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How many of you use the Classic force and can do it well, I personally do not do it that well but should by now as I have every opportunity to do the Classic as I have no other worries with cards so if it fails I could do another trick but would love to hear from anyone who could help me with this!

I have many other forces that work just as well in their own right and also the right situation and I believe I have the experience to know when to use the right force, I just wish I could do the Classic force well and I can't

There's no need to feel you should be able to do the Classic force well. If you have forces that work well for you and are impercetible to the lay then you need not worry. As for wanting to do the Classic force well, the only way is to practice practice practice I'm afraid.

One of my favourites is a double cut force.

I've recently begun using the classic force more because I think it is so deceptive. When I ask a spectator to take a card, I rarely fan them (if ever), I just spread them out, as I would in a classic force.

Similarly I also use the Riffle force quite alot because it seems so fair. I used to use the cross cut and cut deeper forces alot but to me they just seem redundant as I would never ask a spectator to do that unless I was trying to do something sneeky.

There are 52 cards in a deck, surely the fairest way to choose one is to spread them out so you have a free choice? That is why I use a classic force; it doesn't seem like a force at all.

However, like you say, it is always a good idea to have an out when using the classic force. There are actually a few reasonable escape routes for when it goes wrong, most notably using the force card (which obviously hasn't been forced) as a key card as the selected card is returned to the deck. I'm sure you've got your own ways of getting out of this anyway.

The bottom line is that the Classic Force is a very deceptive force. It may seem guttsy at first but once you get used to it, it is a fantastic tool for deception.

I improved my classic force by forcing all the time when I didn't have to. Whenever I did a trick where a card is selected and it can be a real free choice, I'd classic force anyway just for the practise.

I think the biggest tip for classic force is confidence and attitude. If you can really come over as 'it not mattering which they pick' and don't look at the deck as you force - you'll hit it more often.

I use an out which I got from Tom Mullica, although it might not be original to him. I got for classic force and if it misses then I have a 'second card selected' but this time I go to someone else who is just out of reach, begin to fan for them and kind of realise they are too far away (but I don't verbally say so), and just say "ohh just call stop" and riffle force.

Now the first person who I missed the classic force on, I say "we'll find yours the easy way" (its still on the table), turn it face up and say "there it is". This gets a good laugh and you can continue with the trick that needed the force thanks to the "second selection".

Hope some of this helps

Andy

Hey thanks Andy for that great tip!

As most have said so far, and I know you are right, I need to practice the Classic to get the technique and I should have the confidence already but somehow with this I don't, I do with everything else but not this....weird eh!!

Presently, I use the riffle down, the stop cut, and a force which I learnt from a Martin Nash Video (which he credited to Harry Loraine), but my favourite is the stop cut as it just works and is so convincing!

I really hate the slip cut force, although I can do it well, I have seen it done so badly by a lot of people including Martin Daniels on Telly and I just cringed! Maybe I should say I hate to see it done badly, which it is by lots of magicians!!

should have the confidence already but somehow with this I don't, I do with everything else but not this....weird eh!!

We've all got something that beats us! I found the MCF considrably easy to master - took only one deck to fully get it every time! But Flight 204, p'ah, forget it!!!

I use the Hofsinzer Spread Cull force...IMHO it's almost as good as the Classic and is soooooooooooo much easier to do (that's not saying it's easy ). Basically, the secret is aaaaarrrrgghhhhhhh.

Yep..

I too use the Hofsinzer Spread Cull force as I find it fairly easy to do and can practice it without having to actually have someone to force to. I think it looks as fair as the classic force.

The other one I use is the standard Cross Cut Force (the simple one). Sounds like it wouldn't work but no one has ever guessed what is actually going on.

I have to say that a lot of getting these two to work is simple misdirection (as well as some skill for the Hofsinzer)

Slippery

SlipperyPenguin wrote:I have to say that a lot of getting these two to work is simple misdirection (as well as some skill for the Hofsinzer)

Slippery, I don't mean for this to sound like I'm having a go because I'm not , but that's true of any force.

If somebody was to ask "what force should I use for this effect...?" then, personally, my response would be use any force that you are comfortable with. However, if we were to discuss the benefits of one force over another (which I think we are) my answer would be try using the Classic Force and if that doesn't work use the Riffle Force. Those are my personal choices, but another possible which has been raised is the Hofsinzer Spread Cull Force, but personally, I don't see any advantage of it over the Classic force.

I also think a magician can learn alot from using the Classic Force. It is audience managment at it's most fundamental level.

The best way to practice the Classic is to have a few decent reveals, I use the Braue Reversal and Card Spin. If they don't take the Classic card just have it returned to the deck, cut it to the top and reveal it.

I went round most of the youngsters in my sons local pub last night and the Classic only failed once. Its just practice.

Thanks to all for the great tips, I presently use the Hofsinzer Spread Cull Force, but only use it occasionly, I prefer to use the stop cut........I suppose to learn the Classic, I will just have to bite the bullet and do it.....

I also think the riffle down force is great, I think most forces have their merits and if they work and fit into your performance then that's ok but I think you can't beat the Classic done well!

On the subject of the Classic, because of the fact that you cannot guarantee its sucess every time, I do not produce any form of prediction prior to the force (just in case).

As a result, if its sucessfull I tend to do a simple mind reading to identify the spectators card. ie, hold the girls hand and get her to think of the colour, then the suit, then the spots etc.

If its a bloke I tend to miss out the holding hands bit

Anyone got any other suitable reveals Feel free to PM me