Price$25.00
Media TypeDVD, Gimmick(s)
CategoryGeneral, Close Up, Stage, Mentalism
Date AddedOct 08, 2015
Big Four Poker
Tom Dobrowolski
Big Blind Media
(Based on 3 reviews)
Tom Dobrowolski's BIG FOUR POKER is an absolute powerhouse of a magic trick. Completely self working, hugely involving for one spectator, a small group or even a full stage performance and ending with a climax that is as hilarious as it is shocking. It packs tiny (just one indestructible plastic credit card sized 'instruction' sheet and a pack of cards) but it plays like a closer!
You offer to teach your audience the fantastic new game of BIG FOUR POKER. A spectator removes 16 cards from a shuffled deck. Under the rules of BIG FOUR POKER the spectator is instructed to shuffle, cut and mix the packet in numerous ways (including mixing face up and face down cards). Unlike any other casino game, the spectator is in charge of all the shuffling and mixing. In fact you (as the magician) stay hands off!
When the spectator is satisfied that the packet is thoroughly mixed THEY then deal out four hands of poker, one for the house and three for players. They can deal with the packet face up or face down. Their choice. They then choose ANY of the player's hands for themselves. After all of this hands-off behavior you finally step in and reveal that Big Four Poker is a game that you just don't lose, because despite all of the spectator's free actions you somehow always win.
The ending is something NO-ONE will see coming. It's funny. It's fun. And it's the kind of magic trick that makes sure people remember you! Big Four Poker - wanna play?
INCLUDES: Special 'Poker Rules' Card (printed on credit card sized hard plastic) A6 cardboard 'Poker Rules' Card Mini Magnifying Glass DVD Instructions"You can't go wrong with Tom's, 'Big Four Poker.' Highly commercial and downright 'impossible', this will leave your audience in stitches!" - Jack Carpenter
"You don't have to be a poker enthusiast to LOVE Tom's Poker. The surprise ending knocked me out!" - Jeff Prace
"Tom's version of the poker deal is the real deal, a superbly constructed routine." - David Parr
"Strong hook, loads of fun, and definitely fools em." - David Kuraya
"Big Four is just like every other poker demo, except the audience does all the shuffling, all the dealing, and when you still end up the winner, everybody laughs." - Curtis Kam
"Big Four is fab! Another great party trick from Tom. It's a little bit poker and a whole lot of fun." - John Bannon
"I love this routine! A great trick with huge entertainment value!" - Cameron Francis
Reviews
(Top ▲)
Overview
Big Four Poker by Tom Dobrowolski and Big Blind Media (BBM) is a poker deal routine that has lots of audience involvement, a cute premise and a truly fooling procedure. Based on a Jim Steinmeyer plot, Big Four Poker is a great way to start a gambling set that will set the stage for an entertaining evening.Effect
The basic concept is to demonstrate a unique poker game that requires only four cards. In fact, the game is so unique that a spectator can mix the cards, deal out the cards. All they have to do is follow the four rules which are clearly printed on a card. As the spectator proceeds with the dealing, it is apparent there is a clear winner and it is not the house. However in the end there is one more rule and guess what….the house wins.Method
The method involves a stack of cards on top of the deck to start. The stack is not obvious to the observers and can be freely fanned out for all to see. The shuffling and dealing procedure seems thorough if not chaotic as cards are dealt down, turned over, cut and repeated. After the cards are dealt, one hand seems better than the next except for the house. Apparently, the cards the house received was a pile of trash. However, when the rule card is turned over, the house wins.Product Quality
The DVD is well produced. The trick is simple enough, explained thoroughly and is self-working. Also provided is a large table size card which has the rules printed on it as well as a wallet version, if you would like to perform this casually. The table size card is a laminated paper and the wallet sized card is plastic similar to a credit card. Both are clearly printed and well designed.Ad Copy Integrity
The ad copy is accurate and it is an entertaining piece. Since the trick is self-working, the performance is mostly hinged on the personality of the performer.Final Thoughts
I normally don’t care for gambling magic but I definitely liked this one.(Top ▲)
Big Four Poker is Tom Dobrowolski’s creation based upon a Jim Steinmeyer concept. The DVD is produced by Big Blind Media and it is excellent.
