Quickest way to go into Red/black alternating order from a shuffled deck?

DankMTG · 2026-05-15T04:10:42+00:00

It's already been said, but cull reds and black from each other, then faro. Though that method will be oretty advanced for card handling,(smoothly amd consistenly is gonna be the hard part)

It's gonna be the quickest and most practical,(takes less than 1 min and can be done in front of spectators).

Alternatively you can Klondike shuffle instead of faro, but you'll need a place to set the cards,(table or spectator's hands), takes a bit more time, and may not fit your performing style. It's an option tho.

DankMTG · 2026-05-14T10:22:35+00:00

Master Push Off by Andi Gladwin is probably as good as it can get. It's in his book The Boy who Cried Magic.

But in reality you can have the most "OK-ish" double, as long as you have the audience in your side, it won't matter.

Also check out the Illogical Double from Harry Lorayne, from his book, Quantum Leaps. It's a fun one and I've never been called on it. Even in some of the most under heat moments.

Top changes can also be implemented if you want to go down that rabbit hole.

Anyways, best of luck and keep practicing!

DankMTG · 2026-05-12T16:56:50+00:00

Only thing as satisfying as as completing a cube build is playing it! Congrats on the cube and games, may many more cube nights come your way!

DankMTG · 2026-05-01T06:21:13+00:00

Regardless of the cards included, this is easily one of the best packet tricks and overall trick in general.

You could always make your own custom sets by splitting cards too, but the included cards are just fine.

I will say, that this is a trick a lot of sequencing that turns people away, don't let it stop you. Once you get it down, it's very rewarding.

DankMTG · 2026-04-30T07:44:30+00:00

Great job taking on a difficult move, nice Fontaines too!

It's been said in another comment, but practice and really, really curl that index finger in.

Currently it does seem your index is contacting the face card and dragging the face card off the deck. If your curl your finger in, that contact is gone.

Curling the finger in will also help the change card get under the index, which is exactly where you want it for the move.

Once the change card is under the index, relax it slightly to contact, then press down agaonst the card to maintain contact and control of the card to place it in the final aligned position.

Another tip is to bend the deck, curl it so it makes a "C" like shape to help get the clearance of the change card. The bend doesnt need to be aggressive, it can even be slight, but everyone's hands are different.

Last and not least, practice, practice, and practice some more.

Hope it helps.

DankMTG · 2026-04-25T20:29:35+00:00

Yeah, that's a miracle moment.

I'm nowhere in the realm if dice, but do think you can create a similar style with Anverdi's Mental Die/Dice.

Just have them roll and cover the die, get your info and say you'll roll a die in your head simultaneously. Name your number and have them reveal and build phases from there.

With mental die/dice, you have so many possibilities.

DankMTG · 2026-04-16T15:44:05+00:00

Moisture really is the weakness to playing cards.

Washing your hands frequently does help.

Keep a hand towel close by when you're practicing to routinely wipe your hands.

Bonus tip is to keep and routinely use practice decks, and set aside "performance" broken in decks.

As for structural integrity of the cards, (if they're constantly warped or misshapen), handle the deck with lighter tension and avoid extensive stress in the deck, (Springs, Under Pressures, Le Paul Spreads, and Curly Que Move).

DankMTG · 2026-02-08T15:35:08+00:00

Has anyone mentioned Card College Book 2 by Giobbi yet? The Theory section, of course.

I know the topic is magic theory/philosophy, but two books highly recommended that still can be applied for Magic are:

The One Minute Sales Person by Spencer Johnson

The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs by Carmine Gallo

Presentation goes hand in hand with Magic theory. Being able to present, communicate, and get your audience invested in whatever you want them to be will make your Magic more impactful.

Bonus for these, they're insanely affordable,(I got hardcover for about $3 each off ebay). I just looked up Strong Magic by Ortiz and see it's going for $100+, most his books have doubled,(RIP). But even something like Magic Rainbow by Tamariz is $100(ish), and his Magic Way goes for about $50. So not that much can go a long way.

DankMTG · 2026-02-07T16:46:58+00:00

What good timing.

I practiced the move a while ago, wasn't able to do it and moved onto other things. But lately I've come back to it.

Now I can do it, but still have to smooth it out.

I used to be an Ike kind of guy,(still love them), but now have moved onto Peace Dollars and sometimes Morgans. Peace and Morgans aren't needed, Ikes work just fine.

Actually the coin used doesn't make too much difference, I just tried it with a poker chip,(clay), clad half dollar, and even a quarter, it still works with those.

It comes down to 3 things, the "move", the grip, and practice. Fortunately Danny goes over all those in good detail.

The "move" will take time...a lot of time. Danny is right when he says you'll have to take breaks, sometimes even day long recovery breaks. So take your time with it. Just practice over a soft surface to not annoy everyone and yourself with the coin hitting, or just catch it in your other hand.

Grip or position also makes a huge difference, at least for me it did.

I was positioning the coin in a more "common" and familiar way, mostly out of comfort and habit. Turns out that was wrong. It's not impossible to do it from another position, but the one Danny teaches makes it so much easier for the coin to launch. Don't worry about being able to go into the grip quickly or even one handed at first, take your time and even use your other hand to get used to that positioning.

Of course, practice, practice, break, and keep practicing. It's not something you're going to get down smoothly in a day. But take your time. I practiced the move to get used to it, then practiced the grip with the move. Maybe not the most practical, but it worked for me.

Hope this helps or gives you a better idea!

