talkmagic.co.uk

Hi all,

Every comment and piece of advice I have read thus far has been: use poker size cards for everything (especially when learning). If you then want to switch to bridge size later, you'll find the transition easy. This doesn't follow if you learn using bridge and switch to poker later. Ok, that makes perfect sense to me and that's exactly what I've been doing for several months.

However, the footnote on p149 of Mark Wilson's Complete Course (which is awesome!) gives the opposite advice when learning the one-hand cut (basic method). It says "It's best, particularly when first learning, to use the narrow, Bridge-size cards rather than wide Poker-size."

I have no intention of learning with bridge cards, but did wonder why this advice was given. Can anyone enlighten me please? What's the reasoning behind this when conventional wisdom seems to disagree?

Cheers,
Wishmaster

PS You wouldn't believe how many times I've done the 52 Card Pickup this evening lol!!

One handed cut - do you mean the charlier? I'd imagine it's due to the fact that - because the cut is done along the width of the card, which is shorter on bridge cards.

I'd just carry on with poker size, it doesn't make any real difference as far as this is concerned. It's an easy move anyway, give it half an hour and you'll have it down.

it boils down to gaffs normally i think...

bike are the predominant gaffed card types...all effects you buy will give you poker sized gaffs...

however, if you dont buy those kinds of effects, nor are bothered about buying what everyone else does - then pick whatever you like...

i use bridge sized aviators - i can get gaffed cards for these, but i dont use them - i just use them cos i like 'em...

for poker sized, try:
tally ho's (you cant get force decks or anything with these for some reason)
fournier (different feel to them - but they do come with gaffed decks - very nice too)

i used those dan and dave decks for a while, and really liked them..but then strangely just went off 'em...yes, i am very fickle with my cards...i have to "enjoy" them visually for some reason...

hate bikes...

so im summary m'lud - by a couple of decks, try them out, stick to what you like and what makes you comfortable...and learn with those...

though it is a bit like learning to play the spanish guitar, and then switching to an electric...your positioning will be out of kilter....

madvillainy wrote:One handed cut - do you mean the charlier? I'd imagine it's due to the fact that - because the cut is done along the width of the card, which is shorter on bridge cards.

I'd just carry on with poker size, it doesn't make any real difference as far as this is concerned. It's an easy move anyway, give it half an hour and you'll have it down.

Yeah, it's the Charlier

I did have a go with some cheap bridge size cards and couldn't get on with the size at all. It felt really weird to go to something so much narrower.

IAIN wrote:it boils down to gaffs normally i think...

bike are the predominant gaffed card types...all effects you buy will give you poker sized gaffs...

however, if you dont buy those kinds of effects, nor are bothered about buying what everyone else does - then pick whatever you like...

Fair enough. Aside from my beloved ID, I'm not fussed with gaffed cards that much. I was to begin with and bought loads, but now I really prefer effects where a normal deck will do. Not having tried anything other than bikes, I don't know how other brands handle. I might go for some tally ho, fournier and aviators, just to satisfy myself. It's no good keep reading about them.

Cheers Iain

Wishmaster,

I'm also from Yorkshire. When I started out I used all sorts of fake decks, mostly Bikes until I saw a mate of mine challenged with a new deck of Waddingtons. He opened them and did several hours of magic. I realised that everyone in my area knew and recognised Waddingtons and decided to learn sleights instead of using fakes. I've used Waddingtons (bridge) for nearly 20yrs, no one ever challenges them, I hand them out to be shuffled, they get examined occasionally by the smart *rse but there isn't anything to find, because they are a straight deck. I'm happy with Waddingtons, known in Yorkshire as a Leeds based company. OK, I couldn't do many of my sleights with a poker deck, but I can do a good couple of hours with a Waddy deck and could do half an hour with a Bike deck at a pinch if I had to. I'm happy with Waddingtons, I'm sure I would get more raised eyebrows if I used poker cards, but Waddys are always recognised and accepted. Going back a few years, every pub you went in in Wakefield had Waddys if you asked for a pack of cards. Even in Lancashire, Northumberland, South Yorks and Humberside I've never had the cards challenged.

Use what you are comfortable with

PS. Don't take my reccomendation, ask Mark, he changed his name just to appreciate the best (maybe only) Yorkshire card producer.

PPS, Are you still there Mark or has stardom gone to your head ? I'f you have a visit to Merlins planned in the future, how about a pint ?

I don't think there's much of a difference really. You can use whatever you're comfortable with. The Charlier can look very fancy and intimidating but even an hour of dedicated practice is enough to get a good base. So whatever cards you want to use, it really doesn't matter so much. It 's not a question of life and death !!

For palming, it depends the size of your hands.

the Curator wrote:For palming, it depends the size of your hands.

Where did you get that pic of my wife?!?!

Tenko wrote:PPS, Are you still there Mark or has stardom gone to your head ? I'f you have a visit to Merlins planned in the future, how about a pint ?

Im still relatively level headed!!

Been pretty busy recently so havent had much chance to pop over but ill deffinately give you a shout when im there - would be nice to have a catch up and a couple of pints!!

Are you going to Ferrybridge this year?

Mark

Tenko wrote:PS. Don't take my reccomendation, ask Mark, he changed his name just to appreciate the best (maybe only) Yorkshire card producer.

PPS, Are you still there Mark or has stardom gone to your head ? I'f you have a visit to Merlins planned in the future, how about a pint ?

Hi Tenko,

I've noticed that Waddingtons cards are the commonest in shops in Yorkshire. Many newsagents and bookshops sell them. I'm off to Halifax sometime this weekend so might pick up a deck from Toymaster to try them.

Are you connected to Merlins? I was there recently (my first visit) and could have spent a small fortune!

Wishmaster wrote:Where did you get that pic of my wife?!?!

You're married to Brooke Shields?!

And although I don't use 'em, I agree with what's been said about Waddingtons. Outside magic shops they're probably the most widely distributed cards in the UK.

Mr_Grue wrote:You're married to Brooke Shields?!

Yes, frequently. But, then I wake up!

Sorry. Wrong lagoon.

Mr_Grue wrote:Sorry. Wrong lagoon.

Blue or black, she's aged quite well.