talkmagic.co.uk

Hi!

What is, in your opinion, the best way to separate reds and black from a shuffled deck? I'm looking for a 26/26 separation, not alternated 4 x 13.

I enjoy performing OOTW but as I don't think it is a trick to begin a routine with , I cannot start from an already set up deck.

The options I can think of are:

- Find a quicker way to deal the cards, maybe half of an already set up deck, and start the routine with it.

- Leave it in the middle / end of the routine, switch the deck to a set up one.

- Leave it in the middle / end of the routine, sort reds / blacks in full view. What is your favorite method if you do it like that?

Thanks!

LP.

A Str***er deck is exellent for OOTW

jim

Not sure if this is useful to you, but Rick Maue has an effect called (I think) A Dash Of Curry. It requires you to openly remove two suits, one red and one black. It's perfectly possible to run Lennart Green's angle separation as you pull out the required suits, leaving you with the remainder of the deck in red black order. At the end of the effect you can easily ensure that the deck is reassembled in full red-black order. There's a similar effect in Brook's Alchemical Tools.

EDIT - Come to think of it, A Dash of Curry requires you to remove two suits chosen by the participant, so not necessarily one red or one black. Either way it gives you a good opportunity to separate the deck into red and black.

There is a good example of the angle separation on Devils Picturebook. It's also useful for tips on covering it with patter. His version is fun.

if you have the patter to justify it, lennert greens '1-2 separation' is almost certainly the easiest.

Culling! The Road Runner Cull by Kostya Kimlat is gold.

You may also want to consider developing a routine that can be done set up for OOTW from the start. If an effect doesn't require you to openly show the cards then a red-black set up will go unnoticed. If you need the spectator to shuffle the deck, then an overhand shuffle will not disrupt the order too much (a Sadowitz ploy, I believe) or alternatively you could separate the deck in two, have the spec shuffle one half as you shuffle the other, and then (because they shuffled their half so well) have them shuffle the second half too.

I sometimes perform Gemini Twins from a red-black set up. It doesn't take much effort to correct the deck at the end. I'd worked on the set to be performed with a borrowed deck, and would angle separate the deck out under the guise of counting the cards to ensure the deck was complete. This would be done quickly before anything happens. If things haven't started yet, you have a little bit more leeway when it comes to "admin".

Wow! Thank you very much!

I've never used a stripper deck before, but based on what I know about it, it sounds like a great idea. Would it allow you to move into OOTW at any point mid-routine? (assuming that you had done the initial set up before starting).

I've been looking to purchase Lennart Green's angle separation booklet, and yesterday also checked the 1-2 separation you mentioned, but I think they are no longer marketed? Do you know where I might have more luck? I don't fancy splashing out on a full 6 DVDs set...

BTW - is there much difference between the Green and Brown versions?

And finally, thanks for reminding me about the Road Runner. I use the cull, but usually for max 4 cards when I get into a 4 Ace trick etc... I learned it from Ian Morran's Cullfather - which I cannot remember teaches a full colour separation (will double check). I've been thinking about getting this DVD for a while, but I wasn't sure if it made sense considering I already have Cullfather. What do you think?

Thanks again!

LP.

Mr_Grue wrote: alternatively you could separate the deck in two, have the spec shuffle one half as you shuffle the other, and then (because they shuffled their half so well) have them shuffle the second half too.

Nice! Very good idea this. I would look very fair indeed once the deck is separated!

I'm thinking a crimp would help it look very fair when picking your half to shuffle.

gunnarkr wrote:Culling! The Road Runner Cull by Kostya Kimlat is gold.

Seconded. Despite another comment elsewhere about the Cull, I can assure you it won't take you a year to learn, and if memory serves, Kostya even talks you through the red / black separation...don't quote me on that though.

Alternatively why not perform Rostani's Cosmos effect? Which is OOTW but you openly sort the deck out into red and black in front of the spectators. If you didn't want to open with an OOTW type effect but still wanted one in your routine, it would appear logical.

Grimshaw wrote:

gunnarkr wrote:Culling! The Road Runner Cull by Kostya Kimlat is gold.

Seconded. Despite another comment elsewhere about the Cull, I can assure you it won't take you a year to learn, and if memory serves, Kostya even talks you through the red / black separation...don't quote me on that though.

Alternatively why not perform Rostani's Cosmos effect? Which is OOTW but you openly sort the deck out into red and black in front of the spectators. If you didn't want to open with an OOTW type effect but still wanted one in your routine, it would appear logical.

Dammit! He's released a second DVD! But hey, you save $10 if you buy both. Bargain!

http://www.kostyamagic.com/products.php


LP.

the roadrunner cull will take some considerable time to learn, and if the plan is to cull 26 cards, to get it looking in any way deceptive we are talking years.

also, the green and brown separation are the same thing. on TDPB he is describing green's angle separation.

Le Petit Bateleur wrote:I've never used a stripper deck before, but based on what I know about it, it sounds like a great idea. Would it allow you to move into OOTW at any point mid-routine? (assuming that you had done the initial set up before starting).

Yes. With the cards 'set' from the start you can shuffle them (as can the spectators) do other effects, and at any time you can go into OOTW

jim

the stackman wrote:if you have the patter to justify it, lennert greens '1-2 separation' is almost certainly the easiest.

By far the easiest.

Culling all the reds isn't all that bad - it takes practise, but what doesn't? The one problem is that your angles are bad. You need a spec looking at the faces, because from the backs culling is ugly as hell.