What is a self-working card trick? A trick that does not depend upon legerdemain or special abilities on the part of the magician, but a trick that works automatically because of the mathematics inherent in the card deck itself. Long practice and supernormal dexterity are not needed to perform these tricks, yet they are often among the most entertaining and most spectacular of all card tricks. Some of these sure-fire tricks are simple, a good place to begin. Others were specially adapted from professional routines and are here presented for the first time for amateurs. Almost all of these tricks can be worked informally, with a borrowed deck of cards. Some also adapt to stage presentation. Individual tricks in this book have sold for more than the price of the entire book. Amateurs can use them to get a start in magic and to feel, at once, the rewards of giving a professional performance. Advanced and professional magicians will find tricks to add to their acts or informal routines. Author Karl Fulves is one of the best-known writers and editors in the field of magic.
The effects are splendid and the tricks require no double dealing or sleight of hand trickery. There are some quite a few new dazzlers here, exposed for the first time.
You can easily amaze an audience of children, adults or adult children.
For the sleight of hand tricks, Erdnase is the Bible, there is annotated Erdnase etc. But this book is a under the radar winner.
Like all of Karls self working magic books this is a must have, even if it is just another book of card tricks. Card tricks are far from my type of thing, as I much prefer magic that requires some performance effort to achieve. But I still have this book among my collection.