Big Four Poker is a routine in which the performer explains that he invented a new poker game with four cards and four player. He produces a rule card entitled “Bog Four Poker” that contains four rules on the front. After apparently shuffling the deck, he allows a spectator to deal down the 16 cards needed to play. The spectator then does some crazy dealing, card flipping, cutting, reversing and impossibly mixing the cards. When the spectator is done cutting, reversing and mixing the cards, some of them are face up and some are face down. It appears totally random. The spectator then deals each player a hand of four cards. When the cards are revealed, it appears that all the player have great poker hands such as four Aces or three of a kind and the performer has a terrible hand. But once the magician turns over all his cards (or the ones that are face down in his stack), he overzealously celebrates when he sees his four lousy cards. But of course the kicker is that the card with the rules on it is flipped over and it has pictures of his four cards with the final rule that says that this combination ALWAYS WINS!
The ending is funny and a surprise and the trick really confused lay people. The routine, depending upon the patter can last a good five minutes. In fact, in the promotional video, Tom’s uncut straight performance is five minutes long.
With the DVD you get a rule card (approximately 6 inches by 4 inches), a magnifying glass (to point out the fine print which indicates that there is one more rule on the back of the card) and credit card sized rule card that you can keep in your wallet for on-the-go.
The DVD is a bit over 20 minutes long and Dobrowolski clearly and fully explains the trick and how to perform it. The DVD contains the promotional video and instruction taught from the couch in Tom’s hotel room. John Bannon is one of the spectators in the performance video. The quality of the DVD is very good.
Before performing this trick you will need about a 1-2 minute set-up that cannot be done in front of spectators so this is not a borrowed-shuffled deck trick. Once the set-up is done and you hand the deck to the spectator, the trick is self-working if your spectator can follow basic card dealing instructions. Interestingly enough, when Tom performed the promotional video, the spectator messes up and he has to quickly correct a minor dealing error. With a slight amount of audience management you will be able to pull this trick off easily. The trick is a cinch to learn and perform. The reset will take about a minute once in private, once the trick is performed.
It is really a fun and funny trick which makes it somewhat different from many card tricks. A party or a dinner is a great setting to perform this trick if you have a few people that have the patience to sit through a trick that last more than 30 seconds. The great thing about this trick is that novices can pull this off and pros can enjoy performing it as well.
The ad copy and promotional video are accurate. The claim that the trick is a “powerhouse” is in the eye of the beholder. I love this trick and got some very great reactions and smiles from spectators. I highly recommend this trick.
Big Four Poker is a routine in which the performer explains that he invented a new poker game with four cards and four player. He produces a rule card entitled “Bog Four Poker” that contains four rules on the front. After apparently shuffling the deck, he allows a spectator to deal down the 16 cards needed to play. The spectator then does some crazy dealing, card flipping, cutting, reversing and impossibly mixing the cards. When the spectator is done cutting, reversing and mixing the cards, some of them are face up and some are face down. It appears totally random. The spectator then deals each player a hand of four cards. When the cards are revealed, it appears that all the player have great poker hands such as four Aces or three of a kind and the performer has a terrible hand. But once the magician turns over all his cards (or the ones that are face down in his stack), he overzealously celebrates when he sees his four lousy cards. But of course the kicker is that the card with the rules on it is flipped over and it has pictures of his four cards with the final rule that says that this combination ALWAYS WINS!
The ending is funny and a surprise and the trick really confused lay people. The routine, depending upon the patter can last a good five minutes. In fact, in the promotional video, Tom’s uncut straight performance is five minutes long.
