So, you pick up Dani Daortiz's "52 To 1" from the "Borrowed Deck Project," Chapter 4, thinking, 'Alright, a borrowed deck! Impromptu, clean, right out of the spectator's mitts.' And then you start watching the explanation, and reality sets in.

The hype of a "borrowed deck" usually whispers 'impromptu' in your ear, doesn't it? Like you can just walk into a room, snatch a deck from old Bob's poker night, and bang, miracles. Not here, friend. Not by a long shot.

There's a vital bit of grunt work you gotta do beforehand. A prep that requires you to cozy up to the very location where you're gonna perform. Which, right off the bat, shoots the whole "impromptu" notion dead in the water. Maybe you work in the same venues all the time, and that's not an issue. But you need to be aware of that requirement BEFORE you buy.

And then there's the spectator. Unless your audience consists of folks who've had a recent run-in with a short-term memory eraser, or perhaps are currently suffering from a severe case of goldfish-brain, this thing simply will not fly. There's no amount of stage presence, no amount of 'audience control', that's gonna save you when your spectator remembers what you're showing them RIGHT NOW is not WHAT THEY JUST SAW.

And God help you, what if the kind soul you ask to borrow a deck from hands you a different one than the one you have prepared for this trick? I realize red and blue Rider decks are the most common, but they're not the only ones out there.

Look, Dani's a genius, no argument there. And he provides a neat way to work a crowd to narrow down choices to get that chosen card. But it's the same one he revealed in his "Chaos" project, and for a much neater trick. This trick has too many holes to make it workable. It feels like a side dish that should've stayed in the kitchen. Save your money here and go get the tricks from "Chaos." You'll thank me later.

Look, it's a good trick. It's not one I personally plan to do, but it's a good trick.

However, the biggest issue is it isn't what it advertises it to be. It's called a "borrowed deck" trick. And without spoiling it, you can't do this trick with a borrowed deck. Unless the deck you take is exactly the same one that you "practice" with. It's not very impromptu either.

I really like a lot of his other tricks. But this is one I won't get any value out of.

This is too hard for me . I am not satisfied

This trick is not just a masterclass in a single routine — it also gives you an arsenal of magical weapons. It's insane!

This is an exceptional effect, but requires practice with Dani Daortiz’ style.

The principle taught IS entirely impromptu. The phone aspect can be replaced with anything (just showing them cards). If you use a mat, this is also impromptu as shown in the video.

Dani Daortiz isn’t for casual hobbyists. Those who are practiced with the type of magic, will find the technique in this effect phenomenal.

You truly can let people THINK of a card if done correctly.

I love these monthly magic classes. Whether I would use the trick he shows or not is not important; I enjoy the entertainment of seeing Dani perform and learning a method that I may or may not already know but applied in a different way. I should buy the year, but I kind of like getting them as they come out, and it isn't that much more to just do the monthly payment for another of my favorite magicians

Very difficult to understand. In fact, I don't understand it now. In his explanation, he shows how to narrow spectator choice from 4 to 1, but I don't understand how to narrow from 52 to 4. I have watched the instructional 4 times and I don't understand it.

My seventh Danny purchase, starting with the ACAAN and Force Card projects. This is my fourth Borrowed Deck series purchase, which means I have bought every effect in this series so far. I promise myself not to buy anymore effects as I have too much magic, but I just can't help myself with Danny Daortiz, the master toreador of the uniquely Danny style of card magic that dispenses with so many of the principles of magic with playing cards. I intend to perform 52 to 1 because no special cards or difficult card skills are needed. Like most of these Danny effects, one needs to be seated at a table and with an audience of two or more people.
I thought I knew how 52 to 1 works from watching the performance and, while I was on the right track, the precise method was sufficiently different to confirm that I had indeed made a really good purchase.
Just one thing is unclear: at 22minutes and 20 seconds, it seems possible that the spectator will choose the final selection too early and this moment is deserving of more in depth explanation.
This card reveal effect is brilliant. It is a bit lengthy, but not likely to be a problem if the performer can sell his personality during the performance.

Wow this is really good

Excellent routine using multiple volunteers that draws people in.
More for close up than parlour or stage.
His language is difficult to follow at times, but the visuals make up for it.
I enjoyed it