Description
The following is written by Zalman P. Puchkoff about his Gaff Deck.
“The Gaff Deck was created to provide beginners, amateurs, and professional magicians alike with a single deck of cards to do both gaffed and regular card tricks.”
“This Gaff Deck is unique. The cards are poker size, the size most used by magicians. They are made from the finest linen finish card stock obtainable, which makes them durable and easy to handle. All of the card tricks can be done using just this one deck!”
“Included are directions for making two sensational card tricks, “Three Nines” and “Fifty-Cent Push Through” using only rubber cement and a pair of scissors. These two tricks alone cost more to buy than the price of this deck!
There are fifty-six cards in the Gaff Deck; thirty regular cards and twenty-six gaffed cards, fourteen of which are used to do the six packet tricks.”
“The thirty regular face cards are: AS, 2S, 3S, 4S, 6S, 7S, 8S, JS, AH, 3H, 4H, 7H, 8H, 10H, CH, AD, 2D, SD, 6D, 7D, 9D, JD, KD, AC, 5C, 7C, 9C, 10C, QC, and KC. In total, forty-two regular backed cards are used to do the twenty gaffed card tricks, and seven self-working card tricks.”
“While doing a trick, if a spectator notices that you are not using fifty-two cards, you can say, “I’m not playing with a full deck”, or, “I don’t have the time to do a long trick.” The Random House dictionary, unabridged edition, has this to say about the meaning of the word Gaff: Gaff (gaf) Brit. Slang – N. 1. A place of cheap entertainment or amusement, as a music hall, street fair, or the like, v.i. 2. To gamble, esp. to indulge in petty gambling, as to toss coins. [?] A gaff is also used to hook or land a fish.”
“When introduced appropriately during a series of regular card tricks a gaffed card trick can be used as the bait to hook your audience and be the source of wonderful amusement and entertainment.
A trick is a trick is a trick, but it becomes truly magical when you add your own style of presentation and delivery that fits your personality. Some tricks require the ability to force a card. Four easy ways to force a card are explained.
For further reading, I recommend “Close Up Card Magic” by Harry Lorayne and “The Royal Road To Card Magic” by Jean Huqard & Frederick Braue.
The routines for the tricks were derived from different sources, other magicians contributions, public domain published material, and my own presentation and handling of the tricks.”
“To the creators and developers of the tricks and gaffed cards, word of appreciation and acknowledgement. Without their inventiveness and ingenuity, this deck could not have been compiled. To the memory of Murray Celwit, who guided me where to go to learn about magic, and to Tony Slydini, who taught me what magic is all about, I express my gratitude and appreciation. Thank you for making a difference in my life.” Zalman P. Puchkoff, September, 1989
