Las Vegas Aces is actually an old Cody Fisher routine (released around 2004?) which has recently been re-released. I’ve really enjoyed Cody’s other releases and so was looking forward to the opportunity to write this Las Vegas Aces review.
What’s the effect?
To a routine based on exposing pseudo gambling techniques, the four aces magically pass from one hand to the other – in sipte of being shown very freely and openly at every stage.
If you know your card magic, you will probably realise this is a variation on Larry Jennings’ classic Open Travellers routine. Fisher cites this as the inspiration and also mentions versions by Bruce Cervon and Terry Lagerould – but I haven’t had a minute to grab my copy of the Classic Magic of Larry Jennings to see how much of a handling variation this is.
Fisher’s big change is to include a clever fake card (I’ve not seen one printed exactly like this before – though he doesn’t explicitly claim the idea as his) which allows for some very clean handling – and in particular the possibility of showing the Ace in its ‘original’ location literally seconds before the ‘travelling’ happens.
What do you get?
You get the special card – on both red- and blue-backed bicycle cards. These are well protected in a reinforced plastic sleeve. There is also a link to online teaching. The video is only 17 minutes long – though it must have taken me nearer 40 minutes to watch due to issues with the streaming. As I can’t confirm whether this was a problem my end or theirs, you probably shouldn’t hold this against the effect.
Cody is a great teacher and everything is very clearly explained. Anyone who can use the adjective ‘honking’ to describe a break gets a bonus mark in my book. He includes some helpful little tips on the way which show that this is a routine he actually uses.
The ‘real world’ nature of this effect has been a marked feature of every release I have seen from Fisher – which is a breath of fresh air in an industry that often seems to put out ideas that haven’t been given that level of ‘road testing.’
If I have any small negatives they are to do with the ad copy. I would say that it is a little misleading to describe it as a ‘strolling’ handling since you do really need a table. It is also a slight (pun intended) exaggeration to say ‘almost self working’ – since you do need a number of (albeit basic) sleights.
With those small caveats, this packs some very visual and powerful magic into an easy routine which ends clean and in a good position for another four ace trick. There’s a lot to like about Las Vegas Aces so it gets a strong recommendation.
You can pick up your copy of Las Vegas Aces from MagicShop.co.uk for £21 (at the time of writing).
Review copy kindly provided by Murphys Magic to whom dealer enquiries should be directed.
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