"This is one of the most fun card tricks to perform. It's very easy to learn. I love it." - Acar Altinsel, Penguin Magic
The Effect Show three cards; one with a blue spot and two with a red spot. Explain that this is a game for gambling, and whoever finds the blue spot wins a dollar, but if that person is wrong, he must forfeit a dollar. Then explain that you were once taken by this game, and show how you were taken, losing three dollars because every time you thought you picked the blue card, it was red. So, you accused the man of not even having a blue card. He showed the bottom card as blue, so you lost another dollar! So, you said that if it was the card on the bottom, it couldn't be the one on top, but again, you lost another dollar! It is then showed as the center card as well, and by then, there's been six dollars lost. So, you said that you thought he was using more than three cards, but were proven wrong and lost another dollar. So, the gambler gave you another chance, double or nothing. He showed you that one card was red, another as blue, and all you had to do was name the color of the third card. Red, right? Wrong again! It's not red, nor is it anything anyone would expect!
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Color Monte is probably the best selling packet trick in the world. For a simple three card packet trick it gets some of the best reactions in any routine. I would have called it the best packet trick except for those of John Bannon, still those are more involved. The magician's secret to Color Monte is to practice with the two card moves you must learn until they become a type of muscle memory. Another way of thinking about this is that you are going to be looking at those viewing the trick while using speed and patter to perform it. This also distracts the viewer. So, if you get the moves down with a good dose of speed and memorize the patter, you have a trick that should never fail you.
This is a very fun routine, and definitely worth the time to work on. As you've seen from the demo, the sequence is fairly lengthy, so it will take some time to learn the patter that goes with the storyline, and then to coordinate how each move fits in with it.
These moves really aren't that difficult, but you will need to work on them. The key to this effect is to keep everything running fast and smoothly. If you start pausing or thinking, it's going to ruin the entire routine. Probably the most difficult move required is a double-lift, but since you're only holding three cards, it's really not that big of a deal.
Everyone who works with cards needs to have some sort of Monte routine in their repertoire, and this one is as good as any. The sleights are easy, the finish is a nice kicker, and all the cards are completely examinable.
Hi! This is your official PenguinMagic reviewer, B_Magic.
Color Monte has been a part of my Absolute Arsenal for years, and I expect that's where it will stay. This is one of the absolute best packet tricks out there. I would highly recommend this effect to anyone interested in cards.
The trick is fun, shocking, and not terribly difficult to do. That said, be careful, because I've found that this effect and the response you get from it largely depends on how much work you do put into perfecting it and presenting it (like most tricks). The moves are not difficult, but there is an element of practice you'll need to do to get the trick clean. It isn't a self-worker. There is no gaff here, it's all sleight of hand.
I give this trick four stars because, over time, I've found that the supplied cards do not promote as big of reactions as if you do this with natural looking cards. These days, I only use one of the supplied cards for the big ending, but the other two cards I've taken from a regular pack of cards. I find that the ending is much bigger and better for audiences when they aren't already looking at unnatural-looking cards from the get go.
Pick this one up!
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Awesome Packet Trick
[Verified buyer] by C.Berney from Knoxville, TN on 04/02/2010 20:51:40
This is my favorite packet trick. I love to perform it and its very easy to perform. Its great for a beginner or a professional. The ending is the kicker, people think they know what is going to happen at the end...then POW!! Then the surprise a $14 card to their surprise. If you like packet tricks...then ADD TO CART...don't wait add now.
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Color Monte
[Verified buyer] by Devin H from Montana, USA on 04/02/2010 20:48:36
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