Cardsexchange by Chris Mayhew

Hello everyone in interwebzland, I recently watched Chris Mayhew’s Cardsexchange instant download from Vanishing Inc., Josh Jay and Andi Gladwin’s online magic shop that is full of pure awesomeness. Cardsexchange is more than a move with a great name that has inspired me to name a coin move of mine “Coin…sex change”, it’s a useful sleight with numerous applications. On another note, I hear Chris Mayhew is a friend of Tyler Wilson’s… which automatically makes him partially awesome (I shall reveal the details if necessary). Let me start to do a semi-serious review of the download NOW:

The sleight: At first, I thought this was highly similar to the Bow-to-Stern control created by Earnest Earick in his book By Forces Unseen… but I was wrong. The concept of Cardsexchange is similar to Bow-to-Stern, but there are several key differences in each move that accomplish different things. For example, Bow-to-Stern controls a card to the top of the deck and Cardsexchange is a visual color change… two highly different results. 

The Color Change: This is a very clever application for the move, the change is very smooth, visual and ends clean. Unlike many color changes recently published, this is visual but there is a second of “mystery” as the card changes… I believe this factor makes the color change more magical since there is a moment of magic. 

The Ambitious Card: Although this isn’t my favorite application for Cardsexchange, it is useful and can be applied to any Ambitious Card routine.

The Force: Again, my favorite application for the move is the color change, but the force using Cardsexchange is clever. The nice thing about is is that after the card is forced, you have complete control of it.

Tranny: This transposition is great; it’s quick, visual and ends clean… the way I like my cranberry muffins. I also see some kind of potential in the switch Chris uses in the beginning of the routine. Good job with the Tranny, Mr. Mayhew.

The Teaching: Cardsexchange isn’t a simple move, but Chris does a great job teaching everything you need to know to do the move. 

Final Thoughts: I really liked this download, I wouldn’t be writing this review if I didn’t.  Cardsexchange gets my recommendation, even though nobody cares about that. On a last note, Chris is rather entertaining… he made me LOL (laugh out loud).

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Spencer Peterson