Miracle Hands on Deck II E-Book

My new card magic eBook "Miracle Hands on Deck II" is now available at my online shop.

This collection contains 3 of my favourite card effects. The material focuses a full deck, half deck and a packet trick.

As before, these routines are not difficult to do if you considered yourself as an advanced card performer.

You will find effects such as a visual colour changing packet trick, visual card sandwich and a three-phase routine that joins forces with Karl Fulves' "Universal Card", card sandwich and a killer revelation of the Jokers!

Table of Contents:

Half-Pack Sandwich

Based on Alex Elmsley's "Half-Pack Vanish" with the emphasis on visual card magic.

Thanks to Goldstein

A lovely four-phase colour changing packet trick that will delight your audience. You can perform this packet trick at anytime and anywhere. Instant reset!

The Master of Disguise

A visual three-phase routine that will bring your audience an amazing roller-coaster ride and ends with an unbelievable journey!

Here's what a few of them say:

"I love your use of the Elmsley half deck vanish. I have never seen anyone use this in their work (including me!). Well done! You have created a powerful effect with it. I also like Thanks to Goldstein. I have always liked the Golsdstein premise and you have taken it in a new direction. I knew I would like Master of Disguise as soon as I saw it was a Universal Card plot (one of my favourite plots). Great finish with the Royal Flush!"

-- Peter Duffie

"I really like your item Thanks to Goldstein. Very cool!"

-- Mike Powers

"Just read through Andrew's two new PDFs. All in all some very nice effects here. Three effects in each booklet. Very good, commercial card material!"

-- Cameron Francis

"My favorite trick is Thanks to Goldstein, I love packet tricks and this one is superb! The Master of Disguise is a full routine with a lot of effects in it. Really interesting. Miracle Hands on Deck 2 is another great ebook from Andrew."

-- Raphaël Czaja 

This e-book is not suitable for beginners. While all the moves are explained clearly but some previous card handling experience is preferable.

Available at: http://www.cardicianden.com

ALSH

Anilecram - My Review

I'm very excited to indulge myself in going through Michael Kettle's "Anilecram" effect. The reason is simply because firstly, the effect is automatic and secondly, the spectator seems to have a freedom in the process of determining which cards to represent suits and values. So, to wrap up, this is a wonderful routine and I really enjoyed its self-working mechanism. Very clever!

You would like to take note that in terms of the methodology, it's very clever but you need to master one crucial sleight that is the "Perfect Straddle Faro" and there's some set up required in this routine.

But I'm sure that fellow readers may familiar with the system. However, if you don't, Michael explains this in the manuscript too. The first section starts off with a very brief introduction on the "Set up" system, "The Straddle Faro" and finally, the handling and methodology, everything is explained in detail.

In terms of the layout and illustrations of the eBook, he also provides the source of inspiration and I really like the overall presentation. In spite of the nature of the effect is not completely impromptu, however, the choice of determining which cards to represent suits and values are free. There is no magician's choice or equivoe used in this routine which is great.

Overall, I think it's worth to get a copy and try out this effect to yourself. It's really cool and you may like its self-working mechanism!

ALSH

Miracle Hands on Deck E-Book

My new card magic eBook "Miracle Hands on Deck" is now available at my online shop.

This collection contains 3 of my favourite card effects that specially catered for stand-up performance. 

These routines are not difficult to do if you considered yourself as an advanced card performer. You will find effects such as card sandwich, cards separation and in the hands visual two-packet transposition.

All the effects can be done completely impromptu. Just bring a deck of cards with you and ready to perform at a moment's notice.

Table of Contents: 

Pocket Filter 

Based on Alex Elmsley's "Colour Filter" but without the use of handkerchief! Convince your spectator that the cards filter through magical tunnels! 

Optical Zones 

A visual two-packet transposition that happens in the hands of the performer. 

A Sandwich Choice 

The Kings instantly vanish, reappear and trap the spectator's selection in the deck which held by the spectator!

Here's what a few of them say:

"Just tried them with cards in hands! Pure Andrew Loh magic! The simplicity of each effect along with direct methods make this ebook worth a purchase."

-- Raphaël Czaja

"The ebook is first rate. All three routines: Pocket Filter / Optical Zones & A Sandwich Choice are really well constructed and very effective. My favourite is Pocket Filter -- a great performance piece."

-- Peter Duffie

"Just wanted to say, Andrew's new Ebook: Miracle Hands on Decks is awesome! Contains 3 great, commercial effects, that aren't too hard to do. Crediting is great, and the illustrations are a work of art! Well done Andrew!"

-- Kyle MacNeill

"These 3 effects, after my test on the road, work very well in real world I have very glad to use them in my performance."

-- Tommaso Guglielmi

This e-book is not suitable for beginners. While all the moves are explained clearly but some previous card handling experience is preferable. 

