Well Shane, if you are a layperson and see the Invisible Deck or a Rising Card Deck, this would definitely impress you a lot.
By the way, Sankey`s Spontaneous Combustion is self-working and it is a killer.

I forgot. A lot of self-working tricks can be as great as the most difficult sleight-of-hand tricks, so it all depends on what you want to do when you perform your tricks, Phil.

There's another aspect to this. I've never had a self working trick that took longer than an hour or two to learn. Then I would hardly ever practice it. I can't imagine not practicing cups and balls AND linking rings AND my new passion, the Ninja Rings ---- every single day!

Consequently my presentation of the cups and balls, and linking rings, is a lot more polished than that of my self working tricks.

I practice these other tricks so much because I derive personal enjoyment from the challenge.

A while ago I was performing at my dartclub.
Everyone there enjoys my magic and another guy came sitting next to me, watching the deck every single second in a distance of about a feet.
I knew right there on the spot I would not want to do sleight of hand on this guy. He'd spot a double immediatly. not because of my poor technique, but because of his will to see what's happening.
So I decided to perform "prefiguration" by Larry Jennings.
The only sleight needed is setting 2 cards up. But it can be done right in front of their nose. And that's what I did.
He had no clue, I absolutely wowed him. I think this is a great example of how self working tricks can be very very strong indeed.

However, in the right situation with a croud who is not being very sceptical, I prefer sleight of hand.
Most of the tricks I enjoy, and my audience enjoys, use sleights so I would be a fool to not learn them I think.

I agree that the important thing is the effect. Forget about the method. If the effect is worthwile, do what you need to do -if you can, of course.

Wonderful tricks like Shuffle bored, Out of this world in any of their version are killers, no matter what kind of people you have as a public (more or less cultivated, intelligent, etc.)

My opinion about mathematical tricks is that you have to work the boring part (counting, shuffling in a special way)and try to eliminate it or justificate it with a funny and ¿logical? justification. A Spanish magican called Woody Aragon has some texts about the subjet or improving mathematical tricks.

Finally, as Ascanio said, take a good self-working trick and add some good move and you make it a miracle.

Great magic from Spain!!1

I tend to use sleight of hand the most but have found that when you throw in a so called self worker you can blow people away depending on your presentation of cause.

My ACR's, 2 Card Monte's, and Here then There's floor people a helluva lot more then self working tricks. But if you mean Self-working tricks like Gimmicks and Gaffs, then they hit just as hard as sleighted tricks.

I prefer sleight of hand card tricks to self working card tricks

I prefer to begin with a self-working trick. I can focus on the presentation and sell the effect while sizing up the spectator and calm myself. It also allows me to gain some credibility. (There is nothing worse than screwing up the first trick for someone and then trying to redeem yourself thereafter.) After the first trick, I will mix in both sleight of hand and self working card tricks.

I prefer doin self working card tricks than major sleight of hand tricks. a whole lot easier to do.

I use self-working tricks on my friends a lot...they are (for the most part) really intelligent, so I have to use these tricks to eliminate the possibility of them working out a solution to it.

I believe, like has been stated, that its all about the effect. and that effect should be reached by any means possible -hopefully the easiest method -. If it can be done with a trick deck without been caught out - then use it, and don't worry your not a purist. or a "cheater". isn't that what you are doing anyways lol. besides, personally I don't want the audience. to appreciate any skills I may have, or ever be wowed that ive performed some hard sleight of hand lol. I tend to try and hopefully shed. their. "magic mindset" that all card magic is, is fast fingers.
kind regards

John Bannon's Timely Departure is almost self working(as is Play it Straight triumph.They never fail to get gasps.Most of the effects I do involve sleights,but if there is a good self worker,I won't hesitate to use it.
Andre