Steven Youell – Weapons of Mass Deception

Format: PDF

This second installment of lecture notes, “Weapons of Mass Deception,” emphasizes the art of presentation and essential sleights to create effective illusions.

Note: This title is distinct from another of Youell’s works, “Weapons of Mass DESTRUCTION,” despite the similar name.

An earlier edition from 2004 exists, but the specifics of the differences with this updated version are unclear. Typically, new editions introduce fresh material or revisions.

Steve Youell shares:

My previous work, “Weapons of Mass Destruction,” has received exceptional reviews for five years. The material is accessible for the average card magician, requiring no advanced sleight of hand. However, even seasoned performers will find valuable additions to their repertoire. Here are some highlights from the new notes:

• +1 — A Devastating Gambling Effect!
  A spectator cuts to four random cards. The performer explains that, unlike in movies, real card cheats only aim to win by a small margin to avoid suspicion. He demonstrates this by cutting to a card one value higher than each of the four random selections.
• Calling The Shot
  Three cards are chosen and shuffled back into the deck. The performer showcases his ability to cut to any card by simply calling out its name. He cuts the deck three times while stating, “Nine…of…Clubs,” and reveals the Nine of Clubs on top. He continues by cutting to the first two selections, allowing the last spectator to call out their card.
• Russian Roulette — An Original Platform Card Trick!
  A shuffled deck is handed to a spectator, who deals cards face down until they choose to stop. After noting the card, they return it to the deck, shuffle, and pass it to the magician. The magician fans the cards, upjogging six for the audience to see. Five spectators eliminate one card each, leaving the selected card as the final upjogged card.
• The Key Card
  The actual name of this method is withheld to maintain its secret. Once you implement it, you may discard your short cards and other gimmicks. This key card is simple to create and adapts to your natural card handling style. Originally released in a limited run of 50 copies, it is now accessible to everyone, allowing you to master it within an hour of crafting!