"WPT" by Boris Wild
Suggested Retail USD$15.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

"WPT", a new effect by Boris Wild, is a short piece of work that has the potential to be a lot more than it is and that's saying something given that it is already stunning.

"WPT", which stands for "Wild Poker Trick" is the latest incarnation of Wild's "Very Wild". In short, five cards are shown to be what amounts to a very poor poker hand. In a blink, the cards change to a royal flush. Okay, so that sounds about as dry as dust and just as informative, but to be honest this is one you really need to see to appreciate. The change is quick, visual, and incredibly open and clean. It's also quite simple, not even requiring those sleights usually found in packet tricks.

With no excess finger-flinging and an open handling, "WPT" blows people away. With this one, you can expect everything from jaws-dropping to shrieks to cursing (and for my money, any of those in any combination make "WPT" worth the modest price).

There are a few things to be aware of, though, most of which is to be expected considering this effects genre.

The first thing, though, is a minor gripe and it's about the marketing. "WPT" actually stands for "World Poker Tour", and on the WPT circuit that means only one kind of poker, the Cadillac of poker, Texas Hold 'Em. As a player, the thing that excited me most about Wild's trick was that it is -- quoting from the cover -- the "Texas Hold 'Em version". Considering the popularity of that game in my parts, I was looking forward to this focusing on that game. It doesn't. It's actually the five-card-draw version, not the hold 'em version, and that was disappointing to me.

The rest boil down to the usual "packet trick" problems. The cards can't be examined (big shocker there, I know) but Wild teaches a way to remove the cards from the deck which -- as any packet-trick aficionado will tell you -- greatly diminishes the heat though it does put a crimp in what else you can do with the deck. There is a set-up and a reset, but both are minor. All told, Wild deals with the packet trick issues quite well.

Now, I initially referred to "WPT" as stunning, and it is. I also said it could be more, which it can. Here's the thing and it's something to think about. "WPT" is gorgeous and it plays huge. It's also over in the blink of an eye. It plays quick, maybe too quick. That's why I don't recommend just pulling the cards out and doing the trick. Sure, it's still stunning that way, but done as a climax to even the lightest weight poker routine -- a cheesy faux demo of a second deal or what-have-you -- then "WPT" packs a huge wallop and makes itself worth its weight in gold.

All told, "WPT" is a great effect. It's visually appealing, it's oh-so-simple, and it drops jaws with a clean and open handling. Throw it into an existing routine and you'll like it even more.

"WPT" by Boris Wild
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

Practicality: 8
It's a packet trick and comes with the usual baggage. The set-up is simple, as is the reset. As can be expected, the cards can't be examined, but Wild deals with the heat admirably. In addition, there's a piece of this that will need to be "touched up" now and then. It's simple, but may require a trip to a store to buy the inexpensive certain something.

Workmanship: 10
The specially-printed cards are by USPCC and the rest of the gaffing is extremely well done. No problems here.

Documentation: 9
The documentation, supplied on DVD, is very well done, though Wild has a tendency to be a bit wordy now and then. All in all, you'll have no problem learning this simple but powerful routine.

Effect: 10
The lightning-like change of five cards, with a level of cleanliness that has to be seen to be understood, knocks 'em for a loop. This is powerful stuff.

Presentation: 8
The effect is over so quickly that this is one that begs to be a piece of a longer routine; as the climax to a poker routine -- even a light one -- this can't be beat. On it's on, though, it's still a great effect.


Shane

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