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Craig's Discovery by Craig Petty and Phil Smith

Created by: Craig Petty, Phil Smith

Craig's Discovery is a versatile close-up magic trick utilizing specially marked poker chips that look, feel, and sound like authentic casino chips. Designed by Craig Petty in collaboration with Phil Smith, these chips employ an optical marking system that allows the magician to identify their values discreetly. The set includes 14 clay chips (with denominations like $10, $25, $50, $100, and $250) and 4 gaffed chips (double-facers, double-backers, and a blank-faced chip), enabling a wide range of effects such as ESP-style match routines, forces, transpositions, and even coin tricks. The trick is ideal for gambling-themed performances and offers excellent angles and inspectability, making it suitable for various settings. A comprehensive 3-hour tutorial covers 16 tricks, including 'Craig's Discovery,' ensuring magicians have ample material to master and perform.

Key features

  • Marked poker chips with Phil Smith's Optical marking system

  • Includes 14 clay chips and 4 gaffed chips

  • 3-hour tutorial teaching 16 tricks

  • Authentic look, feel, and sound of casino chips

  • Versatile for ESP, card, and coin tricks

Pros

  • High-quality, authentic chips

  • Extensive tutorial with diverse routines

  • Excellent angles and inspectability

  • Suitable for various performance settings

  • Creative twist on classic effects

Cons

  • 3-hour tutorial may feel overwhelming initially

  • Requires practice to master the marking system

Effect

The audience sees a set of poker chips that look and feel like real casino chips. The magician can perform various effects, such as predicting a chosen chip, making chips change values, or matching chips in impossible ways. The chips appear completely normal and can be handled by spectators.

Full Details

Craig's Discovery is part of the Cheater Chips set, which includes 14 clay poker chips (two each of $10, $25, $50, $100, and $250 denominations) and four gaffed chips (double-facers, double-backers, and a blank-faced chip). The chips use Phil Smith's Optical marking system, allowing the magician to secretly identify their values. The set comes with a 3-hour tutorial covering 16 different tricks, including forces, transpositions, and routines like "Quinta Extreme" and "Craig's Discovery."

Who Should Consider the Trick

This trick is ideal for magicians who enjoy gambling-themed routines or want a fresh take on classic card and coin effects. It works well for close-up performances, walk-around magic, or even stage shows where poker chips are a natural fit. If you like ESP-style tricks but want something more relatable to audiences, Cheater Chips provide a strong alternative.

Difficulty

The sleights and techniques taught in the tutorial are not overly complex. Craig Petty breaks down each move clearly, making it accessible for intermediate performers. Beginners may need more practice, especially with the false counts and shuffles, but the material is structured to build skills progressively.

What Magicians Say

Magic Orthodoxy's David praised the chips for their authenticity, saying they "look, sound, and feel exactly like real casino chips." He also highlighted the clever marking system, noting that while he could read the values easily, spectators would never notice them. He called the tutorial "a powerhouse of stuff" and recommended learning one trick at a time due to the extensive content.

David emphasized that the chips are highly inspectable, with no magnets or shells, making them practical for real-world performances. He concluded that Cheater Chips are "another great Marvel team-up with Craig Petty and Phil Smith," offering classic effects in a fresh, engaging format.

What people are saying about Craig's Discovery

magicorthodoxy says...

The chips are brilliant—Phil Smith's marking system is undetectable to spectators, and the tutorial offers a wealth of material. It's a fresh take on classic routines, perfect for gambling-themed performances.

Review videos