While I often perform sleights and the likes, I've always had a like for self-working tricks, stemmimg back to my first days in magic, when I would use self-workers to stun my friends. What would you say is the best self-working trick out there? My vote would have to go to Ultimate Coincedence by Karl Fulves.

I've always liked the rising card.

Probably all of Bob Hummers, because you can't reverse engineer any of them

--Euan

I like:

Do as I Do. (with 2 decks you each pick same card)
Triple Coincidence.
Do as I do (Oz's from penguin involving 2 reversed cards)

I also really love to do this one I have changed a bunch to suit my own style and handling, but it is basically a self working trick where first you find their card by using math, then you find their card by using a little bit of mentalism, then you change the back of their card. Entirely self working.

These tricks are great when you are doing tricks for the "party magician" who knows things like the 21 card trick or the one where you do a single glide and that is the trick.

People like that will usually spot double lifts and the like, and will think they understand your harder tricks(even if they don't) but simple self workers like these ALWAYS fry them because they know its impossible.

Hard to beat Daryl's "Untouched."

my votes go for:

-Harry Lorayne's Poker Deal
-Untouched by Daryl
-Emotional Reaction by Dai Vernon
-Play it Straight Triumph by John Bannon
-Neither Blind or Stupid
-Out of This universe by Harry Lorayne
-Do as I do
-MiraSkill
-etc....

Ronnie Lemieux
Montreal
Canada

That's actually A Francis Carlyle effect called "The Upside Down Deck" from Scarne on Card Tricks (page 9).

--Euan

Figures, knowing his and pengiuns track record but I had to put it under some name =)

I personally can't stand Do as I Do. The only self working trick I've ever performed was Daryl's untouched.

You, know, I don't think there is a true self working card trick. You have to do something. That something is the difference between a professional and teh uncle that bores everyone at parties.

But, Dan Harlan's self working card trick ( about $10.00 ) comes close. Once set up, the performer can leave the country because the spectator does the handling.

Chris

Juan Tamariz's Blown Away.
Daryl's Untouched, as well as Aaron Fisher's version of Untouched.

Aldo Colombini's Predeckability
Harry Lorayne's Out of This Universe

Gemini Twins from Karl Fulves "More Self-Working Card Tricks".

Totalpackage65, if you haven't read "Scarne On Cards," I recommend you buy it. Throughout the whole book all he teaches is self-working card tricks.

Where can I learn Aaron Fisher's version?

It is "Scarne On Card Tricks".

Hideo Kato

What's the effect of "Untouched" and a reference (i.e., book, video) for learning it?
:thanx:

DaveS

I would vote for 'Overkill'
it's in Paul Harris AoA 2.

Markus

Zig Zag Card. Very Very clever gimmick.

"Stop" and "Lazy Man's Card Trick" from Harry Lorayne's "Close Up Card Magic" are very good and basically self-working.