Available at: http://www.cardicianden.com

ALSH

Double Scam - My Review

"Double Scam" is a lovely card effect by Michael Daniels based on Tommaso Guglielmi's "Subtle Scam" idea. I really admired his work in this collection. To those of you ACAAN fans out there, "Double Scam" may be your delicious treat because in this version, this can be done with a borrowed deck, completely impromptu, no force, and best of all, no complicated calculations. That's right, no counting numbers again in your mind. That's the beauty of this version and once you understand how it works, it will work automatically.

Let's start off by listing some of the basic information. It's a 13-page eBook, file size is about 1.12 MB and the overall layout of the eBook is excellent. Mike starts off by explaining the presentation of the effect which is good because it gives a brief idea how the effect plays out to the audience.

It's my preference to read any effect before indulging myself straight into the secret or explanation section. Mike did an excellent job for that. In addition, many colourful photos are shown in the explanation section so, you don't need to worry about following the routine.

I also like the way Mike gives some good introduction at the "Method" section to the reader how his version evolved based on Tommy's "Subtle Scam" in great detail and to be honest, if you are a vivid fan of ACAAN, I urge you to read Tommy's "Subtle Scam" and this guy has a wide range of excellent ACAAN effects in other eBooks as well. However, I don't have the intention to make a comparison between Michael and Tommy's work on the ACAAN because I believe each versions has its own strengths and merits.

Let's discuss in terms of the methodology. First thing first, if you expect this is a "Hands-Off" approach, I'm afraid I have to tell you this is not. But, to be honest, I don't mind at all simply because this can be done completely impromptu and ends with a big ending. In this version, it's a two-phase routine where the mentalist and spectator each selects a card and number. I know what you're thinking. Maybe you think that there's a "fishing" technique involved. But surprisingly not! Keep in mind that, you won't find any "fishing" technique and best of all, you just need to remember some very simple arithmetic calculations which you will understand easily in minutes!

However, there is some slight weakness in the methodology but you don't have to worry, because Mike explained how to overcome this in "Dealing with a Card Shortage" section. There is some additional work needed from the performer to handle this particular phase.

Some of the essential card sleights such as Mike's "Passover Cut" that is very deceptive, Jay Ose's "False Cut" and "False Three-Heap Cut" (after Walter B. Gibson) are explained clearly as well. Mike also includes useful notes that you may want to refer in the explanation section.

As I mentioned earlier, if you are a fan of Tommy's work, it's worth your time and money to check out "Double Scam" which I can see myself using. I look forward to performing this for the next event!

Highly recommended!

ALSH

Lucky Charms - New Packet Trick

This is one of my most favourite packet tricks. Basically, this effect does not require intensive sleight of hand and is highly entertaining.

In performance, the performer removes and displays the "stars" cards and places them into the four-leaf-clover cards. Magically, the star card disappears in the four-leaf-clover cards! For the end climax, the performer picks up the blended cards and deals the JUMBO four-leaf-clover cards on the table!

Don't miss this wonderful packet trick as it plays well with any audience and they will love the final climax that they don't see it coming.

Add this packet trick into your working repertoire today!

Comes complete with the necessary Bicycle cards, a transparent card wallet and instruction booklet.

Here's what a few of them say:

There is much to like here. The presentation with the stars and four-leaf clovers is great fun and great magic. I also like that it is well-constructed and requires minimal sleight of hand (a couple of easy counts). A nice routine to carry and perform for all types of audience.
-- Peter Duffie

Available at: http://www.cardicianden.com

ALSH

Magicians Do Red Nose Day

This month, I contributed one of my items from my upcoming "Fiver with a Deck of Cards" to the Red Nose Day (http://www.rednoseday.com/) to Jamie Daws, whose in charge for compiling the materials and producing the pdf to raise fund for the charity event.

I would like to thank Jamie Daws for taking the effort in compiling the materials from other top names in magic such as Ben Harris, Liam Montier, Peter Duffie, Darren McQuade and others. In addition, Jamie's design and layout of the pdf deserved to be praised. The materials are great and it's just £5 to donate. However, this pdf is only available temporary from 17th Match until 1st April 2011.

There are a total of nine effects in this pdf and I find the materials are interesting. I hope fellow readers may purchase the pdf to raise the funds to help those in needs and at the same time, you will get a taste to some of the excellent materials.

Available at: http://jamiedaws.com/rndpdf and http://www.peterduffie.com/

ALSH

Dark Thief & Entanglement - My Review

This is my second attempt in going through Tommy's latest offering - Dark Thief & Entanglement. Once again, I would like to say I'm impressed on most of his ACAAN work and admired his thinking in all his creations. Although at first I had some difficulty in going through some of the materials, but eventually I got through them.

To be honest, my background as a serious cardician, I am so used to sleights or moves to create card effects all over the years or in that kind of category. When comes to ACAAN, I really seldom read those stuff even if I do, most of the stuffs involve gaffs which eliminate principles or other tools.

