I saw Bill Malone do this on YouTube, and loved it. I dug around until I came across the secret.

My friend watched the video one time, and guessed the secret. And he's not a magician.

So how does this effect play live? Do people ever guess it?
And where do I find just what I need to do this without spending a lot?

The secret isn't what you think it is. The secret is how to keep people like your friend from guessing how it's done.

Why don't you buy the one performed by Bill Malone himself? It's Mike Skinner's if I remember correctly.. And I don't think it costs that much.

Its like $10, its a classic, and when performed correctly can kill.

One of the best!
There is even a way to include it in a real deck and make the trick inspectable at the end!
Very easy to perform and powerful!
I've never been caught !!!!
Every magic shop has that trick that should be under $20

Dom

Yep...Skinner Monte is a true classic! And NO ONE will figure out how you did it. They don't even care. They just can't believe what they're seeing. It kills every time.

And the price? Cheap!

http://www.dennymagic.com/cgi-bin/hazel.......m=003759

Daryl took the effect and worked with is as well. He has released a package that is fantastic.

http://www.dennymagic.com/cgi-bin/hazel.......m=007374

You can't go wrong with either of these.

Mark.

I randomly place the 3 cards in a regular deck before the performance. I bring out the deck and tell the spectators I will be using 3 cards for this next trick. So I look through the deck acting like I'm randomly selecting 3 cards. I find this more convincing than just coming out with a plastic packet with 3 cards inside.

Is there any other way?

Don't do it like how they do it as showed in the net. Develop your own routines, maybe on the hands version. Turst me even the basic routine, it kills when done right.

Thanks...I ordered it from MJM. Should be fun.

Great! You won't be disappointed.

Mark.

Dang, MJM is being slow this time.

Also check out Million Dollar Monte - comes with a DVD and the cards.

I have it listed on my site (www.magicvault.net) where there is a video link showing it - maybe watching the link will give you even more ideas.

Also - check around for the 3 domino monte... that adds a nice twist to the effect - I know other retailers carry it.

I got my set today and started practicing. Can't wait to do it for someone.
Isn't Million Dollar Monte the exact same thing?

Yes the cards are the same. It's a retelling of the same trick, this time by Magic Makers. I'd stick with what you have.

Now that I know how everything works, I went back and rewatched Bill Malone's performance. I love his performance.

So I do it for my kids. Phase 1, I ask "So where is the Ace?"
My kid grabs the middle card and flips it over.

That was fun.

Grr....I definitely need lessons in audience control.

When watching Bill Malone do this it's one thing that's easy to forget: The spectator he uses (the guy in the red shirt, I forgot his name. He is in many of the videos on youtube) is every magicians wet dream. He never touches, grabs or try to steal a peek. So when Malone put the cards down he can repeatedly ask "Are you sure", the spectator getting aggravated and frantically *pointing* to the card in despair... but he never touch.

Sadly, that spectator doesn't come with the trick I guess

It's one (of several) of the reasons I don't like gaffes. I don't get enough experience with audience management so *if* someone was to turn over a card in, say 3 card monte, I can go "Oh, very good... too bad we weren't playing for real" or "Sorry, you owe me ten bucks" and just keep going.

I notice Malone pulls his monte cards out of a little plastic wallet. How come *his* audience doesn't seem to care?
Rob

What do you do when the person is so dull that they choose where the Ace actually is, instead of where it is supposed to be?

I had a kid do that in all 3 phases last night! And he wasn't being wise...he really didn't *get* it. He just guessed all three times.

By the way, I've been watching all the Bill Malone vids on YouTube. He has such fast hands!