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Stack Attack
One of the most powerful weapons in the arsenal of an experienced card-worker is the pre-arranged or "stacked" deck. Some of the most amazing feats in card magic make use of some form of deck pre-arrangement.
Many magicians avoid using a stacked or pre-arranged deck because they feel it is often too difficult or time-consuming to prepare their decks beforehand. Others feel that to use a stacked deck is to somehow "cheat". They forget that the object is to surprise, mystify, and above all to entertain those for whom they are performing. Some, if not all, of the greats in close up card magic have occasionally "stooped" to employing a stacked deck.
In almost every book on card effects there will be one or more effects that are based on the pre-arrangement of at least a few cards, sometimes the entire deck.
Often the set-up can be performed impromptu while performing a prior effect or while apparently examining or toying with the cards. All of the effects included in this work will use some form of a stacked deck. Hence the title of this work. Some of the stacks will be lengthy and cannot be done impromptu and must therefore be set-up prior to the performance. This usually requires that particular effect be the first card trick performed or as a "stand-alone" effect. Or perhaps the stacked deck can be switched in at the appropriate moment.
When performing with a "stacked" deck, the entertainer is usually free from worries about sleights that might go wrong or a gimmick that won't "do its thing" at the proper moment. He can concentrate his efforts on his performance. His full attention can be given to achieving the intended effect.
Many magicians avoid using a stacked or pre-arranged deck because they feel it is often too difficult or time-consuming to prepare their decks beforehand. Others feel that to use a stacked deck is to somehow "cheat". They forget that the object is to surprise, mystify, and above all to entertain those for whom they are performing. Some, if not all, of the greats in close up card magic have occasionally "stooped" to employing a stacked deck.
In almost every book on card effects there will be one or more effects that are based on the pre-arrangement of at least a few cards, sometimes the entire deck.
Often the set-up can be performed impromptu while performing a prior effect or while apparently examining or toying with the cards. All of the effects included in this work will use some form of a stacked deck. Hence the title of this work. Some of the stacks will be lengthy and cannot be done impromptu and must therefore be set-up prior to the performance. This usually requires that particular effect be the first card trick performed or as a "stand-alone" effect. Or perhaps the stacked deck can be switched in at the appropriate moment.
When performing with a "stacked" deck, the entertainer is usually free from worries about sleights that might go wrong or a gimmick that won't "do its thing" at the proper moment. He can concentrate his efforts on his performance. His full attention can be given to achieving the intended effect.
43 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
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February 4, 2021
I don’t recall hearing about Stack Attack before, but when it came up as a suggested item on eBay, I decided to take a punt. I’m a big fan of memdeck work and the price was low enough to make it not much of a gamble (the pubs are still on lockdown here, so I’m not going to spend the money on beer, am I?). There isn’t any memdeck stuff in the book, but the ideas can easily be applied to full memdecks if you want to use them that way, I know I will be.
The core idea of the book is a False False Shuffle (or FFS) where a real shuffle is used in place of a false shuffle to put the deck into the order you want, while looking like it’s mixing the cards. It’s actually quite a cunning idea and can be used in far more places than suggested in the book.
After the FFS is explained the book has nine full routines including patter. For me most are stuff I wouldn’t use, as seven of the nine routines are gambling demonstration type routines, something that doesn’t fit my performance style/persona. They are still worth a read though as if you are at all like me, it’ll spark other ideas that you can use (assuming of course you don’t do these types of routine, if you do, you are already good to go).
Even though gambling routines aren’t my thing, I do intend to use one almost exactly as is for an upcoming mate’s birthday where it will fit perfectly. So, as always, don’t just skip stuff because of the name or the first few lines of the description. You may be missing out on buried gold. That’s advice for ALL magic books, not just this one!
Although not mentioned in Stack Attack, it strikes me that the FFS as described could, in conjunction with the Gilbreath Principle, lead to even more mind-blowing effects. Something you may want to try out if you do pick this book up.
The book is only forty-odd pages long, so a really quick read, but I’m sure most magicians will find the time well spent. I see Penguin have it for sale at twenty dollars, that’s several times what I paid for my copy, but having read it, I feel that’s a totally fair price. I think it’s defiantly worth a look.
The core idea of the book is a False False Shuffle (or FFS) where a real shuffle is used in place of a false shuffle to put the deck into the order you want, while looking like it’s mixing the cards. It’s actually quite a cunning idea and can be used in far more places than suggested in the book.
After the FFS is explained the book has nine full routines including patter. For me most are stuff I wouldn’t use, as seven of the nine routines are gambling demonstration type routines, something that doesn’t fit my performance style/persona. They are still worth a read though as if you are at all like me, it’ll spark other ideas that you can use (assuming of course you don’t do these types of routine, if you do, you are already good to go).
Even though gambling routines aren’t my thing, I do intend to use one almost exactly as is for an upcoming mate’s birthday where it will fit perfectly. So, as always, don’t just skip stuff because of the name or the first few lines of the description. You may be missing out on buried gold. That’s advice for ALL magic books, not just this one!
Although not mentioned in Stack Attack, it strikes me that the FFS as described could, in conjunction with the Gilbreath Principle, lead to even more mind-blowing effects. Something you may want to try out if you do pick this book up.
The book is only forty-odd pages long, so a really quick read, but I’m sure most magicians will find the time well spent. I see Penguin have it for sale at twenty dollars, that’s several times what I paid for my copy, but having read it, I feel that’s a totally fair price. I think it’s defiantly worth a look.
Displaying 1 of 1 review