Rick Lax's latest release - The Winning Hand - is a poker style routine, with a twist. Here is Rick Lax's summary of the effect - A deck is shuffled. Part 1: You remove a "target poker hand," deal out some hands, and then your hand matches the target hand. Part 2: Then the spectator puts the cards in the order she wants. And she deals them out. And the hand she deals herself matches a prediction you've made before the trick even started...before the cards were even shuffled.
This is a good summary of the routine. The trailer didn't show was a performance of the effect, but a full live performance is shown on the DVD and I certainly wasn't disappointed by the routine.
The download is super-high quality and everything is well covered by Rick with over the shoulder sections. The download goes for around 45 minutes and no stone is left unturned. You are taught a stacked version (easy) and an impromptu version with a borrowed and shuffled deck (medium). The stack does all the work for you but if you like impromptu card magic, Mr Lax covers that as well.
The effect has 2 dealings of poker hands which sort of limits you to sitting at a table with most of the attention on you. So, this isn't street magic. Nevertheless, this is a very fun, entertaining routine with about 3 different false climaxes before the final prediction kicker. I did perform this last night at dinner and my parents really liked it, my Dad likes poker so he really was taken in and engaged in the routine.
I have always loved Rick Lax's effects for how organic they are and are very relevant to my age group (Detach, Filter and Vertigo have always worked beautifully with my age). I personally can't use this at school as not many kids my age play poker (sadly, there aren't many effects out based on Snap!) and it probably wouldn't appeal to them! But I could use this when we have adult guests over who play or have been exposed to poker. This doesn't affect the trick though, it is a strong routine which adults will find impressive and engaging. Best poker trick ever? I don't know as I haven't played around with many but I really, really like this. 9/10
Product information:
http://www.penguinmagic.com/p/4496
This is a good summary of the routine. The trailer didn't show was a performance of the effect, but a full live performance is shown on the DVD and I certainly wasn't disappointed by the routine.
The download is super-high quality and everything is well covered by Rick with over the shoulder sections. The download goes for around 45 minutes and no stone is left unturned. You are taught a stacked version (easy) and an impromptu version with a borrowed and shuffled deck (medium). The stack does all the work for you but if you like impromptu card magic, Mr Lax covers that as well.
The effect has 2 dealings of poker hands which sort of limits you to sitting at a table with most of the attention on you. So, this isn't street magic. Nevertheless, this is a very fun, entertaining routine with about 3 different false climaxes before the final prediction kicker. I did perform this last night at dinner and my parents really liked it, my Dad likes poker so he really was taken in and engaged in the routine.
I have always loved Rick Lax's effects for how organic they are and are very relevant to my age group (Detach, Filter and Vertigo have always worked beautifully with my age). I personally can't use this at school as not many kids my age play poker (sadly, there aren't many effects out based on Snap!) and it probably wouldn't appeal to them! But I could use this when we have adult guests over who play or have been exposed to poker. This doesn't affect the trick though, it is a strong routine which adults will find impressive and engaging. Best poker trick ever? I don't know as I haven't played around with many but I really, really like this. 9/10
Product information:
http://www.penguinmagic.com/p/4496