Random Thoughts - Page 3 of 25

August 30, 2023September 1, 2023

EXPERT CARD TECHNIQUE: A SYSTEM OF STOCK SHUFFLING

Going back to one of the first books on card magic that I owned, “EXPERT CARD TECHNIQUE: Close-Up Table Magic by JEAN HUGARD and FREDERICK BRAUE”, I took a look at their system of stacking a poker hand. They described stacking four cards for a four handed game. Below I have shown instructions, using their system, for stacking four cards to fall to the dealer on a five handed game. I recommend looking at the book for more information.

As noted in some of my other posts on stacking with overhand shuffles, this stack has some drawbacks. In particular, in step 4 you have a run of 20 single cards. Also, twice you have to manage an injog and outjog together, and throw a block of cards. After the description I will offer some modifications that I think make this better.

August 29, 2023September 1, 2023

A variation on a “Variation on the Milk Build stack”

So what makes a good overhand stack technique. In my opinion the key factors are a good rhythm, without too much repetition, without too many long sequences of single card runs, and the whole stack being done in a couple of shuffles. The problem with the basic milk build stack in that you repeat the milking action four times. The rhythm is not random.

August 25, 2023August 26, 2023

Wordle bookmarklet

Do you have trouble remembering words when playing Wordle. I wrote a bookmarklet that examines your guesses and displays a list of words that potentially match for your next guess.

The bookmarklet is at the end of this post. If you don’t know what a bookmarklet is you can use the link above to learn about them.

August 23, 2023August 24, 2023

Direct Ace Control

This is a variation on my Ace control that I described in this post from 2018. The main difference is that this one is more direct, but doesn’t show the top and bottom cards between each ace being lost.

August 12, 2023September 1, 2023

451 stack

I don’t remember where I saw this stack described, but it is a modification of Ed Marlo’s Lessinout Stack which is described in his booklet “Deck Deception.” Marlo’s stack involves more runs of single cards, while this version cuts the number in halve.

August 11, 2023September 1, 2023

Another poker stack

Just to beat a dead horse, here is another overhand shuffle stack. This one uses a milking action, but in this shuffle you milk a block of cards which makes it easier.

August 10, 2023September 1, 2023

Variation on the Milk Build stack

Here is a variation I came up with on stacking the deck using a haymaker or milk build stacking shuffle. The problem with the typical description/method shown on YouTube is that often all four Aces are placed on the bottom and then stacked with four consecutive Milking sequences; I.E. milk run three, milk run three, milk run three, and milk run three.

August 8, 2023September 1, 2023

Yet Another Overhand Milk Stack – the Judas Shuffle

Stacking the deck for poker has a long history. Erdnase gave his method which did not require using a haymaker or milk action. Many other overhand stacks to use a milking action in the shuffle. This is my way of performing the Judas Shuffle, which is described in Peter Duffie’s Card Compulsions.

August 6, 2023August 6, 2023

Twisted Assembly

One of the first card tricks that blew me away was the MacDonald Aces. This is the classic ace assembly trick. The downside, of course, is that the trick relies on gimmicked cards. You can read about all of the variations at https://geniimagazine.com/wiki/index.php?title=Ace_Assembly. My version uses two sleights, the Braue Add-on and the Elmsley count.

July 28, 2023July 29, 2023

A double sandwich

I like the basic sandwich plot and I use Ed Marlo’s technique which I think is one of the cleanest.

Effect: In this version, the two black jacks are removed and displayed face up on the table as the spectator selects two cards. The cards are lost in the deck with the deck shuffled, and the two Jacks placed on top of the deck, face up. The deck is cut several times and then ribbon spread face down, and the two jacks now have one face down card between them. The deck is cut so the Jacks and the trapped card are on top and the trapped card is shown to be one of the selections.