This is my first review! I hope it meets the standards.
Title: Gambling Moves with Cards
Performer/Teacher: Simon Lovell
Place of Purchase: Penguin Magic (please don't hate me
)
Price: $52.46
Difficulty Level: 2 - 4. A smooth second and bottom deal are, in my opinion, the toughest things on this or any gambling DVD.
What They Say Comments in red are mine
Ready to add a some of the best gambling sleights to your magical repertoire?
Whether you play 5 Card Draw, Blackjack, Texas Hold-em, or just want some really slick card moves to impress your friends, Simon Lovell will teach you the gambling moves that your friends don't want you to know!
On these DVDs sleight-of-hand expert Simon Lovell has put together an incredible collection of gambling moves and more for your learning pleasure.
Can anyone learn from this DVD?
Everything is fully explained so that, with some practice time, you'll be able to do these moves too! Pretty true
The moves range from easy to knuckle-busting so there really is something for everybody! see my comments on difficulty level
There are bonus magical moves, magical and gambling effects, and even a glimpse into Simon's museum where you'll see ingenious devices from the esoteric world of the cheat! Watch, enjoy and learn from one of the very best! Esoteric world is, I think, a bit overstated. See the review below for further insight.
Disc 1
Shuffles and Cuts
3 Block Shuffle
The Zarrow Shuffle
Gambler's Zarrow Variation
Sloppy False Shuffle
Audible Shuffle
Pop-Over Shuffle
Charlier Shuffle
Push-Through Shuffle
One Handed Riffle Shuffle
Jog Shuffle
False Chop Shuffle
Squish-It Shuffle
Mahatma Control
Out Of Control
Multiple Packet Cuts
Greek Cut
True Cut
Springing the Deck
Frank Thompson's False Cut
Poor Man's Hop
Riffle Cut Control
The Table Hop
Single 4-Way Flourish
Riffle Stacking 101
BONUS:
4 Coin Rollout
Simey's Flippy Switch
Angle of the Dangle
Ralthazab
Disc 2
Gambling Moves
Double Dealing
Push-Off 2nd Deal explained
Second Deal Variations
Using the Second Deal
Bottom Dealing
Multiple Top Changes
Side Steal
A Gambler's Move
Pick a Suit
Hand Mucking
Drawing Cards for the Muck
Disc 3
More Simon Stuff
Center Key Card
Leave it Cut
Table Hop
Poor Man's Hop
Slow-Mo Cut
Riffle Pass
Tepid Tornado
4 AM Shuffle
Wobbly Wombat
The Pass
Gambling Museum
Prism Shoe
Check Cup
Magnetic Dice
Tops & Bottoms
The Belly Hold-Out Switcher
Belly Stripper Deck
Card Punch
What I Say:
Let me say first that I love the Lovell, and I love gambling moves and themes and just gambling in general, which is why I bought it. I have purchased products of his prior to this one, and I have thoroughly enjoyed them. Simon is a talented guy and a good teacher. See below to see how this one ranks.
On the first DVD, he teaches multiple false shuffles and cuts. I did pick-up a couple of cuts that are VERY simple but effective; the illusion is wonderful. Shuffling-wise, I don't know that there's anything on here that will revolution the way you do things now, and there are multiple places to learn the push-through and Zarrow. Actually, there are a couple of shuffles included that are obvious (even to my wife who is not into magic). In all, the moves are explained well. However, in terms of technique, there is no comment on angles or body positioning or how to overcome these and other factors.
In the bonus section, the four coin roll-out doesn't really fit with the theme of "gambling moves WITH CARDS," but I can excuse that. However, I did not really think his application of using it for a "bar bet" was really all that practical or believable. I did, however, enjoy the Ralthazab change and the Angle of the Dangle.
On the second DVD, Simon teaches "Gambling Moves," to include second and bottom dealing. The explanations on these are fairly detailed, with multiple second dealing methods, and discussion of finger flashing. There was even one trick/application of the second deal. However, more time is spent on the second than the bottom deal, which I find harder personally. However, a good portion of this disc isn't up to par. For example, Simon's teaching on mucking cards is not detailed enough in most places, and with the number of mucks out there, he really only teaches one and sort of demonstrates another. And, in certain gambling demos, the muck is an tremendous asset. The section on Multiple Top Changes is short, and it begins with Rob Stiff saying something like "So, the multiple top changes you've been using. . ." But either my DVD is missing the section where he's using them, or this is improperly edited and inserted. The real let-down was Simon's explanation of his side steal. I really enjoyed watching it because it uses some natural cover motions that look good in the example/performance part, he only goes over the mechanics once and not in very much detail, which was rather annoying.
DVD 3 was good. There is some useful insight regarding key cards and ways to leave yourself outs, which can come in handy. The gambling museum, however, seems like a waste of space. It's not really a museum, per se, but rather a section where Simon shows possible tools used by cheats, some of which are cool to see, but none of which are useful in the learning aspect of the DVD. Also, in terms of it being a "museum," there wasn't any information on the history of these items and there entrance into the gambling world, which would have been cool to hear.
One of the things about this DVD that bothered me most was that on 2 or 3 occasions, Simon would start off with aces or something in Gambler's Cop and do a trick. Then, in explaining the trick, he would show it to you starting from that point and say "I'm not going to teach you how to get those cards into that position." Now, this bothers me on a couple of fronts: 1) on DVD 2, he teaches a little bit on how to Draw Cards for the Muck, as well as how to deal yourself extra cards from which you can muck, so he has sort of taught it already; 2) This is an instructional DVD with warnings on the cover and in the intro and on the beginning of each disc. If you don't want people to cheat, then the whole disc should be banned. In terms of putting on a show or demonstration (i.e. performing magic for people), you need to know how to get into position.
Another thing that troubled me a little bit was the number of moves that aren't "gambling" moves per se. Excluding the four coin roll-out, there was a color change, which was pretty neat, but not a gambling move. Also, in the shuffles and cuts section, Simon teaches a few moves that he states aren't really useful in the gambling world. Now, I understand that certain things are incorporated into performances that wouldn't be in an actual backroom gambling setting, so the majority of it is excusable. However, I would have preferred to take a couple of those out and put in a section on the center deal or some additional stacking techniques.
Please don't read this review as wholly negative. I am giving you the sticking points (for me), as they are what detracted from the set. As I mentioned above, I like Simon and his quirkiness. And, the majority of the DVDs were produced and explained well. See below for my overall rating.
In terms of production quality, i give it a 9/10. The video was clear and steady, and the volume was good. I take one point away because there were a couple times when Simon had to tell the camera operators which angle to use or to come in closer, which is kinda funny.
In terms of material, I give is an 7/10, losing three points for not including some things and containing others that are not really "gambling" moves.
Regarding teaching, I give it a 9/10. Simon is a good teacher, but there are some areas where he doesn't go into as much detail as I would have liked.
Overall, I think it's an 8/10. There are multiple sources for learning this stuff if you're into it, and some of them are more in-depth on certain topics, but this DVD does give you a good range of information and at least a decent foundation for exploring other facets more deeply.
Hope this helps!
KG
, but as with any encyclopedic set, you have more than enough material with the Toolbox to keep you busy until Christmas 2074. And, there seems to be quite a bit of shuffles, cuts, deals, and moves to help you out with whatever gambling routine you want to create.
