Jon Armstrong’s Cut Cards
$20.00
http://www.murphysmagic.com/product.aspx?id=56986

The Hype:

Jon Armstrong's "Cut Cards" include eight, two sided colored cards (two red, two blue and four black) that are made of regular card stock and have broad white borders. So, unlike other casino cut cards, they are lost when squared into the deck. And yet are instantly visible when spreading.

Cut Cards are perfect for any "sandwich" trick. You get great color contrasts that allow spectators to instantly see their chosen card between these brightly colored props. Any "sandwich" effect becomes more conversational and easier to follow with Cut Cards.

Cut Cards also provide you with stunningly visual presentations for gambling tricks, casino tricks, and haunted card tricks.

On the included DVD, Jon teaches some of his favorite routines using Cut Cards and shares moves you can apply to any sandwich routine. But, the Cut Cards themselves provide many new opportunities for your card magic.

The DVD includes:

Sandwitch
Tiltwitch
Balls to the Wall Collectors
Handwitch
The Drop
BONUS: The Gin Pick

MyTake:

I like sandwich tricks. I will usually use a pair of jokers but when I don’t have them available, I will use a color matching pair. Looks great and works great (especially with the Kosky Invisible Card Switch). However, this new idea of Jon’s is great. They add a nice visual element to your magic, they can be examined and, as they don’t pretend to be normal cards, are never under suspicion. It does not matter which side is up as they are double sided so when a deck is spread, the cards stand out whether the deck is face up or face down.

Jon teaches five nice routines with the package and most are based on subtleties rather than knuckle busting moves so you will be able to do them. One does requires a little arts and crafts to make a gaff but the whole project should take you about two seconds and the result will be well worth your time.

Here is what you will learn..

Sandwitches – The spectator removes two cards from the deck. By simply sliding two cut cards into the deck and removing them, the first card is located and placed face down onto the spectator’s palm. By repeating the technique, another card is found which is revealed to be the card previously located. The card on the spectator’s palm is discovered to be the second selection.

Handwitch – A variation of the first where the chosen card is placed back into the deck and returned to the spectator’s palm. Jon says this was inspired by an effect by Dan Garrett. He also teaches what he calls the BFM, a very deceptive and easy move which looks great.

Tiltwich – A selected card is lost in the deck. Cut cards are placed on top of the deck and spread. The selected card is found between them. Very visual trick based on subtleties.

The Drop – Spectator replaces selected card back into deck. He then places the examined cut cards on top of the deck and cuts them. When the deck is spread, the card is not between the cut cards but appears there when they are tossed to the table.

Ball To The Wall Collectors – This is a real jaw dropper. The spectator chooses three cards which are cut back into the deck. The magician removes four cut cards from his pocket and when they are spread, the three selected cards have been collected between them.

As a bonus, Jon goes over his Gin Pick, a double lift from a table deck. He admits that this is very difficult but if you can master it, you will be able to do miracles.

Conclusion: I like the idea of specially printed cards as a prop in the sandwich plot. For twenty bucks, you get eight of them plus a dvd with five terrific routines from one of our top card guys. These routines can be done by anyone with almost any level of card skills with a bit of practice. Highly recommended.

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