"Casino Cut Card" by Thom Peterson
Suggested Retail USD$25.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 8 Out of 10

"Casino Cut Card", a card trick by Thom Peterson, may not be a reputation-maker but it is a clever take on the "Universal Card" plot with a surprising climax to boot.

It all begins with the performer showing a card, blank on both sides, which he explains is a casino "cut card", a card inserted into a deck during a game of blackjack to determine where the deck is cut. It's further explained that the paper cards aren't used anymore because they tended to pick up dirt and ink from the deck. The deck is shuffled and three spectators pick three cards (no forces). The blank card is added to the three selected cards, a rubbing gesture made, and the blank card has changed to one of the spectators cards. This is repeated and the cut card now looks like another selection and the packet shown to contain two of that card. For the third time this is done and for the third time the cut card takes on the appearance of the last selection. To prove just how badly the paper cut cards picked up ink from the other cards, the blank card is rubbed along the deck, turned over, and now is covered with a variety of faces and pips and values of other cards in the deck.

This is a cute effect. It won't get you booked on Leno, but it is entertaining. Peterson says on the DVD that he wanted something that involved a group of people at a table instead of just one or two, and this routine does that well enough. His take on the "Universal Card" plot is slick, with some handling touches that really make this one work. Then he goes for the gold and introduces an "odd card" finish that gets the laughs and the applause. All told, "Casino Cut Card" is a carefully crafted routine that is entertaining and appealing.

As to the workings, it's clear Peterson wanted this to be as practical as possible. To that end, a regular deck is used (during the course of the routine, a "certain something" is easily added and just as easily taken away, leaving you again with a regular ol' deck with which to perform more miracles), the handling is easy (especially so if you've ever played around with packet tricks), and such practicality issues as resets and angles and repeating are non-issues. Peterson created something of a worker here, to be sure.

Being brutally frank here, I found myself liking this one more than I thought I would. I've never been that big a fan of the plot, but Peterson's routine here is as good as it gets and caught my eye with its simplicity. The final appearance of that "odd card" makes this one a winner in the eyes of spectators. Overall, it's just a darn fine effect.

This is one that, if the plot appeals to you, you should get it. There's a lot going for Peterson's routine that makes this one worth the purchase.

"Casino Cut Card" by Thom Peterson
In a Blink: 8 Out of 10

Practicality: 10
A simple set-up, an instant reset, and a deck that can be used for other things easily... This one is about as practical as it gets.

Workmanship: 10
The cards are printed by USPCC and look great for the effect.

Documentation: 10
The documentation is supplied on a well-produced DVD, taught excellently by Peterson.

Effect: 7
While this one won't be a roof-raisin', barn-burnin' miracle, it's definitely above average in terms of impact. As usual, the odd card's appearance is the biggest jaw dropper and here it gets the job done beautifully.

Presentation: 7
The premise is that casinos had to do away with "paper cut cards" because of a flaw in them that makes them absorb ink and dirt from too much handling. As premises go, it's good enough and sets up the climax admirably.

Shane

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