MagicBunny.co.uk

Name:
Tops, Seconds, and Bottoms (VCD)

Author:
Ian Kendall

Price:
£12 from author, including postage

Publisher:
Self Published, available from http://www.virtualmagicshow.com/deals/

Pages/Length:
Around an hour I think

Difficulty:
Dealing Tops - 1/10
Dealing Seconds - 5/10
Dealing Bottoms - 7/10

Out of 10:
9/10

Contents
Very detailed instruction to Ian's Top/Second/Bottom dealing techniques.

Comments
Brace yourselves, I have a lot to say about this VCD.

Anyone interested in learning false dealing techniques may have spent a long time banging their head on a wall at the lack of video/DVD instruction that shows any more than an exposed move. I am very interested in gambling sleights and routines, yet have in the past been disheartened with what is available to learn from.

The recently re-released Richard Turner 'The Cheat', Steve Forte's Gambling Protection Series, George Joseph's Cheating at Poker, Darwin Ortiz on Card Cheating, etc. etc. never show more than the basic mechanics, often from a restricted view.

Jerry Camaro's bottom deal tape shows the move - in all of 5 minutes - and does not cover it in any detail, thus leaving the viewer in a state of having to find out how it works by trial and error. The same can be said (albeit to a lesser extent) with most other visual sources of learning false deals, including (but not limited to) Allan Ackerman's Card Control series, Daryl's Encyclopaedia of Card Sleights, etc.

Also, trying to learn false deals from a variety of different sources can also lead to inconsistency. By this I mean that most people (magicians) will deal from mechanic's grip. However, some second deals do not use the mechanics grip, and a lot of bottom deals I have seen do not.

I spent about a year working on my own second deal from mechanic's grip, which I have been using ever since quite satisfactorily, but I have never been able to learn a bottom deal - especially one from mechanic's grip. Roll on Ian Kendall's VCD...

Ian's CD covers his own method for dealing (you guessed it) tops, seconds, and bottoms. This might sound like pretty standard fare, but believe me it is not. He talks ONLY about the three deals - not six different second deals, four different bottom deals, etc. Considering this VCD last for around an hour, there is a LOT of information about these three deals.

I'm not going to go into detail listing what is taught on this disc, as there is just too much to cover. I will however explain how this VCD differs from ALL other visual false dealing aids I have come across (and I've come across quite a lot...)

First off, these moves are explained and demonstrated in such great detail that this is as close as you'll get to having a teacher sat next to you helping you every step of the way. Nothing is left out.

Second, and perhaps the most unique thing about this VCD, is that you are not getting techniques for three different deals, you are getting techniques for a 'family' of deals. What I am trying to convey with this, is that rather than be taught a functional top deal, a functional second deal, and a functional bottom deal, the three deals taught (dealing tops, dealing seconds, and dealing bottoms) all look identical and are dealt from the same grip meaning that absolute consistency is maintained throughout your dealing. I have never come across such a well-thought out and explained package of false dealing tutorials, in print or on screen, ever.

The VCD is not only an hour long tutorial on sleights - Ian also teaches Roy Walton's Cannibal Cards which is a nice little trick, and a great way to practice what you have learned so far from the VCD.

A word on the deals themselves. The deals all look identical when cards are dealt in piles in a circle or a line. The bottom deal looks ever so slightly different when cards are being dealt one after another in a pile - however you will only spot this if you are burning the dealer's hands (and you know what to look for!) and the cards are dealt one after another into a static pile (and to be honest, would this EVER happen?). The deals are very relaxed; no emphasis whatsoever is placed on the action of dealing the card.

I really can't do this VCD justice in reviewing it here. I might be biased somewhat because the subject matter is exactly what I am interested in, but there is no doubt in my mind that this is the best (and perhaps ONLY) true false dealing tutorial out there.

This really should be bought by anyone with even the slightest interest in false deals.

Thank you for a very detailed review on Ian Kendall's VCD



from your apparent history in learning false dealing, i won't cast doubt on your prejudices. in fact, it is what makes your review more credible. Besides, Ian's has a proven track record for his in depth teaching material.

