Abacus

Official review from MAGIC Magazine

From the January 2016 MAGIC Magazine. Reviewed by Peter Duffie

This is a good effect, incorporating ideas of Max Maven and others to arrive at a very direct mental card effect. The principle used for the number selection, with the spectator using his fingers, belongs to Max Maven. In this, instead of the spectator openly extending fingers on each hand, Andrews has him carry out these actions in his imagination; no one but the spectator can know what the final number is. And, assuming that the spectator fully understands the instruction, the end result should be 100 percent surefire. However, if the spectator gets it wrong for whatever reason, you will not know this until you move on to the next phase, when the spectator counts down to the card at the number. That said, if you are perfectly confident that your spectator will get it right, then there is no problem. I mention this simply because I am never confident when allowing a spectator to carry out any procedure upon which a trick depends.

I enjoyed this ebook very much. I would not recommend this for beginners because, even in the basic version, good audience management is of the essence. My only quibble is about the price; I think fifty dollars is too high.