Deck Clocking by Rune Carlsen

Effect

Deck clocking is a sleight of hand technique used to secretly mark or track a card's position in the deck. To the audience, the deck appears completely normal, with no visible markings or suspicious handling. The magician can later locate the card with precision, making it seem like an impossible feat of memory or intuition.

Full Details

Deck clocking involves subtly noting a card's position in the deck by using a hidden reference point, often based on the deck's rotation or alignment. Unlike traditional marking systems, this method requires no physical alterations to the cards. The technique is often combined with other sleights, such as false shuffles or cuts, to maintain the illusion of randomness.

Rune Carlsen includes deck clocking in his book X (My 10 Go-To Card FX) as part of an essay on advanced sleight of hand. The book provides detailed instructions on executing the move cleanly and integrating it into card routines.

Who Should Consider the Trick

Deck clocking is best suited for intermediate to advanced magicians who are comfortable with card handling and subtlety. It is particularly useful for performers who want to enhance their card control techniques without relying on gimmicks.

Difficulty

The sleight requires practice to perform smoothly without detection. While not the most difficult move, it demands precision in handling and timing. Reviewer David from Magic Orthodoxy notes that the techniques in Carlsen's book, including deck clocking, are accessible to intermediate magicians but still require dedicated practice.

What Magicians Say

David describes X (My 10 Go-To Card FX) as a well-produced book with clear explanations and high-quality visuals. He highlights the inclusion of supplementary video content through a private Facebook group, which helps clarify more challenging techniques like deck clocking.

He states: "Nothing in this was too difficult... I think it's all within the wheelhouse of an intermediate magician." This suggests that while deck clocking requires effort, it is manageable for those with foundational card skills.

The book's additional resources, such as video tutorials and community discussions, make learning the sleight more approachable. David praises the effort to build a learning community around the material, calling it "really great that Rune's trying to build a little community around this book."

Deck clocking is a valuable addition to a magician's toolkit, offering a deceptive way to track cards without visible markings. Carlsen's book provides a structured way to learn and apply the technique effectively.