I always attracted to non-gaff stuff because the nature of my performing style. But I don't mind if there is a slight set up which I believe it can be done in a matter of seconds. However, in Tommy's offering, the stuffs can be done without any gaff which really surprise me. But of course, there is some other trade offs too. This is where I think (even now) Tommy has invested his huge amount of time in experimenting the routine as well as the methods. I am not going to list all the items but rather I'll start off reviewing with three of my favourite items.

The first one is "The Dark Thief" and this is one of my favourites. According to the author, this version is an improvement based on his previous released that published in Silent Running by Ben Harris. I can't comment that previous version because I haven't read or tried it. I really like this effect and the reason is simple, you can perform this with a normal deck of cards. I really like this two-phase routine where two spectators are involved. I have been using this and I really like the reaction from my friends. It's just that good, really.

My next favourite list is going to be "Entanglement" that I thought awesome! Again, the deck is non-gaff and in the process, everything seems fair and involves two spectators. I am not going to reveal much on this one. In short, I really have a great time in performing this one.

The next list is "Enigma" and once again, a hands-off, two-phase version and best of all, it's so easy to perform. I really like the patter given by Tommy. I haven't tried this effect with my friends so I cannot guarantee how it plays with layman. But by judging the nature of this effect, in the first phase, it looks like you are able to reveal the spectator's selection based on the tone of her voice. However, this phase is quite tedious because it involves some writing. But it pays off later for the next phase. The final phase it's my favourite because it combines with ACAAN that works automatically (remember I explained in the first phase was quite tedious in terms of writing?). I am not going to explain in much detail but I think I will definitely try performing this when I have the chance.

Overall, I really like the materials in this collection. I think if you invest your time in reading and trying Tommy's stuffs, not only you enjoy his creative materials but you will appreciate some of the ideas or methods that can be used to create another effect or routine. I think it's possible because once you know the secret or work, you may come up with your own handling. I think if you like ACAAN stuff, you will enjoy the material in this collection.

I'm addicted to Tommy's materials, I really can't wait to read his new material in the future.

Highly recommended!

Available at: http://sites.google.com/site/m2mmagictrick

ALSH

The Charred Cards - New E-Book

I just released my latest eBook "The Charred Cards" and this effect has been in my mainstay for many years simply because the nature of the effects that involves fire and ashes.

This effect is based on combinations of plots and the interesting part of this trick is that you can perform for a normal setting or as bizarre magic.

Anything that has a relation to ashes you can optimise your presentation whatever you think fits its premise. I have been using this in my entire career as a cardician.

Basically, the plot is you burn the back of a court card and will use it to locate two freely selections in the deck. The first phase is you cause the burnt card to turn invisible and locate the spectator's card. For the second phase, you apply the ash mark onto the spectator's palm and you transfer the ash-mark to locate the final card.

Here's what a few of them say:

"This is excellent."
-- Peter Duffie


"I had the pleasure to read about the The Charred Cards. What I can say, that it is an excellent effect that I will use over and over again."
-- Tommaso Guglielmi


"This is indeed a very good effect. It takes Sankey's Carbon Paper to a new level. Really, really good and well constructed routine."
-- Cameron Francis


"Everything is well explained and although there are some sleights in it (which are not explained), it's a great "simple" effect. The "convincer" method makes the trick complete. That's what I like in this method; the convincer. It's not the effect that's new or stunning, but it's the way it's brought and achieved. Is this trick worth it? Yes, because it will allow you to create a "miracle" with a little effort." 
-- Kevin van Hoof

Available at: http://www.cardicianden.com

ALSH

Manual Impact - My Review

Let me start off by saying, "This is an awesome card magic eBook!" I really like some of the card magic routine. I received a review copy from Chris and honestly speaking, by reading this book, you will appreciate Chris's thinking and construction some of the effects which I thought very clever.

The entire eBook is well laid out but the only criticism I would like to make is, it would be great if Chris could make the background in plain colour such as white, etc because that would make the reader feels comfortable to read through the screen. Chris covers everything in vivid details with colourful photographs. For the effects as reviewed by the top reviewers, the first section starts off with detailing some of the key sleights that used in the eBook. I also appreciate some thoughts from Chris which the way he handles some of the moves that covered in this section. Obviously, by reading this section, this entire eBook is telling you the story that, this eBook is definitely not suitable to beginners. The skills range from intermediate to advanced. I found some of the sleights and moves are not easy such as CP Fling Change but I really liked the idea.

I am attracted to the effects such as Animate 2.0 which I find the climax is very surprising. Other effects such as "Are Blue Reddy?", "Tranpost", "Unprint" and others really caught my attention in terms of the ideas. I am sure by reading Chris's effects, you may adapt your own handlings in order to achieve those plots.

I am not sure whether this is Chris's ever first release of his material but I am sure that he has a brilliant mind in creating wonderful card magic and I look forward to reading his material (if any) in the future. Highly recommended!

ALSH