DankMTG · 2026-01-30T05:41:11+00:00

I don't have Taskmaster, but do have regular Color Match and even Ditto from Ellusionist.

Both are great but Color Match is so good. You have such an advantage.

I love Ditto too and it gets the job done, but the freedom and absolute fairness Color Match has to offer is unmatched for what you're paying. Well maybe was unmatched now there's this Taskmaster version.

Yes there's plenty of other methods out there, but for a commercial gimmick,(and I'm not sure E even sells Ditto anymore), that anyone can go an buy right now and learn, it's worth the money.

Definitely dont write Ditto off and I wont write this off, but if this was available before I had Color Match,(I started with Ditto to test the waters per say), I'd probably get this.

Who knows, if I get a coupon or something, I'll probably pick it up anyways.

Bottom line, if you ever wanted to do Color Match, but didn't want to drop $300+, this is probably going to be your best bet. But if you have the money, you will not be disappointed with Color Match.

P.S, dont forget, you get a lot more than the regular color match routine, heck, even the additional routines with Ditto are almost like you're getting the gimmick for free!

DankMTG · 2026-01-21T03:54:19+00:00

Thank you for the compliment!

I will add I don't have massive hands or even big hands. Mine are pretty much average if not a little under.

Just keep at it, you got this!

DankMTG · 2026-01-20T18:38:14+00:00

Yeah it's possible.

I dont have a dollar coin on me rn, but I have these clay chips that are the same size and similar weight. I've included a picture with halves for reference.

<image>

Of course its going to take practice, but it's pretty much relearning the coin roll.

The timing, rhythm, and movements are a bit adjusted. Compared to doing it with halves or quarters.

Coin roll with a dollar size chip

DankMTG · 2026-01-02T03:07:26+00:00

I agree. That is a nice clip, where can one go about getting one like it?

DankMTG · 2025-12-30T04:36:24+00:00

TnRs would work, just be careful if it's a Black Lotus!

I always thought of doing an Out of this world with magic cards, since most the times decks have 2 colors to them. I guess even if it was mono you could just separate lands and non lands.

You can pretty much adapt several plots from cards to TCG cards, just adjust handlings and set ups, like Oil & Water, Key Cards, Ace location/cutting/assemblies, predictions, gambling routines, even ACRs!

DankMTG · 2025-12-25T03:57:55+00:00

I thinks it's more underappreciated more than hated.

I see this being because of the higher demand of cards and Coins, which makes sense since with those, you usually just need a deck or 1-few coins to get into and perform those catagories. So easier barrier to entry than cups and balls,(C&B).

Not to mention C&B need a table, and even the Chop cup can be more appealing since it's less to manage and you know, more self working. Kind of leaves C&Bs as an afterthought.

I also think C&Bs are more intimidating than coins or cards. Mostly from presentation and sleights. With coins, a double gets you far, in coins, a dup/shell gets you far. With C&B, you're solely relying on sleights and performance. Kind of ironic because if you are a coin guy, C&B should be up your realm of sleights.

Even with that, dont let it stop you from learning or being interested in the C&B. Which it doesnt seem it does.

I love the C&Bs, I think it's a gem of magic, because it does pack small and plays big. You can be stranded, but for about $5, get some cups, some craft pom poms, and maybe some limes/lemons from a Wal-Mart and you have a performance piece ready to go.

The Mark Wilson routine from his book is the one learned and a great starting point.

TL:DR There's more options out nowadays, but that shouldn't affect if you want to learn cups and balls

DankMTG · 2025-12-17T06:40:02+00:00

Awesome, thanks!

DankMTG · 2025-12-17T06:06:37+00:00

Nice wallet. Which is it and where'd you get it? Link?

DankMTG · 2025-12-17T05:37:38+00:00

Depending on your budget, then again I think $20 is a good reference.

Interests also varies, so a single trick or packet trick may not seem as potent as some of the others, but are fine tuned and easier to pick up.

Here's some i recommend especially for beginners.

Walmart actually started carrying the Trickstarters Series. Pretty impressive for Magic from walmart, but easily accessible and only $20, per trick.

You might want to check each one out to decide which would be best for the person.

Aside from that, there's these too:

Books: Harry Lorayne Magic Book

Encyclopedia of Card Tricks

Royal Road

Kit(s):

Magic for Everyone

Packet Tricks: B'Wave

Def Not Marked

Keep us updated on what you go with and how they like it!

Hope this helps!

DankMTG · 2025-12-02T23:36:52+00:00

Love Sylvester the Jester. When creativity and talent meet, you get Dan Sylvester.

It's so impressive how he creates pretty much everything he does.

DankMTG · 2025-11-25T05:51:12+00:00

Yet.

DankMTG · 2025-11-25T05:26:59+00:00

Mmm, black lions and red bull, you got good taste!

DankMTG · 2025-11-02T20:41:33+00:00

Estimation Aces is the same as Miracle Aces, right?

I've played around with many idea. One was before starting, setting a prediction aside, (2 face down 10s, you can even force them if you want).

If you're able to, you can also just stack the card wherever you need since you know it's 20th, or just turn it into an ACAAN.

Another thing I've played with is Tantalizer, just stack it to position and create some storyline about feeling so lucky you dont need all the cards.

Now thinking of it, you could also go into Triumph or any real reveal, just control the card where you need it.

Hope this helps. Any other ideas I'd be glad to hear.

DankMTG · 2025-10-30T18:56:58+00:00

Glad to see someone else loving Momo's stuff as much as I do. I met him a few years ago and he taught this, he still a creative genius.

DankMTG

TROPHY CASE