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Sven Pro
Sven Pro

Sven Pro Deck - Invictus Magic
$19.95
https://www.murphysmagic.com/product.aspx?id=63254
(available in red or blue)

The Hype:

Suit&Tie Magic kicks off their world-wide product debut by perfecting a classic in card magic! Presenting the Sven Pro! The gimmicked deck like you've never seen it before!

It's difficult to reinvent a classic--especially one as solid as the Svengali deck--but teaming up with Invictus Magic, Suit&Tie has done it! Delivering the world's smallest cut (to date) in this type of deck!

Expertly crafted with the working magician in mind, these cards are precision-cut to bring magicians the Svengali deck the way it was meant to be made.

Suitable for beginners and professionals alike, these decks boast the best handling on the market!

And did we mention that they handle sideways, too?!

Includes:

- Professional-grade Svengali deck

- Full step-by-step, detailed instructions, with everything you need to know, from the very basic handlings to advanced routines

Mind Reading Effect

Prediction Effect

Card to Impossible Location

Ambitious Card with Variations

Acaan

Svenwich

Finger Tip Change (Our Favorite)

 

My Take:

One of the first tricks I remember ever seeing was a Svengali deck. My experience came from a pitchman on the midway at a rodeo in the Midwest. I am sure a lot of you became familiar through Marshall Brodien's TV Magic Cards.

Burling Hull (the Edison of Magic), is credited with creating the deck and giving us a great tool that is deceptive and easy to use. For someone who has never seen a Svengali, it definitely looks like real magic. In fact, handled properly, you can even fool those in the know. I had a friend who owned a magic store and used to fool him constantly with Svengali routines. I would ask him if he knew how it was done and when he said "No", I'd tell him "Svengali Deck" and I suppose I am lucky to still be alive.

The one big problem with using a Svengali is the selection procedure. Too many of the lay public have seen a Svengali (or maybe even owned one. It comes standard in a lot of beginner's magic sets) so it has become increasingly difficult to fool someone. As soon as you start flipping cards and tell them to stick their finger in anyplace, many will already know what is going to happen and how it is done.

I have seen comments online from people who say the Sven Pro is just a more expensive Svengali deck but I have to disagree with that. With a Sven Pro you have more ways to force the card that will fool those who are familiar with the principle. You  can dribble from the ends just like any other Svengali but you can also dribble from the sides. You can also dribble from any of the corners. I even use mine to cut to the card with a Charlier cut. For someone who knows the Svengali this looks impossible. The cuts on the cards are also not as deep as the standard making the distribution of the two types of cards much more subtle when the deck is seen. This also enables you to put the deck on the table and have your spectator cut anywhere and he will cut to the force card.

Instruction is via a 24 minute downloadable video. The video begins with the basic working of a Svengali deck. I am sure there will be nothing new for any of you but it is handy for a newcomer. Besides the basic instructions, you are shown different ways to handle the deck.  A display is taught that I really like. You do a ribbon spread y dribbling the cards sideways instead of just spreading them. You can then turn over the entire spread showing only indifferent cards. Very pretty. There are no real blockbusters in the trick section although an Erdnase color change looks good and a subtlety is used to perform a decent ACAAN. However, you are not buying this package for the tricks. If you really need some inspiration in this area, you most likely already have Jean Hugard's "Encyclopedia of card Tricks" which has an entire chapter of Svengali tricks.

I personally like this deck and will be using it in place of my old original Svengali. The cards are all on Bicycle stock and the quality is excellent. you will have to decide for yourselves whether the added features make it worth the extra expense. However, since the deck is only $20.00, I would recommend adding this to your case.

Conclusion: Invictus has actually taken an old dog and taught it new tricks. If you enjoy Svengali tricks, this is the deck to use. As your spectator can cut for himself from any side, there is no suspicion thrown of the deck. This is recommended. You will like it.

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