Tips on the Jog Shuffle - Erdnase

Think of a card - The real stuff

A friend sent me an article about a research that explores the idea that there is a ‘random number generator' in our brain, and that is possible to know the number measuring a person's vertical and horizontal eye position.

Maybe this can be applied to magic. Imagine that you ask an spectator to think of a card: first of all he needs to think of a number from 1 to 13 and stick to it, and then think of a suit.

If here are patterns in the position of our eyes when we think of numbers and suits it would be possible to predict the exact card!

Check the article on: http://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltex/S0960-9822%2810%2900018-7?large_figure=true

Ricky Jay and his 52 assistants

Two of my favorite videos. Comments to come soon...

Close-up week magic on ‘The Late Show with David Letterman’ - May 2010

Last week (17th to 21st May) was the "Close-Up Magic Week" on The Late Show with David Letterman.

The show featured some of the world's best sleight-of-hand magicians: magician Jason Randal, John Carney, Johnny "Ace" Palmer, Steve Cohen and Michael Ammar.

Ammar’ performance was interesting and he included several items from his current lecture. Jason Randal, on the other hand, seemed to be quite nervous, more than a professional should be. The fact that Letterman was continuously interrupting him didn’t help at all his performance. I wonder why he didn’t made use of the opportunity of doing a color change when he was challenged by Letterman to repeat the effect ‘without the plastic folder’.

My favourite performance was John Carney’. Only after watching his performance I read on Genii that he also encountered some problems when performing at the show. In his own words <> Genii Magazine

As you can see the line-up is top notch, however the material chosen for the performance was not up to my expectations. Probably everybody opted to play it safe because they know that Letterman is a pain in the b*tt as an audience 

See below the videos in case you missed the show!

Monday 17th May 2010: Jason Randal


Tuesday 18th of May 2010: John Carney


Wednesday 19th of May 2010: Johnny Ace Palmer


Thursday 20th May 2010: Steve Cohen


Friday 21st May 2010: Michael Ammar

Hofzinser Aces

The effect
The 4 aces are placed on the table and a card is selected and lost in the deck. The aces are shown one at a time and asked if they match the suit of the card chosen. The ace that matches matches the suit changes into the chosen card.

Comments
The plot was popularised by Hofzinser almost 200 years ago. Since then magicians have worked on it and created hundreds of methods to achieve this effect.

I have been thinking about this effect for a while. In my opinion, to obtain the greatest impact with this plot the following is required:

a) The spectator must be left with the feeling that any card could have been selected.
b) The aces must be kept away from the deck prior to the moment the card is chosen.
c) The aces are shown in the fairest way possible, and the one that matched the selection' suit changes into the selection.

Darwin Ortiz has taken the most direct approach to the effect and meets the main points that make this effect “magical”' with the exception of the selection process of the card. In my view this is the problem with Darwin' version of the effect. I don’t think that the riffle force is the most adequate to satisfy the first requisite.

On Benjamin Earl's version the card is selected freely but the aces are not put aside: only when the card is chosen and lost in to the deck the aces are produced. This means that the second requisite is not met.

For this reasons I conclude that the best version of the effect is, in my view, Michael Skinners Telltale Aces since it meets all the requisites, however I still have a soft spot for Benjamin Earl' version.

My favorite solution
Benjamin Earl: can be found in Past Midnight Vol. 1



Resources
Also worth checking:
- Darwin Ortiz version in Cardshark (known as the original in german: Kartenkunste)
- Hofzy Hofsbourne by the Twins
- Roberto Giobbi' Card College, for an elegant and simple solution
- Mike Skinner's Telltale Aces. The beauty of this version is that the ace changes into the selection and back into an ace, and that the spectator can examine the aces

For more resources you can check Denis Behr Archive

I found also a thread in the Magic Cafe with some other versions of the effect:
[1] Aldrich, St.: Aldrich Hofzinser Ace Trick in The Linking Ring, vol.71, no.6, 1991,
p.75
[2] Avis, J.: The "Lost Ace" Trick in Fulves,K.: Epilogue #11, March 1971, p.1
[3] Bengel,R.: One-Shot Hofzinser; Apocalypse, vol.12, no.9, 1989, p.1687
[4] Britland,D.: Tell Tale Aces in Magigram, vol.9, no.1, 1976 "Ganson's Teach In"
[5] Busby, J.: Cased Prediction, 1978
[6] Chesbro/West: Flipper in Tricks You Can Count On, 1970, p.25
[7] Christensen, J.L.: Pyramide Aces in Pabular vo.3, no.12, 1977, p.447
[8] Cyprian Fr.: New Hofzinser Four Aces in Father Cyprian's Lecture Notes #11, 1989,
p.29
[9] Cyprian,Fr. Hofzinser-70 in Epilogue #17, 1973, p.7
[10] Cyprian,Fr.: Fr.Cyprian on the Hofzinser Card Problem, Fulves 1978
[11] Cyprian,Fr.: Hats Off To Hofzinser in Father Cyprian's Lecture Notes #11, 1989, p.28
[12] Cyprian,Fr.: Hofzinser's Departure in Garcia,F.: The Elegant Card Magic of Father
Cyprian, 1980, p.54
[13] Duffie, P.: Hofzinser's Alternative in Sadewitz/Duffie: Inspirations, 1987, p.98
[14] Duffie,P.: Hofzinser In My Pocket in Duffie/Sadowitz: Alternative Card Magic, 1982,
p.22 verwandelt! Stets verwandelt sich das As der gew„hlten Farbfamilie in die gew„hlte Karte.®

