Allow me to welcome you to the second installment in my daily review series. This series will cover everything from card magic to mentalism, books to DVDs, etc. I plan to write one review per day until I end up with no material or get entirely burnt out. Coming soon I have "Thirteen Steps to Getting to Know...", a weekly series in which I will interview some of our most respected magicians and mentalists. The first of my review series can be found at this link: http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......11&3
Now, to the review.

I'd had some bad experience with stacks before. People detected Si Stebbins. I didn't have the time with my schoolwork to memorize a deck. Finally, I decided stacks are only for pro magicians with tons of time on their hands. Then I discovered Osterlind and after visiting his website realized he had a stack. I read the description on his site and eventually read more into it. I had the choice of the E-Book or Mind Mysteries Volume Two, but as I hadn't earned much money that week I opted for the E-Book. I find it unfair to call Osterlind's Breakthrough Card System a "stack." It is the Sultan of Stacks, the Prince of Pre-Arrangements and the King of Card Systems. You will never find a better mathematical stack. For you memorized deck lovers, you do have to go down a chain, but I must say that if you need to have it memorized Osterlind has published a manuscript on the subject. Also, the simplicity of the stack is incredible. I will now review the intoduction, the Stack itself, the Peeks taught, and the Tricks. They have been seperated so if you wish to skip to one topic, I will not stop you.

OSTERLIND'S INTRODUCTION

This is my first exposure to Osterlind's style of writing. I have to say it is witty, intelligent and insightful. It reminds me of reading a book by Douglas Adams or Terry Pratchett. The little history lesson on the discovery of the System and his previous work with card stacks was almost as interesting as the technical side. I think that in order to have a good grasp on the system, one should read the introduction to realize it wasn't just an out of the blue idea. Instead, it is a well thought out masterpiece that took Osterlind a long while to plot out and make flawless. Rating: 9

THE STACK

I would like to say that if you can spell and add, you'll be using this system within the hour you receive the ebook. The arrangement of the cards is extremely random and it would be a very rare case to discover its vile secret. I actually showed my math teacher a trick using the System and he spent the remainder of the class time looking through the deck trying to find a pattern. Consider that the system doesn't involve multiply, then divide, add the remainder, subtract half of that and round that off to it's closest whole number. The system uses a simple mathematical formula that is easy to grasp and will take you the lesser part of two hours to perform instantly. So I state once more, the stack itself is undetectable and easy to master. No memorization required. Rating: 10

VARIOUS PEEKS TOUGHT

TURN AWAY PEEK

Quite simple actually. I find this to be good enough. If you are an animated performer this should be very natural to pull off. If you are not, you could still pull it off, but it would look slightly odd. I find this to be one of the okay peeks, but nothing special here. Rating: 6

A VERY BASIC PEEK

This peek is just that, very basic. I must disagree with Mr. Osterlind and Mr. Corinda on it being natural. The mentalist peeking down at his chest in demonstration makes him look very silly. Then again, this may be just me, seeing that I perform for teenagers with raging hormones that are ready to pass unnecessary judgment on the "magician kid" on a daily basis. If you start looking down at your chest with a bunch of cards clutched there, you will be labeled as quite a few nasty things. RATING: 5

DISTANCE PEEK

Osterlind hit the nail on the head with this peek. However, there is a chance it may not work. It looks extremely fishy to walk ten feet away and walk back. Mind you, this is if it doesn't work. If it does work and you name a card from far away, it is a thing of beauty. For all of you restaurant workers, it probably won't work. It works extremely well for parlor and stage, believe me because I've used it. Rating: 8

THE OPEN PEEK

This is one of the most natural and easy peeks in the pamphlet. You basically spread the cards with your head turned away and then turn it face down, yet you still get your peek. This brings me to another topic. If you could have a good reason for seeing the bottom card like putting it into the case, there's no need for a peek. If you casually glance at the deck, no one's going to think "Oh, he just saw the bottom card and he's stacking the deck and now he knows the next card in the deck." I believe it was Mike Close who said one of the beauties of the memorized deck is that it's irrational to spend the time to memorize the deck. What layperson is going to care if you see the bottom card? Especially if you have the BCS on your side to perform a truly impossible effect. Rating: 7

