Packet Tricks

by Jerry Mentzer

NOTE: We have very few copies of this title left in stock. There is no reprint scheduled at this time.(updated 7/2023)

Tricks with small packets of cards are very popular. Packets are easy to carry and provide some of the most impressive effects possible. Packet Tricks contains a batch of good ones by well-known card men. This collection was assembled because of the continuous interest in packet magic. One part of the book is devoted to tricks that can be done with cards removed from a regular deck of cards. The second part of the book describes tricks that require some sort of special cards. In some cases the “special” may just be a duplicate card or a card with an odd back. A few routines require double-faced cards or other unusual cards. The book is intended as a companion book to the author’s book, Counts. Cuts, Moves and Subtlety. Anyone familiar with the various secret counts used in packet magic should be able to read Packet Tricks and understand everything described in the book.

Contents Include: 

Part One: With a Regular Deck

•  "Roy"-Al Monte (Roy Walton): A royal flush turns to 4 Aces. Uses the Ascanio Spread.
•  Very Good Hand (Phil Goldstein): An Ace of Spades is seen to be a bit 'ambitious', then hand is seen to hold all Aces of Spades, then turns into a Royal Flush of Hearts. Uses 6 cards.
• Straight Up With a Twist (Phil Goldstein): A Twisting-The-Aces Effect with another twist
• Peter Kane's Jazz Aces: this is an Ace Assembly routine. Uses one-ahead principle and the Elmsley count. Also uses the Braue Addition.
• A Different Sound (Roger Divella): Red and Blue spot cards "follow the leader" and rejoin the packets of their like kind.
• Mini Oil and Water (Bill Miesel): Using only the four deuces
• Visual Quickie (Tom Gagnon): Two selections change places. This packet effect utilizes the whole deck as an aid for a couple of portions. Good as an introduction to a signed card to wallet effect.
•  Four A Change (J.K. Hartman): 4 Aces and 4 Kings change places
•  Ringer (J.K. Hartman): A "wand" card is used to find the right Ace
• Finding Fourthers (J.K. Hartman): selection ends up between two selected Aces

Part Two: With Something Special (using special cards)

•  Twist (Vic Trabucco): An Ace, Two, Three and Four turn face down one at a time, then backs change colors
•  Twist Clean Up (John Miller): a clean method of showing the different colored backs for the above effect
• Walton's Universal (Roy Walton): Three blank cards turn into other cards under the influence of the Ace of Hearts, then a Royal Flush is revealed
•  "X" Marks the Spot (Jerry Mentzer): Spectator picks the only business card with the different back. Good way to hand out a business card.
• Turncoat Kings (John Miller and Jerry Mentzer): Four red back Kings and one blue back Joker are shown. Back of Joker changed to match Kings, then Kings change to previous Joker color. Joker restore, then all Kings have different color backs.
•  Ace Assembly (Jerry Mentzer): An Ace Assembly trick using a larger packet (about 18 cards) and a few double facers
• Instant Cards (Jerry Mentzer): a packet of blank cards are shown, then they all develop faces

Details; - Packet Tricks ©1982 by Jerry Mentzer
Graphics by Creati-Graphics
Perfect bound, 63 pages, Photograph illustrations

SKILL LEVEL-Basic

A Magic Methods Exclusive Publication