talkmagic.co.uk

Hi all,

Can anyone recommend a good, clean three card monte? I don't care whether the cards are gaffed or not, but I'd like to avoid any obviously 'magical' endings where cards all change to jokers and whatnot.

So far, I've taken a liking to Tamariz' version, but there's always the danger that a smart@rse spectator will deliberately call you on the 'wrong' cards...

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance,

Pete

The simplest version (and an effective one) is Michael Skinner's.
Otherwise, check the Vernon's version.
The problem with straight version is that they are often boring, and if the spectator guess correctly, you're fried. I may recommand a storytelling version. I have a 3 shell game storytelling version in my gambling demo (the Shellman).
I've a 3 domino monte too, closer to the card game.
If you're interested by 3 shell game versions, I recommand also Bob Kohler's. His approach may inspire you for 3 card monte.
If you're interested by my storytelling version of the 3 shell game, I can PM you the routine in English, for your eyes only. The reading may be of some interest.
Just ask.
For another 3 shell game, don't miss Charlie Frye's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XY_1812N ... re=related

I love Michael Skinner's Ultimate Three Card Monte. Oz Pearlman has an alternative presentation which is just as effective as Skinner's; I think you can view the performance on Penguin Magic's website.

I recommend you check Whit Haydn School for Scoundrels DVD. A lot of detailed explanations about the moves, and the routines are explained in detail. SFS also have a forum - nice people.

They have a great DVD on 3CM, as well as some on Fast and Loose and the three shell game.

http://www.chefanton.com/scoundrelsstore/menu.htm

On the DVD, with Paul Wilson a Gazzo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtEbtQwpwMw

Cheers
LP

I used to do a version using the glide - it came from one of Harry Baron's books - "Magic for Beginners", I think.

Many years ago, I bought a Himber wallet from Supreme and thought up two routines combining Find the Lady and Just Chance. They're written up in Trixagram, but I'm sure you'll see the possibilities.

Barry

I have got the Michael Skinner's Ultimate Monte.
Works all the time!

However, got the feeling that me myself get bored some time with a monte........

pcwells asks about a version on three-card monte that doesn't have a "hokey" magical ending.
My marketed version -- The Game Is Fixed -- seems to fill the bill.
Three cards (and ONLY three cards) are shown, two the same and one odd, the card that you have to find. But the player (my mythical Uncle Linguini) can never find an odd card.
First all three cards become the same as the two shown, then they become the same as the odd one.
Finally the cards explain why you can't win!
The cards are slightly gaffed but will withstand casual examination.
I've done this thousands of times and never been called on it.
E-mail me and I'll send you my online flyer.

Vernon's routine takes some beating. Just lately I have been pondering the possibility of preceding it with Edward Victor's EYE routine but done with regular playing cards instead of alphabet cards. I haven't decided on this yet since I don't want the routine to be too long and convoluted.

Another version is the Dutch Looper. Patrick Page has a more complicated version known as the Kitson Miracle which supposedly has an advantage in that you can show the gaffed cards a bit more freely. In truth I find this to be only a very slight advantage as in any even in either version you can't have the cards examined anyway.

I have sold literally thousands upon thousands of these to laymen and also used them as a giveaway with the svengali deck. I have always been amused that dealers sell the Kitson Miracle or the Dutch Looper at inflated prices while I am merrily giving them away free at some exhibition or flea market somewhere.

If you want to know about the Dutch Looper there is a description of it in Ken Brooke's "The Unique Years"

When doing any kind of three card monte I heartily recommend avoiding the scenario of asking the spectator to guess which one he thinks it is. It slows down the routine, sets up a challenge which you never want in magic and worse of all it is asking for trouble if the spectator gets it right. I do have an excellent out which I can't be bothered describing and I have
used it in the Vernon Routine where only at one point I do ask the spectator which card he thinks it is.

However the best out of all is to avoid asking in the first place or at least keep the asking to a bare minimum. The same goes for the three shell game. I have a great routine for this but again I keep the asking down to two occasions only in the routine.

Thanks everyone! And for anyone else taking an interest in the material mentioned above, all I can say is thank goodness for Lybrary.com!

Christian - I'd love to read your routine.

Cheers,

Pete

Routine PM'd.