THE OSTERLIND PEEK PASS

This peek uses a pass and I even though I believe Osterlind's ingenuity on the peek, I think it is too complex for so simple a task as to see the bottom card. It is a good use of practicing the Pass if you perform as a mentalist mainly, as no one burns your sleight of hand if you perform sleight of mind. Rating: 5

THE CARD CASE PEEK

This is THE BEST peek in the book. You never even touch the deck and it is placed back into the card case face down. The conditions (to a layperson) seem impossible, yet you still get your peek. So for those of you who think that your spectator is one of those ultra discerning types, USE THIS PEEK! It also can be used in some really amazing effects that if executed correctly, can fool magicians! Rating: 9

THE TRICKS

REAL SIMPLE

This effect could be much more than described. It is a much more simplified version of Osterlind's Test Condition Card Trick. You offer the spectator a free selection of any card. You then say that you can tell anyone what card they're thinking of. After the card is shown around you turn around and name the card they're thinking of. I find that an effect like this needs build up. I think that it seems like somehow you got a peek at the card through the reflection of their eyes or something. I've heard some very weird explanations of how I did it at school. With the right presentation, this effect could be something. Rating: 7

CARD CALLING

This is a brilliant effect. Osterlind really realized the potential of his system in this effect. I must warn you that you must be adequate at the system to pull this off. You must be able to know card after card rapidly. The system must be down pat for this effect to go really well. You have a spectator out of the audience and after a brief discussion of you getting thrown out of a casino you shuffle the deck. Osterlind also says it works well with a jumbo deck. You have five or six cards selected and you name them all seemingly as they look at them. This routine plays extremely well to the whole audience and is extremely commercial. Rating: 9

2 CARDS IN POCKET

To clear this up for all who don't know, no palming is involved and no cards travel to your pocket during the proceedings. You have a spectator cut the deck as many times as they like and finally they take the top card without looking at it and slip it into their right pocket. They then take the next card and place it into their left pocket. You divine the two cards and even which pocket each is in. This effect is BRILLIANT! Osterlind will prove that he is an utter genius, if he hasn't already, with this one effect. I put this right into my act as a CLOSER! Rating: 10

TEST CONDITIONS CARD TRICK

In this routine you have the deck out of your hands the entire time. This effect was also published in Mind Mysteries Volume Two under the name Challenge Mind Reading. The spectator merely thinks of a card and spreads through the deck to find it. He cuts it to the face and shows it to others and then places it into the center. He then places it back into the case. You turn around and name his card. This effect will blow people's minds. It is so direct and unlike my views on Real Simple, it needs no build up, it speaks entirely for itself. This is my favorite routine in the book next to 2 Cards in the Pocket. Rating: 10

MAGICIAN FOOLER

I think that this routine is well thought out, but I admit to never have used it. It achieves the same effect as Test Conditions Card Trick, but the deck can be shuffled by the spectator. It is meant, as the title infers, to fool magicians and discerning spectators. I do not have the DVDs yet, but I believe it is on Mind Mysteries Too as Test Conditions Card Trick Two. Well thought out, but not one of my favorite routines. Rating: 8

A BRIEF NOTE ON THE TEACHING

I would also like to point out that Osterlind is just as clear as in his writings as he is on video and one should have no trouble learning from the manuscript. If you must see it visually, the Breakthrough Card System is covered on Mind Mysteries Volume Two. Thank you for reading my humble review.

OVERALL RATING: 8

Next Review: John Bannon Impossibilia DVD

I've reconsidered having a daily review. Instead I will have two reviews every weekend. This way the quality of the reviews will not drop by me having a very short deadline. Once again, thanks for reading my reviews.

Cheers,
mackmania

The BCS is indeed wonderful - probably the best application for card mentalism there is.

I believe there are plenty of reviews here already of it though!!

Si

I dint know this was in pdf form?? mine is hardcopy

ClouDsss,

Both a PDF version and a hardcopy version are available on Richard Osterlind's site, http://www.osterlindmysteries.com. Both are $15. The PDF version has colour in it.

(Those searching for the printed version should look on the products page under Odds & Ends.)

SJ Davidson,

I do realize that there are many reviews on the subject of the BCS, but I tend to get more in depth than anyone in mine. I hope you enjoyed it and would like your comments on this particular review as opposed to all of those on the BCS. Thank you very much and thank you for all of the posts you have made. You have truly contributed to the Café. BTW, ClouDsss, the places you can learn the system are the PDF, the hard copy (as you have) and Mind Mysteries Volume Two.

