Expert Card Technique: Close-up Table Magic

by Jean Hugard, Frederick Braue

If you have ever tried to do a card trick and failed, you know what it is to be embarrassed. You may try to cover up by doing a more difficult trick and fail again. The way out of this dilemma, however, is not immediate, but it is a surer mastery of technique. This means the proper instruction book, and practice.In this definitive work on card technique, step-by-step instructions teach you the correct methods for the basic manipulations and the more advanced flourishes, and only then allow you to learn tricks. Offering the most foolproof methods available, Jean Hugard and Fredrick Braue explain such basic manipulations as the palm, the shuffle, the lift, the side slip, the pass, the glimpse, the jog, and the reverse. They detail various false deals, crimps, and changes and the more advanced execution needed for forces, fans, and the use of the prearranged deck. Also presented is a wide variety of tricks, including discoveries, self-working tricks, one-handed tricks, stranger cards, and such individually famous tricks as the four aces, the rising cards, and the Zingone spread. In addition, the authors include a complete compendium of shakedown sleights — to warn the card player and aid the entertainer — and a performer's guide to misdirection and patter.Many of the methods explained were revealed here for the first time, while many previously known tricks are presented in improved versions. In every case the aim is simplicity of technique for the purpose of mystifying an audience, not technique for the sake of technique. An unsurpassed collection of methods and manipulations, this classic work will help any aspiring magician to achieve expert card technique.

Genres: Magic, Nonfiction, Reference

757 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1940

Reviews

[Nick Wellings · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit of a classic in its day, and still helpful for all aspiring card manipulators. There's a lot to learn here for all levels, from basic flourishes, like the pressure fan and thumb-fans, how to spring a deck from hand to hand, to card palming and rises.

The meat of the book lies in foundational techniques needed for a lot of tricks: jogged cars, false shuffles, deck-ordering, "Bottom-dealing" "steals" "second deals" and so on, as well as more sneaky/"underhand (excuse the pun) sleights (I still recall the thrill I got the day I worked out Malini's Side-Slip!)

Sadly I have since lost my copy, which mitigates the thoroughness of this review, but the techniques contained therein are still with me.

"Expert Card Technique" is a lovely book, with something for every card-slinger, which can be dipped into for fun and diverison, or studied with great profit.

[Christopher James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have had this book for so long, and to this day have yet to finish it. However it still helps me out every once in a while. It's a good book...

[Luk Worknik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought this book many years ago. Good book and easy to read. All in all, well worth buying.

[WIZE FOoL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought this book many years ago.
The skills are clearly explained but I would have liked more pictures. Yet practice pays off as you work out what to do. It's packed with information and skills for you to master!
If like me you only work on a few of the skills, it will still give you enough to create your own tricks!
All in all, well worth buying.
Enjoy.

[Jone Ravi]

d
oog

[Gokulsagar · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome
easy

[Thayyilvimal]

nice

[Lautaro Florentin]

exelent

[Yassir]

im sow iksadit abawt raedin the expert card technique

[Florian · Rating 1 out of 5]

I will try to go through this book step by step, but the instructions are HORRIBLE already... it needs way more illustrations to go with them, as they seem to have been written intentionally confusing, unclear, and technical. Just watch tutorials online, it'll be infinitely faster and better than this pile of paper

[Antoine · Rating 5 out of 5]

L

[D.N. Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the most detailed information on card magic ever written. Excellent book. I just wish my edition opened flat to make it easier to read with a deck of cards in your hand.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has all kinds of cool techniques and advice, given in a way which is easy to follow. I've tried out a few of the techniques in this book so far, and found it pretty easy to use.

[Jim]

Bought my copy from Douglas Magicland (mail order) in 1970.

[Benjamin Rojas Villagran]

i love the magic with cards