talkmagic.co.uk

I created a new routine today which I have entitled "The Impossible Do As I Do". Does anyone have any advice on reading marked cards quickly. In this situation I've gotta find the card I want from the full deck spread face down on the table after shuffling. I can normally find it pretty fast but would like to be fater and therefore wondered if any of you amazing magi's out there had tips for finding it quickly. BTW I'm using the Boris Wild marked deck.

Well if you know the suit of your card then you only have to go thru 13 cards...if it's spade you know where to look when spreading cards...

would like to be fater

Try eating more pizza.

But seriously it's darn hard to read BW quickly every time, only way of improving is practise and to use the deck even when it's not needed and try and always read the card whether or not it's actually required for the routine your doing. The other answer is careful routining that gives you more time.

Well, personally I wouldn't like to have to find the right card from a spread deck. As HT said, though, you need to routine this effect carefully to make sure it works.

Are you sure you can't avoid having to find it? Maybe a pocket index etc? If not, I guess the best tip would be to try to find something to do while the cards are spread, e.g. have another card selected, show the spectator how to do something with his pack, etc.

Kati

Evan, what is the nature of the revelation? I have a do as I do effect using a marked deck, but the presentation doesn't require me to spot the card in a spread.

My only tip would be a wide, even spread in a straight line - this way the marks won't be covered up. The only problem with that is you'll need a bit of table space to get a really good one.

The BW is hard to read if you don't have much time. What I've done quite successfully is to deal a number of hands of blackjack and I can usually read enough to know that one spec has bust or whatever. Just getting the exact score once in a while can be enough - they don't know that your knowledge is flawed.

Stack the deck so you have a rough idea where it is.

Damn you for mocking my typo's Happy Toad

Anyway, here's a brief description of the trick to help understand the situation better and why certain suggestions aren't practical in this situation.

Two decks are produced, the spectator shuffles both decks. The magician spreads out the blue deck face down and chooses a card. The red deck is the spread face down and the spectator is invitied to select any card they choose. The two cards match perfectly.

It's a little more complicated than that as I've added convincers in some places to negate certain solutions occuring in the mind of the spectator. I decided it would be important to have me select the card first without knowing which card the spectator had selected. I only had this idea this morning so I haven't tried it on anyone yet. However, the spectator can examine both decks afterwards if they like (in as far as the Boris Wild deck is examinable).

Point, just searching for where the suit should be is how I've been doing it so far and it's a damn good way to do it. Especially since all the other information is unneccesary.

Demitri, I am doing as you say with spreading the entire deck out. Since I'm using my close up pad at the moment I've been spreading them out in two rows, which is enough for an entire deck whilst being able to see all of the markings. You fancy trading a few ideas, Demitri?

I think I actually performed this effect on you ages ago. It is possible and you don't need a quick look. Did you buy the book I recommended by Boris Wild I'm sure it's in that?

I don't recall you performing this effect on me. I definitely wouldn't claim it to be anything vastly original though (my version that is). I'm sure it's been done before with this method. I must try it out though first.

I tried to get the book on one occasion whilst I was ordering some other stuff but the place I was ordering from hadn't got it in stock. I'll have to look into it again. I get paid tomorrow.

Evan,

That sounds like a nice effect. Yours has a really strong advantage in that your card is selected first. My handling is just a handling I found in a book on using marked cards. It's simple and works for me, but unfortunately, I don't think it will help you at all with your version.

Still, if you'd like to kick some ideas around, hit me up.

Magic _evmeister
Have you never looked at the Ted Lesley marking method?
It's just one read ie. you get number & suit in one glance. Instant read. NO working out.
You either buy the material to DIY( Russell Hall Magick Enterprises, Sheffield) or a printed deck is available.
There is one (with TL marks already printed) with the trick, 'The Envelope Please' I think mine came from JB Magic though I can't spot it in the catalogue at this moment.

Most marked decks use 2 markings; one for number, one for suit. That slows you up. A recent praised deck is still using the old clock method for number and another mark for suit. It takes ages!
Allen Tipton.

I'm not familiar with the Ted Lesley system. At the moment to Boris Wild system is very convenient as I have to spot the card in a spread and the markings are on the left hand side of the card which is visible from the spread. As far as the ease of reading the marks goes i don't think the Ted Lesley system has any advantages over the Boris Wild system. With WIld's system it's only one mark to tell you the value and very simply simple memory system of the position of the mark to tell you the suit. If the Ted Lesley system has any advantages that I have misunderstood then please let me know.

It's just occured to me actually that Jay Sankey has a version of this trick using a normal deck on his "secret files" (although mine is alot more self working and I think a stronger effect without trying to be big headed). In his trick he uses the "pencil dot" idea to know which card he needs. I don't know why i tried to over complicate it with marked cards when the pencil dot will tell me which card I need. I can be a real ass sometimes. Thanks anyway for your suggestions though guys. My Boris Wild deck will be going back into my drawer now until I have another wacky idea that doesn't need it.

Never mind, ay.

With the Ted Lesley system you have JS= jack of Spades. AD= Ace of Diamonds etc. The deck I have is marked in the upper left corner, both ends. If you DIY you can place the markings where ere you wish.I did once, have a Jumbo deck and the marks were half way down the side. In the upper left corner with a spread you can read all the backs INSTANTLY. So NO calculations at all. It seems bold biut unless you know where it is difficult to spot. When you know it just jumps out at you.
Allen Tipton

Thanks Allen. Might look into that, although the marked deck concept has just died a horrible death for my new routine as I detailed above. I don't know why I thought a marked deck would be appropriate but as I said, I can be a real ass sometimes.