I perform on 10-12 year olds. They will want to examine the cards. What's the best way to switch the gimmick cards in Skinner's ultimate 3 card monte?

I watched Michael Ammar's Ice Breakers video and he performed Skinner's monte and then at the end of the routine pretended not to remember which pocket he placed the black packet in. So he reached in his right pocket with his right hand with the gimmicked cards and reached into his left pocket with his empty left hand and did the switch while bringing out the regular cards and the black packet. Then he placed the cards in the packet in case anyone would want to examine them.

But after thinking about it, I was hoping there would be another method of the switch.

Having just seen Michael lecutre and perform the monte routine, he proceeded to use a himber style packet trick wallet to ditch the "Skinner kards". I believe this would get you by in most cases.

Snidini

That's a swell idea.

Have the regular cards on the bottom of the deck before you do the trick. When done with the trick, drop the gaffes on the top of the deck as you pick the deck up. If anyone demands to see the cards, flip the deck over and peel them off the bottom. Be slick about it.

Airship, you would definitely have to be slick about it. It could be pretty risky.

How would the himber wallet come into play in the routine. I am not familiar with it, however, I'm assuming there is a hidden compartment. Would you place the gaffed cards in the wallet after the routine and just lay it on the table or would the wallet come into play near the end of the routine in some sort of way?

It’s a switch wallet. You put the cards in the wallet after the trick is done. If someone wants to see the cards, you open the wallet and hand the (gaff free) cards over.

Thanks for the replies. I guess I will then have to purchase some type of switch wallet strictly for this routine. I don't perform many card tricks. I have maybe 2 or 3 card effects, but this one will require me to switch the cards.

In your opinion, what is the best quality switch wallet you would recommend that the price is around the $50.00 range. Remember, I will be purchasing a switch wallet strickly for the Skinner's monte routine and for nothing else.

Thanks for helping.

Unfortunately, I don’t know much about the differences between the various models. It sounds like you only need it to hold six cards and it will only be used for a very basic purpose. Also, you don’t really need it to resemble a real wallet; just a packet wallet. Therefore, I would recommend shopping for a small, cheap plastic model. If I come across something, I’ll let you know.

Thanks,

Elliott

I bought a small wallet size Himber many years ago for storing packet tricks. I could load each side with different setups and switch them in and out at will. Including the center (shared) divider, I could set up four separate packets, not that I'd use them all at once of course, but it did give me some options.

There are two popular sizes, the most prevalent is the "pocket secretary" size which is sized for an inside jacket pocket but too tall for a back pocket. The other, which is less common, is the hip pocket size like mine. Mine was made by Harry Monti but as far as I know he stopped making them years ago.

Do a search for "Himber Wallet" and you should find several good sources.

Just a question: why do you think that the Ammar solution is not good?
I use it all the time and it works very well. Don't overestimate your spectators, they won't notice you are switching the 3 cards if you do it smoothly

Dave

A couple questions...
If performing for 10-12 year olds, why not do the color monte?
Here's another idea.
Why not show them 1 by 1 face up COMPLETELY as normal?
Show the faces of each 3 cards face up, turn face down and place under pile.
Drop the two normal cards on to top of deck leaving you with 3 cards, 2 gaffed and one normal.

I use the Jerry O'Connell mini himber for this very effect. It is incredibly thin and made of top quality leather.

I think I saw a version of this as a Penguin download. I think in their version they finished by placing the cards in a pocket (possibly each in a different pocket, I'm not sure) thus making the finale even more "impossible" and at the same time giving you the opportunity to switch them with the ungaffed cards right under their noses.

Roland78, I never tried the Ammar way of switching the cards so I really can't honestly say how it would work. I guess reaching into the pockets puts up a red flag for me, but like you said, the spectators probably wouldn't think anything of it.

I'm not one for having packets in a wallet.
For me, removing the Skinner cards from a deck seems the best way to start.

If at start the regular cards are on top Carney's "The Yenrac Packet Switch" could be done.
If at start the regular cards are on the bottom a variation of the "Vernon Transfer" can be done.

In fact, Michael Ammar, at the end of the routine, does the change of the gaff with regular cards and then he performs, the bent corner move; now he does another miracle and the cards are examinable.

Well a wallet to store you packet tricks would be an option. Where you work would be another option. Could you lap the gaff cards and switch in the non-gaff ones? Or just a switch in the same pocket. Works for a few Sankey effect.

A packet trick wallet with a black art divider would allow a simple sw****. I take the set out of the back pocket while not showing the audience the wallet. Then at the conclusion I place the cards away and if asked open the wallet and remove a non g****d set from the visible side

That would work too. The Himber wallet is similar, although it doesn't need the black art divider to work.

Harry Anderson uses (a slightly modified) Himber in his "Buffalo Bill" routine and has the spectator open the wallet.

Using the Magic Café search engine, I found the following topics about Michael Skinner's Ultimate Three Card Monte:

The more specific question regarding switching gaffed cards can be found in some of these, and also in other topics about gaffed packet tricks.

Skinner's 3 Card Monte

Ultimate 3 Card Monte Michael Skinner

Skinner's 3 Card Monte

Ultimate Three Card Monte

Skinner's Monte

The Ultimate Three Card Monte-part two

Ultimate 3 card monte

Mike Skinner's Ultimate Monte Video?

Michael Skinner's ultimate 3 card monte on bicycles?

Ultimate 3 Card Monte

Michael Skinner's Ultimate Monte

Skinners 3 card monte

Skinner's Ultimate 3 Card Monte Problem

Ultimate 3 card monte origins

And, Skinner's monte is also lists in many other more general "Three Card Monte" topics, which can be found at Three Card Monte topics.