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Review: 357 by Tom Lauten

About.com Rating 4

By Wayne Kawamoto, About.com Guide

Here's an interesting idea, it's "Russian Roulette" adapted into a harmless card trick. If you've always liked the plot but didn't want to take a chance with knives under cups and other dangerous situations, you may enjoy this one.

"Spin" the Barrel

You bring out six cards. Each has the word "click" written on one side and "bang" on the other. Everything may be closely examined and a spectator is asked to "load" five of the envelopes with "click" facing up and one with "bang." It's a completely free choice. During this process, you look away. Each envelope represents a chamber of a gun and the cards represent the loads. All are mixed up.

To up the stakes, you bet cash that you can determine which envelope holds the "bang" card. Each envelope is eliminated one by one until one remains. As the ads state, there are no marks, peeks, impressions, forces, electronics or equivoque.

Subtle Method

The method relies on one that I was aware of but had never before handled. It's subtle and almost undetectable when you're not looking for it, and will take some practice to confidently employ. Other than the method, the trick is fairly straight-forward to learn and perform and requires no sleight-of-hand.

Peter Nardi and Marc Spelmann also teach other related routines. The trick comes with everything you that need including the cards and envelopes, and the instruction is provided on a DVD.

This one definitely has possibilities.

MSRP: $30.00

If you have any questions about this or any other product that we have reviewed, please feel free to post a message on our forum by clicking here. (You don't have to register to visit our forum, simply click on the link for "Guest Access.")

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

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