On 2011-07-20 10:23, Harry Lorayne wrote:
Danny: Up/down motion is wrong, unless there is a good REASON/RATIONALE for that motion. 99% of the time, over the last 6 or 7 decades, that I've seen people do the Classic Pass and who did the up/down motion, they did NOT have a REASON/RATIONALE for doing that up/down motion. The top-card cover Classic Pass doesn't require the up/down motion IF done properly. Actually, neither does the regular Classic Pass. I simply never use, never have used, the Classic Pass for controlling a selected card. There are too many better/easier ways. That is - for me. To each his own, of course. I rarely see anyone doing the Classic Pass as a selected-card control where I don't see a look of "He did something" in the layman/spectator's eyes. Yes, I know some who can do it - Bill Kalush, for one. But most can't. Anyway... Harry L.

On 2011-07-20 12:45, JamieUK wrote:
Hello everyone -
I am so new to this that I haven't got to starting to learn the pass yet. Do you think I should learn it and then possibly look for/learn alternatives? or do you think I would be better bypassing it completely? It all sounds hugely controversial... but I don't mind putting in the practice.
cheers

J.

On 2011-07-20 14:25, Harry Lorayne wrote:
I use the Spread Pass mostly, when and if I feel like using a pass to control a selected card.

On 2011-07-20 18:50, Brad Burt wrote:
The problem is that a Top Card Cover Pass is STILL a Classic Pass....just UNDERNEATH the Top Card! Nothing changes. You still have to do the Pass itself silently and with precision. And, I've always found it difficult to do beyond that of just the Pass. If you want to put that much work in BEYOND the Pass itself go for a Front Riffle Pass. It's actually my Classic Style Pass of choice and although it's a bear to learn, done correctly it is totally undetectable EVEN IF you are told that it's going to happen. Very, very cool. You can use it as a Color Change, etc. AND, it's very natural as it's not that uncommon for folks to riffle or riffle-snap the outside edge of the cards, etc.

But, again......you HAVE to be able to do the basic Pass pretty much perfectly as far as the action itself is concerned.

Note: There is a variant of the Riffle, the Rear Riffle Pass and it's less deceptive in my opinion for several reasons. For one, you have to set your hands a little differently AND you almost have to do a wrist turn action which defeats the flow of the move for me. It can be just as deceptive, but .... you'd have to see both to decide I guess.

The Front Riffle though just rocks. Drove me crazy trying to get the timing, but once I had it I had it.

Another comment: Is it really worth learning the Pass? It depends. I think that there is a lot be said for learning any technique that adds to the over all control you have of your hands. The Pass WILL do that in spades. But, Harry and others (myself also) above are correct in that there are MUCH, MUCH easier ways to control a card! Yikes, yes!!!

Here's the deal: Want to learn something really difficult that will actually be useful in tons of applications and even give you a rep? Learn how to do a really, really good Second Deal. Here's a sleight that can pay off like crazy. Want to have a card selected, lost in the deck and then have any number from 1-52 names and have the selected card appear there with almost no moves? Second Deal...frankly it's better if the number is like 1-20 which is normal...... ;-) You can use it as a change, switch, in lieu of a double lift, etc. Best "hard" move I've ever learned when looked at time spent to the value gained.

Best,