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Im currently surfing the panguin magic and magicbox websites in search of a good couple of packet tricks to keep me occupied while my Michael Ammars dvd shows up. Got me wondering what everybodys favourite packet tricks are to perform.

Mine are (in order of preference): Queens Out Of Control, NFW (well, my version isnt really NFW, it uses Fives instead of Aces but is still the same effect) and a sandwich effect i picked up from ebay called Monkey in the Middle. I also like to perform 3 Colour Monte and the ID.

Also, I am looking at buying Paperclipped by Jay Sankey ( [urlhttp://www.penguinmagic.com/europe/product.php?ID=12]click here[/url] ). Anybody own this trick and can give some info on the kind of reactions you get when you perform it and if its easy to perform, etc.?

Thanks, Rich

Hey Trickyricky....

I am a big fan of "Twisting the Aces" and have used it extensively......I have made a slight variation to it to suit my needs. I also love the "Asher Twist" by lee asher......it is truly stunning. If you have not seen it performed, you need to watch the man himself "Lee Asher" perform it on his website.

Paper-clipped is a fantastic effect but it will take a good deal of practise to perfect. However, Jay Sankey covers everything thouroughly enough and after some work, you'll have a miracle on your hands. I used to use Paperclipped as a finisher to my ambitious card routine; it works really well.

As for packet tricks, anything by Gordon Bean is always worthwhile. To be honest, there's so many out there, your best bet is to go for the one which sounds fun.

Some of my favorite packet tricks are:

Mondo Monte - I don't know of a place that sells it anymore - but it's one of my absolute favorites. I won't go into detail here - if you're interested in hearing about it, PM me.

Platonism - Another three card routine which I find very powerful. The only downside is that the cards required are hard to find, and my version uses skimpy cards. If anyone knows where I can find mirror-backed bicycle cards in the US, please let me know.

Twisted Sisters - John Bannon - One of the best packet effects ever. Get it!

Presto Printo is a killer effect by Daryl

Compact Compass - Jay Sankey - This is a variation of the color monte trick. I find this one to be much better, personally.

The following aren't packet tricks - but if you like strolling and quick hit effects - the following two are ESSENTIAL (I think so, anyway)

Jim Steinmeyer's Worlds Thinnest Deck - Excellent mentalism-style effect

Jim Steinmeyer's One Card Monte - Killer effect that is SOOO simple to do.

Packet tricks are among my favorite magic items - so feel free to pm me or message me anytime. I love talking about them. Also look up mark_c1975 - he's another packet trick lover.

Demitri, you beat me to it, but I second everything he said. They're all great tricks, and I would mention these on top:

Elmsley's '4 Card Trick', and 'Twisters Flush'
Ascanio's 'Upturned One' and 'Ladies Sing The Blues' (similar to Mondo Monte)

I would also recommend Mentzer's book called 'Counts, Cuts, Moves and Subtlety' which details all those tricky slights you need to perform packet tricks.

If you've got any specific questions, feel free to drop me a PM, and I'll do my best to help.

Cheers,

Twisted Sisters does it for me (on Demitri's recommendation ages ago actually - thanks). Several different effects in one which actually DO build on each other well, not just for sake of it. Am I the only person who doesn't actually like NFW?

Oh just noticed and updated my profile - it's my birthday, more tricks on the way I think!

Not really a packet trick, but i always have some cards in my pockets ready to go for a card warp.

I got Twisted Sisters on Demitri's recommendation too! Maybe he should get some comission from John Bannon

So what does everyone like about packet tricks?

Bundy wrote:Not really a packet trick, but i always have some cards in my pockets ready to go for a card warp.

I really like card warp, but how do you 'prepare' for it? i normally keep one card prepared, but does anyone prepare it on the spot?

kems wrote:

Bundy wrote:Not really a packet trick, but i always have some cards in my pockets ready to go for a card warp.

I really like card warp, but how do you 'prepare' for it? i normally keep one card prepared, but does anyone prepare it on the spot?

I've heard of people doing it on the spot, but personally, I'f I'm going to do it, I'll prepare it all before hand.

Thanks for reminding me of this trick. I've just had about 20 minutes of fun re-discovering it .

Twisted sister is the only packet trick that I use when table hopping.

Personally, I love Queens out of control but don't table hop with it. I use it more for just showing friends.

I don't view Presto Printo as a packet trick as it requires a deck as part of the presentation but it's a killer routine in my view.

I agree that Presto Printo isn't a packet trick per se, but it is good to carry round if you were going to table-hop. You just have to make sure you know where the force card is. Just leave it at the bottom as Daryl suggests.

I'm surprised you don't table hop with Queens Out Of Control dat, it's a good one, and you even get it in it's own card case, like you do with Twisted Sisters.

Printing On Demand is another good one, but I was disappointed I didn't get it in it's own case, as I think it's good to carry a few packets around with you if table-hopping.

Plus, if you've got the full deck with you (for Presto Printo), you can always have the cards available in it for Jumping Gemini, or any other ungimmicked packet trick.

I always think people are more surprised when you do a trick with 4 cards than a whole deck. A classic example was when I showed my friend Elmsley's 4 Card Trick, and his reaction to it was along the lines of:

'I never thought you could do sleight of hand with only 4 cards'

It's as if they expect you to be fiddling with the cards when you have a whole deck, but when you only have a small amount of cards, how can you possibly fiddle the cards without them seeing anything?

Does anyone else find this?

I'm with dat on Queens out of Control - It's not the best for table hopping because it takes a while to perform. Also, in my experience - while table hopping you don't always have much of a TABLE to perform on, and Queens out of control needs space to put the cards down. I guess you could use the spec's hands - but they'd get tired of it pretty quickly.

I didn't think about the need of a deck for Presto Printo, so I apologize for mentioning that one as it doesn't meet the original request. Still a good effect, though.

As for Card Warp - I'll have it prepared before I approach.

Good point about Queens... I've only had it a short time, and have only done it on large surfaces. Apologies there.

Not at all - we all find different things from different trick and to me, this is part of what make magic enjoyable.

I find that Queens needs quite a bit of concentration from the specs and that's not always possible. If they miss a bit for whatever reason then I find that the trick is lost on them. Maybe it's to do with the length or not? Despite this and as I said, it is one of my personal favorites.

I agree that Presto Printo is a good table hopper but I prefer to find the card and manipulate it through a spread cull rather then leaving it at the bottom.