When I first began exploring magic, I spent countless hours on early magic forums. I was determined to master card cheating, believing that if I could perfect that skill, I could tackle any other aspect of magic. It wasn’t long before I discovered Darwin Ortiz!
The first magic book I ever bought was Darwin’s Scams and Fantasies with Cards. The opening routine demands multiple perfect shuffles—a notoriously difficult skill to master. It took me several years to consistently perform these flawless shuffles. Almost every effect in the book presented similar challenges! Fortunately, there were a few simpler tricks I could practice while dedicating hours to mastering the advanced gambling sleights needed for the more complex routines.
Darwin has authored several other outstanding books that reveal his magic and gambling techniques and routines. He has also written essential works on magic theory, including Strong Magic and Designing Miracles.
Along with his books are several companion DVDs with video instruction of many of the effects from his books, At the card table, card shark, and scams and fantasies with cards! If you want to master the finest magic tricks and expert gambling sleight of hand, studying Darwin Ortiz is a must.
Lessons in Card Mastery: The Magic of Darwin Ortiz
Below are several remarkable performances by Darwin! He was a consummate professional and a master of sleight of hand. He leaves behind a legacy of powerful practical magic that demands dedication and skill to truly master. Best of all, it’s both fun and captivating!
Darwin’s 3 Card Monte
The only effect shown here that isn’t taught in Scams and Fantasies with cards, three card monte is a well-known street scam still practiced worldwide. Darwin detailed his version of the three card monte routine in his first published book, At the Card Table.
Shark Attack
Here is an exceptional gambling routine that begins with a shuffled deck. You start by explaining how reading tells can give you an edge in the game, then seamlessly transition to any poker hand you choose! Finally, you skillfully stack a winning poker hand for the dealer. This fantastic routine showcases everything an expert gambler should master! It’s one of the standout routines from Scams and Fantasies that requires dedication and practice to perfect!
Darwin’s Ambitious Card Routine
The Ambitious Card routine is a timeless classic in magic. A chosen card repeatedly rises to the top of the deck, captivating audiences every time. This trick gained widespread fame through David Blaine, who famously performed it for Froot Loops. It is also featured in the book Scams and Fantasies. Performed with a regularly shuffled deck, this elegant and concise six-phase routine is both impressive and straightforward!
Appointment in Samarra
Another fantastic routine from Scams and Fantasies, inspired by a short poem retold by Somerset Maugham. Can we escape fate? Do we have free will? Can we explore these profound questions in a safe and entertaining way? Darwin proves that yes, we can explore these ideas through the art of magic!