DVD Review: Incredible Self-Working Card Tricks Vol 5

"10-Hand Poker Deal" has the magician removing the aces from the deck and then creating four piles of cards. The spectators cut each pack and bury an ace in each pile, and the piles are brought back together to form a deck. The magician deals cards ten hands of poker, with the tenth hand to himself. In the end, the magician reveals that he has all four aces.

In “Torn,” a card is freely selected by a spectator. The magician takes the deck and the selected card, and without looking at it, places the card into the deck. The deck is spread and the magician identifies the chosen card, apparently by touch and feel alone. This is another effect where there’s lots of suspicious going-ons behind the back.

The magician cuts a few piles in “Absolute Zero” and in a seemingly fair way, a spectator is able to mix cards and select a card. In the end, the magician identifies the card. Not a bad trick, but there’s lots of procedure and specific sequences here.

In “Super Closer,” the magician makes four piles of cards out of the deck, which are each shuffled and mixed. Packets are moved around and combined in various ways and the four aces are revealed.

Piles of cards are made behind each ace and the aces and piles are combined in a specific manner. From here, the magician spells each ace dealing a card with each letter, and the aces and then the kings are revealed. Good effect, but I personally find spelling tricks with cards boring.

Another strong effect is a variation on a well known four ace revelation. In “Spectator Cuts the Aces,” spectators cut a deck into four piles. The magician collects the cards from the tops of each pile and reveals that they are the aces. This effect provides a good lead into a four ace trick such as “Twisting.”

Compared to the other effects, Maxwell’s method here is refreshingly simple and direct. I learned a variation of this effect when I was just learning card magic, I think every card magician does, and while it’s not in my main repertoire now, it served me well early on.

Throughout, Maxwell offers excellent and clear explanations. On this DVD, beginners may find some gems that they can use. And in the case of effects such as “Cards Across,” they can begin with Maxwell’s non-sleight version and move to stronger routines when they later learn and master classic sleight-of-hand moves.

Who knows? A budding card worker may discover a routine that he or she will always perform, or the basis of one that they later develop from the effects here.

By the way, for a fantastic self-working card trick, one that I'm regularly using, check out Geoff Williams "4-Way Coincidence" on his Miracles for Mortals DVD (Volume 1).

-Wayne N. Kawamoto

MSRP (US): $35

Dealers can purchase from Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc.