Price$34.95
Media TypeDVD
CategoryClose Up, Gambling
Date AddedFeb 08, 2009

Card Artistry

Andrew Wimhurst

MyMagic

(Based on 1 review)
Andrew Wimhurst is an artist with a deck of cards. On this DVD he performs and explains his entire Gambling Act. This is your chance to learn some of the most impressive advanced card magic you are likely to see. Great presentations, routining and techniques.

Routines performed and explained:

  • Cheater's Aces: As you shuffle the deck you cut to three kings. You then accidentally cut to a ten. Using it as an indicator your count down to the tenth card and it is the fourth king.
  • Spread 'Em: You insert the four kings into four different parts of the deck. Upon spreading the deck on the table you push out four cards from different parts of the deck. The cards assumed to be the kings turn out to be the four aces.
  • Ultimate Topsy-Turvy Aces: The deck is shuffled face up and face down. You cut to three face-up aces. The deck is then spread to show all the cards face up except for the final ace.
  • Spectator Estimates The Aces: A spectator cuts the deck three times and each time they cut to an ace. As a finale you shuffle and cut the deck producing the fourth ace.
  • Expert At The Bridge Table: An amazing routine where a four of a kind is removed and used in a demonstration of card control. Dealing a five handed game of Poker you get the four of a kind. You then deal a game of Bridge dealing yourself all of the Spades.
  • Wimhurst Poker Deal: A spectator names any four cards, which are placed in the middle of the deck. You then use a center deal to get the four-of-a-kind to your Poker hand. You repeat the deal this time dealing the four-of-a-kind to any player they name while you surprisingly deal yourself the four aces.
  • How To Cheat At 21: A self-working impossible location where the spectator selects a card shuffles it into the deck and you quickly find it.
  • Aussie Cooler: A series of quick impossibilities where the spectator's selected cards jump to your pocket, are re-selected, change places and ultimately the deck disappears, leaving only the selection.

  • Johnny Mnemonic: A spectator shuffles the deck twice and you quickly memorize its order. You then perform a memorized deck demonstration and finally deal the deck for a game of Bridge giving yourself all the Spades. When the other three hands are looked at they contain the Hearts, Diamonds and Clubs in numerical order.
Techniques explained within routines: Center Deal Tips, Cutting Revelation, Fan Peek, Faro Shuffle, Hofzinser Cull, Jog Shuffle, Shuffle Stack, Strip-Out Shuffle With Block Transfer, Tabled Slip Cut, Top Palm, Triple Cut Revelation, Versa Switch and more.

Special DVD Features:

  • Instant access to performances, explanations and techniques
  • Product Previews
  • DVD Trailers
  • Dolby Digital sound
  • Encoded for worldwide viewing
A Meir Yedid Magic product. Original release date: DVD: December 2007, VHS: 2001.

Running time: Approximately 100 minutes.

"Wow! A genuine card expert of the highest level -- a real artist. Extremely knowledgeable, inventive and with brilliant technique!"
…Lennart Green

Reviews

Jeff Stone

Official Reviewer

Feb 07, 2014

This DVD is loaded with a bunch of gambling routines. Essentially Andrew Wimhurst demonstrates to the audience how good he is at false deals, false cuts and false shuffles.

His patter is a constant barrage of "If I cut the deck like this we get an Ace . . . then if we shuffle like this and cut about here, we get another Ace."

If I hear him say the phrase "The Fourth and Final ACE!" again I think I'll faint. His constant repeating of the phrase "I'll tell you what" is enough to make Gandhi Homicidal. The phrase was used so much that he actually began blurring the words into something like "tayawut."

His over usage of the spectator's name in a non-connecting-with-the-spectator way actually caused my pet turtle to run out of the room.

Wimhurst is a very clever and amazing technician and a very nice guy, but his presentation is hard to watch. It's clear that he's practiced the life out of these routines. It's also clear that part of his practice is what to say while he's doing the moves. That being the case, he never really connects or truly interacts with the audience.

Then comes the real disappointment . . . the first thing he says in the explanation section is that he makes "no bones" about the fact that the material is hard and that he will not be teaching all of the techniques because it's beyond the scope of the project.

As for the effects themselves, there are a few really good effects. Much of the real work on some of the harder ones, however, is not covered in enough depth and again, a lot of them are let me show you how to deal a perfect bridge hand . . . let me show you how to deal a perfect poker hand . . . let me show you how to cheat at poker.

Pretty much, the method is exactly what he tells the audience . . . false cuts, false deals, shuffle controls, etc.

I think, however, if you're looking for some ideas for effects to put into an exhibition of skills, then you'll find plenty of material on here. You'll also be taught a lot of methods and techniques for some intermediate and advanced moves (e.g. Fan Peek, Faro Shuffles, Top Palm, Hofzinser Cull, etc.).

As I mentioned above, If you truly are putting together an all gambling exhibition type of show, then this might be worth it for you. Pretty much none of the material can be done strolling, and there's not enough stuff that really stands out, but with some digging and a lot of patience, you may find a few gems hidden amongst the rubble.

Final Verdict: 2.5 stars with a Stone Status of Grubble.
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