Anytime you can have a well recognized, skillful, magician, mentalist sitting right in front of you
with the tools he is about to demonstrate, and he is teaching you in your living room, in what is in
fact a 'one to one' training session, it's a good thing. Cards in hand, you can easily follow along
the 'not very complicated' system by one of the finest performer/instructors out there. He
demonstrates 'his' presentations and then explains every detail as to how he does 'that'. Clear,
concise, great learning format. I am now routinely performing about half of what is possible with
the deck and I couldn't be more pleased. You will find your own uses. As is pointed out in the
instructions, one can use this deck for any other effects you have using this concept. This is what
we are all used to, times 10! I might add, as Luke points out, nobody suspects what you and I might
think as 'obvious'. They just don't and for those still concerned, Luke gives a great and simple
tip. I just haven't needed it. I might also add, my 'false shuffles' are pretty weak but it's just
not a problem. My point is, if you are worried about those things, don't. I just keep talking and
doing what I do and in dozens of performances, so far, nobody has seemingly, suspected a thing. (I
have been so bold as to say, "I am not a card man, I am a mentalist, so just look at these cards
(show the faces)and see how they are all different and mixed up." Then I do two (easy) false cuts
and 'go to town'. I didn't shuffle them at all! Outcomes are simply 'amazing' to the audience. One
or 20. I tend to start with four elements of what is presented and then go right on into 'other
effects' employing the same principles using the same deck. I am NOT a 'card man' (ask anybody),
but I must say, these aren't really 'card tricks'. I treat it as 'mentalism' so nobody expects me
do a fancy 'shuffle' and this is simply one of the tools to demonstrate those 'mentalist' skills. I
find it 'advantageous' to start any 'such' routine with this because order matters, sort of, (and if
it gets out of order, Luke gives you have an 'out), so once I'm through with that, you can really
open it up to anything else that uses the same principles. One last tip. I DO bring a small
calculator and hand it out to one of the spectators. When the 'math' begins, EVERYBODY watching
starts calling out the values of the cards as they are presented and the spectator punches in the
numbers. I'm just 'monitoring'. So if you are worried about the 'math', get somebody else to do it!
The little math 'problem', becomes 'fun' for everybody! They LOVE it! I think this is properly
priced for what you get, the quality of the instruction and the video quality is good as it gets and
the utility of the deck, there is simply nothing like it. Well worth it. Thank You Luke (again) and
Penguin!