[15] Edwards, D.: Half-Shot Hofzinser; Apocalypse, vol.12, no.10, 1989, p.1703
[16] Elmsley, A.: Bare-Aced Hofzinser in Minch,St.: The Collected Works of Alex Elmsley,
Vol.I, 1991, p.253
[17] Elmsley, A.: Hoftwister in Minch,St.: The Collected Works of Alex Elmsley, Vol.I,
1991, p.49
[18] Fare, J.: Criss Cross Triumph in fare,J.: Card Tricks French Stile, 1977, p.32
[19] Fulves,K.: Dollar Hofzinser in Fulves,K.: And A Pack Of Cards, 1989, p.24
[20] Fulves,K.: In Re Hofzinser; Fulves,K.acket Switches (Part Five), 1977, p.294
[21] Fulves,K.: The Red Backed Hofzinser in Fulves,K.: Packet Switches, Part One, 1971
p.8
[22] Fulves,K.: Two Unsolved Problems in Pallbearers Review, 3rd Folio, Winter 1969, p.299
and 302
[23] Giobbi, R.: Hofzinser's Aces in MAGIE (MZvD) vol.67, 1987, p.108
[24] Goldstein, Ph.: Twisted Hofzinser, in Linking Ring, vol.68, no.9, 1988, p.104
[25] Hartman,J.: Hof Zingers (Optionzer - Ringer - About Face - One Stop Swapping -
Elastic Ace - Over and Over and Out) in Hartman,J.: Card Craft, 1991, pp.253-271
[26] Hartmann,J.: Hof Zingers (=Hotfinger - Face Lift - Ringer - Final Solution) in
Hartmann Packet Magic, 1972, pp.31-37
[27] Higham, J.: Hofzinser Triumphs In One Shuffle; Higham,J.: Technomagic, 1990, p.67
[28] Jennings, L.: Hofzinser Ace Problem in Patton/Vergillo. A Visit With Larry Jennings,
1982, p.3
[29] Jennings,L.: A Problem with Hofzinser in Maxwell,M.: The Classic Magic of Larry
Jennings, 1986, p.17
[30] Jennings,L.: Tell-Tale Aces in Ganson,L.ai Vernon's Ultimate Secrets of Card Magic,
1967, p.49
[31] Kaufman,R.: The Hofzinser Ace Tunnel, Kaufman,R.:The New York Magic Symposium
Close-Up Collection One, 1982, p.71
[32] Lees, W.:Hofzinser/Jennings in Lees,W.: More Professional Card Tricks, 1981, p.21
[33] Marlo,E.: Choice Transposition in The New Tops, vol.5 no.11, 1965, p.37
[34] Marlo,E.: Marlo's Third Solution To Hofzinser's Card Problem in Racherbaumer,J.:
Cardfixes, 1990, p.55
[35] McCarthy, D.: No Shuffle Hofzinser Aces; McCarthy, D.: The Underground Hits The
Bottom, 1984, p.45
[35] McCarthy, D.: One Shuffle Hofzinser Aces; McCarthy,D.: The Underground Hits The
Bottom, 1984, p.43
[36] McCarthy,D.: Another Hofzinser Aces, in McCarty,D.: Sly Glances, 1991, p.29
[37] Nelson,B.: Jennings Improved in Mandoza,F.J.: The Book Of John, 1978, p.119
[38] Racherbaumer,J.: A Case For Hofzinser in Racherbaumer,J.: Cardfixes, 1990, p.50
[39] Racherbaumer,J.: About the so-called Hofzinser Problem in Racherbaumer,J.: Arch
Triumphs, 1978, p.8
[40] Racherbaumer,J.: Decking Hofzinser in MUM vol.67, no.4, 1977, p.16
[41] Racherbaumer,J.: Decking Hofzinser Delux in Apocalypse, vol.1, no.3, 1978, p.27
[42] Racherbaumer,J.: Hofzinser Triumphs in Racherbaumer,J.: Arch Triumphs, 1978, p.6
[43] Sanvert,J.J.: Another Hofzinser Twist, Apocalypse vol.5, no.10, p.687
[44] Simon, F.: Hot Zinger in Simon,F.: Versatile Card Magic 1983, p.134
[45] Solomon, D.: Triumphant Aces in Racherbaumer,J.: Arch Triumphs, 1978, p.10
[46] Swinford,P.: Three Different Ways in Fulves,K.:Epilogue #9, July 1970, p.3
[47] Tropeano, D.: Hofzinser Triumphs!; Apocalypse, vol.7, no.6, 1984, p.928
[48] Walton, R.: Grown Up Hofzinser in Walton,R.: That Certain Something, 1979, p.2
[49] Warlock/Haxton/Ryland/Kort: Platform Hofzinser in The New Pentagram vol.2, no.10,
1970, p.81; vol.3, no.2, 1971, p.13;, vol4, no.4, p.30
[50] Yedid, M.: Sandwichange For Hofzinser, Apocalypse, vol.15, no.5, 1992, p.2071