I was wondering about that, too!

I'm quite proud of this CD - there are a couple of similar reviews over at the Cafe. Links are on the Deals page mentioned above.

Take care, Ian

Firstly, a word about Ian's service. I ordered this yesterday afternoon and it plopped on my doormat this morning complete with handwritten personal note. Having ordered from Ian in the past I can tell you this is the rule not the exception.

There's no point in repeating what Will has already said, suffice to say I agree with all of it. As I've said before I really like Ian's presentation and teaching style. Being a great magician doesn't necessarily qualify someone as a great teacher, as numerous available materials proove. Ian has a natural way of putting points across concisely and accurately. With that said, everything on this vid is useful stuff, there is no guff or filler.

Now the deals - summed up for me with the phrase 'elegant simplicity'.
Like Will I have often been confused and frustrated at the range of materials and techniques available, each of which seeming to want a different grip on the deck or technique. Basically due to the need to be shifting grips for different deals and the often daunting advice that you must practice for 25 hours a day 8 days a week for your entire lifetime to master these techniques, quite frankly I've never bothered. The closest I'd come is developing my own push off second from dealers grip, which is adequate rather than exceptional.
Which is why I can see this vcd is going to be of great use. All of the deals come from the same grip - all look absolutely identical (Ian warns that there are slight discrepencies with the bottom deal, but I didn't see them until they were pointed out and even then they really are not noticeable) and he teaches ONLY 3 deals. Why could you possibly need 8 different second deals if not for magical masturbation purposes?

Nothing is left undiscussed as far as I can tell. Ian even apologises at one point for speaking upon things which may seem very basic to some. For me it is this attention to detail that sets this vcd apart. Advice on the take, the sail, shade and practising - it's all in here.

To sum up, if Ian wasn't such a nice Guy I'd be telling everyone that this vcd is rubbish so that I could cut down the number of people with access to this awesome teaching resource .

It really is rather good and I can't wait to get cracking with the deals properly.

Ian you had videoclips on your website of yourself dealing seconds and bottoms didn't you? Can i please watch them? I don't know the address.

I think it's the same link as at the top of the page Tielie.

http://www.virtualmagicshow.com/deals/

Hope that helps . .

Ter.

This is the best video material on the subject you can buy. Bar none. Not much more to say really.
Trouble is I`ve managed to misplace mine somewhere and can`t find it anywhere. Bugger.

Ian two thumbs up for a job well done.

I ordered it two weeks ago and was pleased to get an email from Ian, personally, letting me know that it was going out that day. I live in the U.S. but managed to receive it in about 3-4 days... two thumbs for the postal service.

the cd is impressive from a teaching stand point. all the details are covered nicely... no stone unturned.

this VCD is a must have if you want to learn the bottom deal the second deal and the top to all look consistent.

Halcon

Ian...You should be proud of your DVD...It looks that good I've ordered it, and I'm not a card man.

Ordered this Sunday, posted from Blackpool yesterday, flopped onto doormat this morning. Every bit as good as people are saying.

Name:
Tops, Seconds, and Bottoms (VCD)

Author:
Ian Kendall

Price:
£12 from author, including postage

Ordered and recieved in double quick time.

I CAN NOW DEAL SECONDS.....Thank you Ian, your teaching is first class. If I can do it, ANYBODY can.

Well, i've had this CDROM for about 4 weeks now, and just have one thing to say, BUY IAN KENDALLS TOPS SECONDS AND BOTTOMS!!!! Its a great way to get all the deals looking the same and, if you work on the material presented here, you'll be getting good results quick.
Ians presentation is relaxed and non-imposing, which makes it a real pleasure to watch. If you've seen the demo videos on his webpage be warned............you WILL be dealing like him very soon. One of the best putchases i've ever made.
Thanks Magic Bunny for a great Forum and to Ian for a great learning source!!!

I was lucky enough to have tha man himself talk me through tops seconds and bottems.. (and more) in person..... what ever the man says on the subject you should take in like a sponge. he is a genious in the field!!

Alan