Hustle plays a bit like the love-child of the relationship between a Wild Card routine and a Monte routine! You cleanly show 7 cards – 6 jokers and a queen. Despite the incredible fairness of the moves the situation has suddenly transformed and you are left with 6 queens and a joker. All bets are off!

What do you get?

The necessary cards on Bicycle stock and an instructional DVD. The ‘DVD’ is a bit minimalist – it is essentially a streaming download which has been burnt to a disk – which means there is no menu or anything, it simply plays straight through. I wouldn’t be surprised if this becomes more common in magic releases since it must save time and money. It isn’t a problem with this routine – since the teaching is only 15 minutes long in total and that is ample explanation for a simple routine.

A small grumble

The advertising copy says ‘no sleight of hand’ and ‘instant reset’. I would say that neither of these is quite true. A couple of small sleights are need to perform this – they are not very difficult, but you will have to practise a little to perform this. The practising isn’t a problem – you should be practising! – but I feel the ad copy is a bit misleading. Similarly, the reset is very simple but you would need a moment to do it – and you wouldn’t want anyone to be watching whilst you did it. So a mark down for the advert.

But in conclusion?

I like this a lot. It is easy to do and the effect is very strong. I mentioned the Wild Card routine earlier. Although it bears some similarities to this, it is probably easier to do and it is a quicker higher impact effect. You also end largely examinable, unlike the Wild Card. I like the plot premise and can see it playing well – the reactions on the live performance are (of course) very good.

There’s a small variation taught which might help you if angles are awkward in your setting. Teaching is clear and at a good pace. I would say it is possible a fraction over-priced given the low production costs. But all in all a great little routine.

Hustle is available from Merchant of Magic for £22.99 (at time of writing).

Review copy kindly provided by Murphys Magic to whom dealer enquiries should be directed.

The post Juan Marcos – Hustle – Review appeared first on Bicycle Cards.