PROS

The trick is true to the ad copy. The ad copy doesn’t really go into detail on exactly what the effect is, so let me explain: You take two folded cards from your pocket or wallet. One is red, the other blue. You ask a participant to feel the red card. “Does it feel red?” you ask. You then ask them to feel the blue card. You hand them the blue card and ask them to fold it in quarters as you fold the red card in quarters. You take both cards back and secretly place one of the folded cards in their hand. They close their hand over it, without seeing who has which card. You then reveal you have the blue card. You tap your blue card on the back of their closed hand and it changes to the red card. They open their hand and they indeed have the blue card.

One nice thing about this effect is you can carry your card gimmicks in your wallet and perform this “card” trick right from your wallet.

The instruction is good. The trick can be performed surrounded and they teach several versions, including a very simple, very easy version.

There are a few different routines that are taught, including a really cool routine where a participant selects a red back card from a deck. You have a paper clipped prediction card in sight. They reveal their card and you reveal your matching card that also changes color to match their card exactly.

Another routine they explain is a two handed card transposition effect, similar to copper silver coins, but with two different color cards.

They also cover how to repair the gimmick.

The method is good, but..

CONS

My gimmick was poorly constructed. With my gimmick card, the method was revealed before even doing the magic move. They provide enough of a certain material to make, or in my case, re-make the gimmick, but they don’t provide any of another certain gimmick card material to make the gimmick.

Also, I found that the gimmick didn’t actually work consistently. The gimmicks supposed to change colors right in front of their eyes. However, sometimes the gimmick didn’t change from one color to another cleanly. I found that it worked pretty consistently when I did the simpler version where the change doesn’t appear right in front of their eyes.

Also, I wasn’t impressed that they didn’t put a lot of thought into the handling and motivation behind handing out two un-gimmicked cards for examination at the end. To hand out the cards for examination, you are going to switch out a gimmicked card for a duplicate un-gimmicked card. I think it would have been a real good idea to have some sort of motivation to bring the un-gimmicked cards out, not merely for examination. I suppose you could just pocket the cards and only take them out again to be examined if asked. While most magicians will say you don't need to have your props examined, sometimes the examination is a powerful part of the routine. In the “Suggestions” section, I have provided an idea.

VERDICT

I like the gimmick and the effect, but my gimmick wasn’t constructed well, they provided some material needed to make or fix a gimmick, but none of something else you need. Also, when trying some of the handlings of the gimmick, I found that my gimmick didn’t perform the color change correctly and the gimmick jammed in a position that would reveal the secret. In addition, this is one of those effects where your participants are going to want to examine the props. They didn’t really provide good motivation and handling explanation for how to hand out un-gimmicked cards for examination.

Suggestions

I always like to have good motivation for examination of cards that they may suspect are gimmicked. I also think that sometimes it is more powerful if they DO examine something that they are just convinced would be impossible without some sort of gimmick or trick prop, as is the case with this effect. I personally think it is strong to pocket the cards and then bring back out un-gimmicked cards to actually do something with the cards. One idea is the pen through bill effect. I can’t give away the secret as it is not mine, but search for “Rich Ferguson The Indestructable Dollar” for an excellent pen through dollar bill under the cover of a folded playing card.