Category: magic

Here is where I have my thoughts and techniques on performing magic.   You must  log into this site in order to read the posts. If your don’t have an account you may register here. After you register the site admin will have to approve the registration before you can login.

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One handed 4 way cut

I first wrote this up in some lecture notes in 2001.  I figure it is time to get it online.

On one of my business trips to San Diego, I visited Brad Burt's Magic shop.  Brad showed my a one-handed multiple cut that he had worked out by studying a classic Houdini poster. Later on an airplane home I played around with multiple one-handed cuts and came up with this one.  It is a four way cut.  The criteria I gave myself was that it had to be a true cut with each of the four packets ending in a different position.  You can see a video of the cut below the tutorial.

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False cut #4 – Stepladder cut

I worked on this cut and then, not surprisingly found it described elsewhere in a magic book.  I call my version the stepladder cut because it seems similar to the up-the-ladder cut, but with only one step.  Here is a video of my practicing the cut at Starbucks (and yes I spend too much time at Starbucks.)

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False cut #1 – Drawn and quartered

For "walk-around" magic I wanted to be able to do some in-the-hands false cuts.  Drawn and quartered is one that I developed.  Its name comes from two aspects, first is that the cut involves four packets, the second is my last name "Wallace".  (William Wallace, a Scot rebel, was drawn and quartered by the English.)

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Finding the Aces with Erdnase

This is an effect that I use to practice the Erdnase system of cull shuffling.

Effect:  The performer shuffles a deck of cards and then has the spectator shuffle them as well.  The performer then takes the deck back and ribbon spreads the deck face up on the table, remarking that the deck is now well shuffled as the spectator can see.

Picking up the deck the performer give the deck another shuffle, overhand shuffling the cards.

Then explaining how card sharps always need to find some good cards for their hand, the performer turns over the top four cards, revealing the Aces.

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Two step cull

Culling cards is the process of spreading a deck of card between the hands, and while spreading them moving one or more cards to the top or bottom of the deck. It is a very powerful tool. The Conjuring Archive lists almost 300 references to books and article on the technique.

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Aces and Dice without the Dice

This is basically the same trick as Aces and Dice but without the dice.

Effect: Have the spectator shuffle the deck. Take the deck back and turn it face up. Spread the cards to show the mixed condition. Turn the deck face down and do an overhand shuffle to further mix the cards as you explain the card cheats develop sensitive fingers that let them tell when there is a card they need for their hand.

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Erdnase system of stock shuffling to stack for Aces and Dice

Erdnase stock shuffle for stacking the Aces and Dice trick

Refer to the Expert Card Technique book for the Erdnase system of stock shuffling. This modification will stack the aces for the Aces and Dice routine.  The stack puts the aces at locations 5, 7, 13 and 15.

  1. Start with one ace on the bottom of the deck and three on top. (I cull the four aces to the top of the deck and then double cut one to the bottom)
  2. Undercut half the deck.
  3. Injog the top card (an ace) and shuffle off 6 cards, outjogging the next and shuffle off putting the last card from the right hand on top (an ace).
  4. undercut at the out jog, taking a break at the injog.
  5. Run one card and throw the rest from the break on top
  6. run one, in jog, run 5 and out jog.
  7. Under cut at the in jog and throw on top
  8. Undercut at the out jog and run one and throw
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