The Zarrow Shuffle

Zarrow shuffle was invented in the 1940's by magician Herb Zarrow. Is a sleight of hand technique that gives the appearance of being a normal riffle shuffle, but in fact leaves the cards in exactly the same order.

As David Britland states in Phantoms of the Card table "[Zarrow] created a false riffle shuffle of such beauty that it is quite possibly the only move to have been originated by a magician and that has found its way into world of card cheating."

The shuffle is easy to learn but difficult to master




RESOURCES

One of the best resources out there is the DVD by Mr Zarrow himself. On this DVD Mr. Zarrow teaches how to execute the shuffle in great detail and with many variations. Although the DVD centers around applications for magic most of the information can also be used for false shuffles, culls and controls during play.Find it here.

You can also find a description in Giobbi's Card College Volume 3.

For more references, please check Denis Behr Archive Resources on the Zarrow Shuffle:

There are many variations of the Zarrow shuffle, one of the most popular ones is describen in a manuscrit by Gary Plants: Gary Plants on the Zarrow Shuffle is now quite relevant.

False Shuffles: Wessmiller' False Faro with Cascade Turorial

Jeff Wessmiller has published in his blog an excellent tutorial on an original false faro shuffle. It does look very similar to a real faro shuffle, so if you are a faro worker you will find it very useful. It's perfect for memorized deck work, maintaining a stack, story routines, or whatever.

The false shuffle is similar to the Heistein shuffle but applied to the faro shuffle and not to the riffle shuffle. As the Heistein shuffle, it can be done in-the-hands, up-close, and has good angles.

I don't want to finish this post without mentioning another very good false shuffle that can be performed also standing up: Guy Hollingworth's false shuffle, as described in Drawing Room Deceptions. Hollingworth's is a in the hands strip out Shuffle with waterfall, and is one of my favorites.

For table work false shuffles there are three main possibilities: the strip out, the push through and the Zarrow Shuffle. Not many people know the difference between the first two so I will provide more information:

* Strip Out shuffle: the deck is halved and the halves table riffled together. The cards are ostensibly squared, but actually are *almost* squared - the resulting measure of jogged cards constituting the "brief." One packet is then stripped out of the other in the opposite direction from which it was squared, hopefully simulating a cut.
* Push Through (or, Pull Through) shuffle, after the brief has been established (or, for quick shufflers, as the brief is established), the halves are angled very slightly and pushed (or pulled) through one another prior to the strip-that-should-simulate-a-cut.

Paul Cummings.

You can check the video at Jeff' blog by clicking here.

RESOURCES AND OTHER FALSE SHUFFLES
About the Zarrow Shuffle nothing better than check Mr Zarrow' DVD on HIS shuffle.
Gary Plants has an a book on the Zarrow. Check out Wesley James's work on Zarrow's work in Enchantments.

- Aronson Strip Out by Simon Aronson in his book Simply Simon.
- Artanis False Shuffle in Frank Garcia's The Close Up Magic of Frank Garcia volume one.
- Riffle Diffle and Super Riffle Diffle by Harry Lorayne. Can be found at the Classic Collection.
- Hank Miller shuffle
- Optical shuffle explained in Royal Road to Card Magic.
- World's Greatest Overhand False Shuffle" in GENII Magazine: December 2004: page 22
- G W Hunter's shuffle: great overhand shuffle.
- In-the Hands-Shuffle" full deck false open riffle shuffle. It requires a table or knee to "tap" the interlaced cards against, before a strip-out from Card College 3, P. 651.
- Tamariz's false overhand shuffle from Mnemonica