Thought Master is a two phase effect where you find a chosen card and end in stack. The advantage is obvious--you end in stack.

I could absolutely see using the effect in a close up or parlor situation. The teaching is excellent and George Tait (Redford) makes sure you are attuned to a number of important subtleties. The subtleties and two phases of the trick serve well to hide the fact that \you are doing a two-phase deal into stack. Very clever.

On the more difficult side, the effect will require that you know your stack stone cold. It does require a lot of dealing. This is justified within the context of the effect, but it will mean that you have to practice enough to do the dealing quickly, smoothly, and effortlessly while you are conversing with the audience.

Given the way you do the sorting--and how it changes from the first to second phase--it took a number of goings over before I was able to 'get it.' It's not rocket science, but it's not easy.

When starting out, I strongly recommend arranging your cards into stack and numbering the backs of the cards, the way Tait does in the demo. Before you attempt to do this with your stack, you will need to practice arranging the cards looking at the numbered backs only. The difference in the way you need to sort from step 1 to step 2 was a bit of a mind bender when I first did it. Trying to do this quickly and casually while only looking at the fronts of the cards, strained my brain even further. So, at least for us mere mortals, getting this performance ready will take a lot of practice.

What I will say is that practicing this really solidified the stack in my brain far better than it was before. (... and I thought I knew it really well!) It is also an excellent way of practicing my stack until until I knew it stone cold--you really need to get to the point where you don't even have to think and where the sorting is intuitive. There should be no hesitation. Some people play solitaire, you can practice Thought Master.

Some will complain that there is too much dealing in this effect. That all depends on personal preference. I will say, the way Tait demonstrates it, the effect is engaging throughout and does not drag. Again, the only way to pull this off in front of an audience would be if you are able to do this quickly and casually. This should not be insurmountable, but to get to that level, you are going to have to give this a lot of practice.

I'm not ready to do this live yet, but I'm pretty close. If nothing else, I have enjoyed practicing this which--again--is an excellent way to really sock in your stack. Recommended.

Not only can you wow someone with a a great mental card routine, but you can end in full stack. Amazing! Patrick Redford is a great instructor and you'll learn all the sleights needed. I would say this is more intermediate and you will want to have the stack front and back in memory. It will work with any stack, he even teaches a way without knowing a full stack.

To me this is a must for stack work and I love Patricks stuff.