With the DVD you get a rule card (approximately 6 inches by 4 inches), a magnifying glass (to point out the fine print which indicates that there is one more rule on the back of the card) and credit card sized rule card that you can keep in your wallet for on-the-go.
The DVD is a bit over 20 minutes long and Dobrowolski clearly and fully explains the trick and how to perform it. The DVD contains the promotional video and instruction taught from the couch in Tom’s hotel room. John Bannon is one of the spectators in the performance video. The quality of the DVD is very good.
Before performing this trick you will need about a 1-2 minute set-up that cannot be done in front of spectators so this is not a borrowed-shuffled deck trick. Once the set-up is done and you hand the deck to the spectator, the trick is self-working if your spectator can follow basic card dealing instructions. Interestingly enough, when Tom performed the promotional video, the spectator messes up and he has to quickly correct a minor dealing error. With a slight amount of audience management you will be able to pull this trick off easily. The trick is a cinch to learn and perform. The reset will take about a minute once in private, once the trick is performed.
It is really a fun and funny trick which makes it somewhat different from many card tricks. A party or a dinner is a great setting to perform this trick if you have a few people that have the patience to sit through a trick that last more than 30 seconds. The great thing about this trick is that novices can pull this off and pros can enjoy performing it as well.
The ad copy and promotional video are accurate. The claim that the trick is a “powerhouse” is in the eye of the beholder. I love this trick and got some very great reactions and smiles from spectators. I highly recommend this trick.
(Top ▲)
Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Tougher Than Leather by Run DMC
Big Four Poker Review
One DVD, 3 props, one self-working effect, $25 bucks and one Big Four Poker Review. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.
Big Four Poker Review: Effect
Four hands of poker are dealt out by the spectator as you explain a new four card game of poker where you always win. Not only do you win, but you've predicted the exact hand that you'll get.
Big Four Poker Review: Method
The entire effect is self-working. It relies on a stack and (if you'd like) a false shuffle/cut and a series of "mixes" (done by the spectator) that give the illusion of a crazily mixed up packet of cards without affecting the outcome. Not much else to say. You don't have to use the false shuffles, so if you don't feel comfortable with that, you can still do this. This is easily for any skill level. The most important skill you'll need to bring to the table is acting/presentational skill(s).
Due to the nature of the method, it's very easy to get into the stack from a shuffled deck, so you really can do it any time during your act. Further, the set of shuffles that the spectator performs make this extremely deceptive. For one, the cards appear to be genuinely mixed up. Secondly, the spectator does all the work, so you are totally hands off adding further to the apparent fairness.
Big Four Poker Review: Ad Copy Integrity
The ad copy is 100% solid as is expected from all BBM productions. Take a peek at it, and watch the video trailer. It is an exact representation of what happens.
Big Four Poker Review: Product Quality
If you've been following my reviews for any length of time, you know it's no secret that if I were a French Poodle and Owen Packard were an Italian Lizard I'd want him to raise my Polish Weasels. But for now, I'll just have to settle for watching BBM productions. Of course the DVD was well lit, well mic'd, well shot, well edited, etc. On top of that, Tom Dobrowolski did a great job explaining everything. It was a short and simple DVD with all the needed info covered quickly, yet in depth.
You're also supplied with two prop cards that have the instructions and revelation on them (see below). The cards are well made out of super sturdy plastic and will last a lifetime. It also comes with a cheap little "Cracker Jack" magnifying glass that is pretty much useless. If you're going to use a magnifying glass, you'll want to supply your own. However, I don't feel it's even needed for the routine.
Big Four Poker Review: Final Thoughts
If you like the routine in the trailer, you'll not be disappointed. You'll receive a prop that you can carry in your wallet and be ready to perform any time there's a deck of cards nearby. $25 bucks is a reasonable price to pay for the props, routine and shuffling procedure (done by the spectators).
Final Verdict:
4.5 Stars with a Stone Status of Gem.
Available at your Favorite Magic Dealer. Dealer's see Murphy's Magic for details.