"Joker Monte" by Cosmo Solano
Suggested Retail USD$17.95
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

"Joker Monte", a new release by Cosmo Solano, is a nice monte-themed packet trick with some of the usual things mixed with some unusual pieces that make this a very fine packet trick.

I'll give you a rundown of the routine since the ads are lacking there:

A card box is brought out and four cards and a paper clip dumped from it. The four cards are shown to be three Jokers and a Queen. The Queen is turned face down and placed on the table. One of the Jokers is turned faced down as well. When it's turned over, though, it's changed into the Queen; the tabled card is turned over and is now a Joker. To make things easier, one of the Jokers is placed openly into the card box, which is closed and set aside. The two Jokers and the Queen are shown, the Queen turned face down, and then dealt to the table. The paper clip is put on one of the Jokers. In a flash, the clipped Joker is now the Queen and the face down card on the table is a Joker. The cards are gathered up and the Joker removed from the card box, leaving the performer with the three Jokers and the Queen. The performer turns one of the Jokers and the Queen face down, then places one of the face-up Jokers into the card box. Giving the spectator two chances -- an impossible-to-lose proposition -- results in all the cards in the hands being Jokers and the Queen being found in the box. The four cards are gathered up again and shown to be free from any trickery but, in a blink, the Queen is now the only red-backed card among the blue-backed Jokers, making it finally possible for the spectator to win.

That's the routine, by and large, and at it's core it's Dave Neighbors' routine. It's a very good one. Honestly, it's one of my favorite routines (favorite packet trick routines, not monte routines; we'll get to that distinction in a minute). It's easy to do -- if you've been around packet tricks at all, it's dead-simple to pull off -- and loaded with little magical moments. And, thanks to Solano's "Cosmo's Card Box" and some nice, logical routining, this one ends up being clean enough to throw pretty much everyone for a loop. Neighbors', and more than a few working pros, have added this one to their act for good reason.

It's just not my favorite monte routine.

I'm a purist when it comes to the monte. I want bent cards and folded corners, not gaffed cards and color changes. I want broad tossing, not Elmsley counting. I want a routine where a Mexican Turnover is an escape route when things go wrong, not a slick maneuver to make something magical. I'm just a stick-in-the-mud, I guess.

Now I said that to say this: "Joker Monte" is one great packet trick, but a gambling demo it ain't. If that's what you're looking for, go elsewhere. Pick up the Garcia bible on the thing (that's where I got my start, so I'm biased).

But if you're looking for some quick, easy, logical magic that can be both flummoxing and entertaining, "Joker Monte" is a sure bet. From the wonderful structure of the routine to the openness the simple gaff gives the working to a very easy handling to a gimmicked card box that I instantly fell in love with, "Joker Monte" is a great routine worth attention.

And that's about the best way of deciding if "Joker Monte" is for you. If you're looking for a good gambling demo, go hardcore and learn the real thing; you'll appreciate it more in the long run. If you're looking for something you can pass off as a gambling scam while frying some audience brain cells along the way, don't look any further: you'll love this one.

"Joker Monte" by Cosmo Solano
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

Practicality: 8
This is, essentially, a packet trick, complete with the usual sleights and usual gaffs. However, you do end fairly clean (not perfectly, but the one thing that can't be examined never draws that much attention). You'll need some pocket space for the card box (and you'll need to treat it pretty gently), but other considerations are minor (a slight reset, no angles, needs some table space, etc)

Workmanship: 10
The cards are made on Bicycle stock so you know what to expect there. The other piece of this is gimmicked nicely, but will need rebuilding from time to time (at almost no cost in money or time).

Documentation: 10
Solano has come of the best documentation in magic, with excellent writing and a ton of images to complete things perfectly. No complaints here at all; you'll be running with this one in no time.

Effect: 8
This may not be the most magical packet trick you'll do, but it is mystifying enough to get some good reactions from spectators. As a pseudo-gambling demo, it's entertaining and fun, which is never a bad thing.

Presentation: 9
It's the usual "I'm smarter than you" thing, which doesn't do a lot for me, but with a nice progression of phases and some easy handling, this is a very fine routine.


Shane

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