabbing a copy of Marc's notes which I believe are still available at Alakazam's site. You will find that Marc's Progressive Improbability routine is a superb routine utilizing the same ideas as The Code - with some twists and nuances that any mentalist will love.

I wish Marc would chime in here on the origins and history of his 2004 idea. I don't recall any credit given to Marc by Andy on the DVD, but I may be mis-remembering as it has been some time since I watched it and the concept may pre-date Marc...

Thanks Brett will check them out. 👍

I didn't see the Prothoplastus lecture notes on Alakazam's site - but for Marc's superb Penguin lecture the notes were apparently available for those who pre-ordered the lecture.

Check your Penguin downloads and you may have it available?

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......orum=218

How does the routine play out? Can you give a description?

Marc's last post here was 4 years ago and he has 666 posts. Lol.

I have the Code, and I like the routines a lot. However, I find that the marks too obvious. When I first received the deck, I was thinking "see if I can find the marks without watching the DVD first". Guess what? I found them in a few seconds!!

Funny that, seeing as you knew it was a marked deck. Jeez.

Marc's leaving at 666 was more than coincidence lol. I'm hoping he returns though!

As far as the mar*s- sure if you know the deck is that then you are looking for them. I've never been caught.

The routine that Marc came up with is a series of revelations each with a more impossible reveal. Tye final reveal finds that their chosen card is reveled with a matching odd backed card in your pocket. It's very nice.

Marc kindly clarified that his concept and the code are derived from Lee a Earle and Larry Becker's "Devil's Deck."

Well, I was expecting it to be something like Boris Wild's MD - something not as obvious.

Sorry Becker's creation was the DEMON DECK (no longer available)

Apparently the SUM Deck also uses a similar concept

I need to watch the DVD again. I have to say my favourite effect is knowing how many cards have been cut off. What is yours Brett?

The ultimate mar&$; deck has the very same code only in a different place. Heck, I like how both decks are designed. I still have to wear my eye glasses to see what I need to see.

I have used both deck a few times and never worry about getting found out..... Why would you worried?

If anything, talking to magicians here, do some card tricks and ring in this deck. Cards are cards so just treat them as such. There should be no heat on the cards unless the magician puts it there himself.....


Ray

Over the last few weeks I've been using The Code with RA.

When it comes time for me to do the move, The Code makes it SOOO easy.
I can have the spectators cut the cards, and then I spread through the cards face down to instantly locate where I have to c**.

Since RA defaults to Tamariz's stack, it works with The Code right out of the box!

Good times,
G Ro

I love the code and I it's only obvious if you know what to look for. Perfect for me as I can spot the marks very quickly but I've never had anyone else suspect it is marked. The position number is just too small for my eyes without glasses so I never use that feature.

Mark

Have you tried contacts Mark?

Contacts are no good because I only require glasses for reading and so with contacts I'd be able to read but wouldn't be able to see anything else.

Mark

I would have to agree with the posters who found the m******s a little blatant. But judging from the advertising and demo I had always assumed Andy was aiming the deck more as a mass market effect for relative beginners in mentalism or magicians wanting to mix in a little mentalism who are unwilling to invest the time in m***** techniques?

That said, anyone spectator who would demand to study a deck for m**** would presumably have the intelligence to know the full proof method of finding them, no matter how well hidden.

I personally picked them up because my eyes are just not up to the job and when someone showed me the deck I could see the marks without any problem. The Ted Lesley deck is even more blatant because the marks don't blend into the design the way the code ones do and I've never been caught with the Ted Lesley deck. I have several Ted Lesley decks and a Boris Wild deck but my eyes have got to the point that I would now have to focus to read them and that would definitely telegraph them. With the code I can read them without even appearing to look at them.

Mark