Monte-zuma's Revenge (Stars) — exclusive handling of Mental Monte-zuma TMGS

***** THE MAGIC GADGET SITE wants to THANK all our customers who have supported TMGS for over 15 years!! And if you are new to TMGS, you can learn more about any of our items and our fast, friendly service by visiting THE MAGIC GADGET SITE eBay store. Share the magic! ****** (I have two slightly different versions of this effect — one with Two Wave cards and a TRIANGLE finish, and one with two Star cards and a Square finish. THIS IS THE STARS AND SQUARE VERSION. Check other listings as I may have the other in stock if you prefer it.) Back i n 1977, Al Cohen marketed his excellent variation of Karl Fulves’ “Phantom Monte” packet trick. Because Cohen’s version of Phantom Monte used ESP symbol cards, he gave it the clever (and a little curious) name of “Mental Monte-zuma”. Well, here I am, 45 years later, and I happened to find a set of ESP symbol cards that had the necessary gaff for Mental Monte-zuma. The trick that the ESP card set was actually made for was hard to understand, and not very good, so I started using the cards for Mental Monte-zuma, and discovered that Cohen’s routine still played well for contemporary audiences. And since I had some extra ESP symbol cards to work with, I created my own “improved” routine, which I am cleverly (and just as curiously) calling “Monte-zuma’s Revenge”. My enhanced handling includes a stronger ending with the unexpected appearance of a completely different symbol card. The effect is this: magi shows a packet of facedown cards. When he turns the packet faceup and spreads it, the spectator sees that these cards have ESP symbols — a Circle between two Star cards. The packet is closed and re-spread, and now the center Circle has turned facedown. Another close and re-spread, and now the Circle is back in the middle faceup, and the facedown card is one of the Stars. The other Star is turned facedown, putting the faceup Circle between two facedown cards. Next thing you know, the Circle has changed into a Cross symbol! The magi admits that he must have four cards, not three, as this is the only way he could have both a Circle and Cross with the Stars. But when the cards counted faceup, there are THREE Stars and a Cross. To finish, the magi deals two Stars and a Cross onto the table, and asks what the final facedown card in his hand is. No matter what the spectator says, he turns the card over to show it is a SQUARE. The missing Circle is removed from his pocket. Although all the cards cannot be examined at the end, the handling and displays are very clean throughout, and the spectators have a very strong impression that all five cards have been shown fairly from all sides. NOTE: The cards are decent quality, and they handle well for all necessary sleights. But they are NOT printed by US Playing Cards, so they have a slightly different feel. The back design is very similar to the familiar USPCC Bicycle Rider back, but look at the photo, and you will see the difference. It is possible to perform the original Al Cohen handling of Mental Monte-Zuma with this set of cards. But it also includes one extra card that you did not get with the original version, and that allows you to perform my “Revenge” routine for a stronger effect. Brand new, with instructions — my exclusive routine, only available from TMGS 🙂 +++++++++++ ***** Yes, we will combine multiple eBay wins into a single shipment to help lower the overall shipping costs. We hold eBay wins for up to ten days if you are still bidding on other TMGS eBay auctions. Standard rule will apply — highest quoted shipping cost, plus 50% of each additional items quoted shipping cost. You can also combine eBay wins with purchases from THE MAGIC GADGET SITE eBay store to leverage postage costs. Postage for your entire shipment will be quoted when all items are combined. packed and weighed. Rest assured, we at TMGS dislike high postage rates as much as you do, so we will work to keep them as low as possible. ********