Magic Tricks

Watching the performance for the first time was the most daunting experience I’ve had yet with Penguin Magic, but the effect plays so beautifully I had to take a chance on it. Mr. Gordon teaches the entire routine with ease, grace, and humor, and with the exception of the final production flourish I somehow managed to pick up everything painlessly. (Granted, I spent weeks figuring out the faro shuffle about a year ago, so the straddle faro needed here didn’t stand in my way). The first time I cut to all four aces I couldn’t believe it—I actually fooled myself! That’s what makes the effect so phenomenal, IMO: there’s a mathematical principle at the trick’s center that functions as a kind of secret assistant, and as long as you follow the trick’s parameters re: displaying the indifferent cards you DIDN’T cut to and then “replacing” them in the deck properly, it works every time. Bonus: Mr. Gordon demonstrates a fantastic false cut I will always use. Hats off to you.