Before we begin:
1. This is my first post and therefor naturally my first review.
2. Im new to magic and preserve the right to be complitely wrong
3. English is not my first language
So please be gentle
Full Title:
The Expert at the card table - The Classic Treatise on Card Manipulation.
Price: ca 9 pound
Introduction:
The book was writen by S.W. Erdnase aka E.S Andrews in 1902 and has never been out of print. Originally the book was inteded to deal only with gambling techniques, but Andrews was persuaded to add a section on magic.
Contets:
Blind Shuffles
Bottom Dealing
Top and Bottom Dealing with one hand
Secong Dealing
Stock and Cull Shuffling
Palming
To maintain the bottom while dealing
To hold the location of cut while dealing
Shifts aka passes
To ascertain the top cards while riffling and reserve them at bottom
Mode of holding the hand
Skinning the hand
The Player whitout an Ally
Three card Monte
Forcing
Changes
Transformation
Methodes for determining a card thought of
To get sight of selected card
The slide
Favorite sleights for terminating tricks
Card tricks
Review:
This was actually my first book on magic and i found it good, but a bit advanced. So i picked up RRTCM (which needs no introduction) and I think these two books combines very well. Whenever i want to find out more about a subject i refere to Andrews.
The author clearly has a deep insight and understanding of card handling and does not only describe how you do techniques but when and why.
The book itself is butefully writen and shows the authors love for "the game". as shown in this quote: " The art of card palming can be brought to a degree of perfection that borders on the wonderfull"
Another thing i realy like is that his method are tryed out and used under such harsh conditions. Even thouh i dont know for sure, I can imagine that the penelty for cheating in the old days where hard. So I feel i can trust that most of his methodes are good.
On the bad side I do think the layoutof the book could be better. Sometimes when i look at my hands to check there position i cant find back to where I am in the instructions and have to start all over.
Another bad point which Martin Gardner points out in the Forword is:
quote: "There is controversy over how much material Andrews omitted - secrets he preferred not to revel - as well as the extend to which he may have knowingly given inferior methods." Which gives a beginner like my self a bit unsertenty. But on the good side i think it keeps me "on the guard"
Difficulty: (out of 5): 2 - 5
Conclution:
All in all i realy like this book. In faqt the more i learn the more i like it. I know its not worth much comming from a beginner but i highly recommend The Expert at the Card Table.
9/10
Please feel free to comment or ask questions