Cheers,
mackmania

Great review!!

I like how you went into a lot of detail and rated each trick and move.

Keep em coming.

Thanks,

Elliott

Elliott,

I'm glad you enjoyed the review and I will continue to churn them out. You also have to realize that as I've set a high standard for myself that I cannot put them out daily. I will try to get to them as often as possible and as in depth as possible. Thanks a lot.

Cheers,
mackmania

P.S. I've recently confirmed that Jay Sankey will be the first in my series of interviews. "13 Steps to Getting to Know Jay Sankey will be out by next Saturday, hopefully earlier. Any ideas where to post this series?

I’m not sure. Maybe “Magic names and the media” is an option.


You can always contact Steve Brooks or post something in “I want to see the manager!”

If you can get a bunch interviews with people like Jay Sankey, maybe they’d be willing to give you a section in “The Buffet”. I think it’s at least worth a shot.

Thanks,

Elliott

Thanks for your advice Elliot. I'd also like to bring up a flaw, brought up to me by Jamy Ian Swiss. 2 Cards in the Pocket was originally a Chan Canasta routine that was improved when Osterlind's system came into play. I feel quite embarassed because looking over the manuscript I found this exact information. I hope my little mistake didn't cause anyone too much trouble.

Cheers,
mackmania

Why is there no button to write a PM to mackmania? Mackmania, could you keep me posted on those inverviews and maybe send me a PM? That would be good. Thanks, Mark

Markiquark,

One of my settings was out of whack, You can now PM me. Sankey emailed me back with answers to a few of my questions. So instead of 13 Steps to Getting to Know Jay Sankey it will be 6 Steps. I'm gonna try to get in touch with Lee Asher for the next interview. I'll post the Sankey interview when Steve Brooks responds to my question on where to post it. Wouldn't that be nice to have my own area in the Buffet? I doubt that that'll be the case Elliott.

Cheers,
mackmania

Dear Richard (Osterlind), if you are listening (I know you sometimes use themagiccafe. I just want to thank you. I learned the method of your breakthrough card system last night - and it was a BREAKTHROUGH for ME. I can't tell you how impressed I am - and how grateful to you for sharing it to the fraternity. I will now spend as much tiem as it takes to perfect the use of the system so I become confident. It is a work of pure genius. What a happy Christmas I'm having.
And so, now to you and yours, the brightest of blessings at Christmas time.
Mark T (trickyvicar)

Mark,

I am on the road right now, but had to respond. Thank you so much for your kind words. I wish you all the best with the BCS and the happiest Christmas ever!

Richard

I really have to agree. I have no chance to memorize a deck. But this system
is really useable and not a lot of work. Very impressed and happy.
Tom

Richard the system is outstanding. I tried it last night for real. No one suspects there is a stack - and the method of working out the cards is beautiful. I now have the first two of your wonderful DVDs. One day I will own them all, but I will first master what is on the first two...
Also purchased your SSB recently. Again, top class, and totally user friendly.
I am a priest (liberal anglican) who loves magic and mentalism, for it helps us all to experience wonder, awe and mystery, and (in many ways) is better at doing so than religion. So, in a world of logic and blunt certainty, thank you again for giving us many ways to 'bring wonder back to life' for so many people.

Mark (trickyvicar)

I LOVE the BCS.
It is simply fantastic!
A superb mentalism tool.
Piers.

I got the BCS just before Christmas. I agree with mackmania that you'll be using the system within an hour. On Christmas day I tried it out on my brother-in-law (who rumbled by Si Stebbins attempt the previous Christmas) and he couldn't discover the secret.

I learned a false shuffle and a false cut just so I could use the bcs. I don't do much card stuff at all, but it's one of the strongest mentalism tricks I do. The cards really become second or sometimes even invisible compared to the effect it generates on people. I will usually carry the system on the back of a business card and sometimes while I'm at a friend's house, get away with their deck of cards for a moment and set it up, coming back to totally blow them away!

Anabelle

I use a Charllier ( if that's the correct spelling ) Shuffle.
The idea of using business cards is nice too.

Piers.