How does an ultimate marked board work?
A marked deck is a special type of card that has markings that allow you to perform cool magic effects. They are particularly useful for magicians and mentalists. There are many options for marking decks, from luminous ink to lateral barscode cards.
The best and most expensive marked deck is the one made to be used with the magician’s chosen gimmick, such as a mentalism routine, or a gambling effect. These decks are made with the finest paper and are fun to use.
This book lays out in layman’s terms how to use a marked deck, and explains the nifty oleo magic elixir to be found in the bottle. Most of the tricks and routines in this book are from Jean-Marc Gaheri and Damien Vappereau, who are the creators of the burgeoning deck craze. However, a few are from Ivan Laplaud, and others.
This guide, which is 145 pages long, provides a detailed primer on the markings used by the UMD. It is well written, and the pictures and charts are clear and concise. The 105 tricks and routines provide a fun diversion to the usual sleight-of-hand and a great way of exploring the capabilities of a new deck.
The best thing about this book is its example of how a mark deck can be used in innovative card magic. If you own a marked deck, or are considering making the leap into this exciting and entertaining genre, this book should be on your must have list.