Magic Tricks

I am writing this review with a focus on adaptive creation. For over a decade, I've been using a key technique inspired by Sean Bogunia's 'Sorted Affair,' with some modifications influenced by Alexander Kolle, Andrew Gerard, and Will Tsai. When I first laid eyes on POW, my initial reaction was, "Are you kidding me?" followed by, "Well, I might as well check out the tutorial."

Here's a valuable lesson: never judge a book by its cover, no matter how seasoned you are at assessing things based on appearances. Most of the time, you'll be mistaken. So, a word of caution to those who already have experience with the secrets employed in POW: you might assume you've got it all figured out, but you'd be wrong.

Magicians possess a toolbox filled with tools to manipulate playing cards. These tools have been handed down through the ages, some old, some new, some widely used, and some seldom seen, almost like well-kept secrets. While we appreciate the contributions of our predecessors in shaping these tools, we don't usually think about giving credit to the inventor of a Phillips screwdriver when we use one for a repair job.

In my opinion, POW is a similar case. I'd like to address the elephant in the room that will emerge once you receive POW in your mailbox - and if you're reading this, you should definitely get it. We all know that the Oil and Water effect has a long list of credits to its name, and at some point, it makes sense to acknowledge the genius behind the effect by simply using it.

The true brilliance of POW lies not in the tool itself but in the method behind its creation. I've been attempting, unsuccessfully, to achieve what Erik Casey and John Michael Hinton have masterfully sequenced for over a decade. Once you grasp the algorithm, it may appear simple, but arriving at the solution through analytical thinking is far from easy. What's more, not only have they deciphered the algorithm, but even a novice can perform this effect like a pro within minutes of watching the tutorial.

There are various fantastic versions of this effect, and its usefulness depends on your style of magic. However, one thing is certain - this effect is worth having for the sheer genius behind it. Although it's still relatively new in my hands, I'm betting that the discovered algorithm will become a versatile tool in itself. So, go ahead and get this!