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Five for Five ESP Match by Craig Petty and Phil Smith

Created by: Craig Petty, Phil Smith

Five for Five ESP Match is a close-up magic trick that reimagines the classic ESP card matching routine using marked poker chips instead of traditional ESP cards. The set includes 14 clay poker chips (two each of $10, $25, $50, $100, and $250 denominations) with Phil Smith's Optical marking system, allowing the magician to secretly identify each chip's value. Additionally, four gaffed chips (double-facers, double-backers, and a blank-faced chip) expand the possibilities for card tricks, coin tricks, and other effects. The trick is designed to feel, sound, and look like authentic casino chips, making it highly deceptive and relatable to audiences. A comprehensive 3-hour tutorial covers 16 routines, including forces, transpositions, and unique effects like 'Quinta Extreme' and 'Craig's Discovery.' Perfect for performers seeking a fresh take on classic ESP or gambling-themed routines.

Key features

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

  • Includes 14 clay chips and 4 gaffed chips

  • 3-hour tutorial covering 16 routines

  • Authentic look, feel, and sound of casino chips

  • Versatile for ESP, card, and coin tricks

Pros

  • Highly deceptive and inspectable

  • Relatable to audiences familiar with gambling

  • Extensive tutorial with diverse routines

  • Authentic chip design and markings

  • No magnets or shells—clean and angle-proof

Cons

  • 3-hour tutorial may feel overwhelming initially

  • Requires practice to master the marking system

Effect

The Five for Five ESP Match with Cheater Chips presents a visual and interactive routine where a magician uses poker chips instead of traditional ESP cards. The performer can accurately match chips based on their values, seemingly through intuition or mind-reading. The chips look, sound, and feel like real casino clay chips, making the effect more relatable to audiences familiar with gambling.

Full Details

The set includes:

  • 14 clay chips (two each of $10, $25, $50, $100, and $250 denominations)
  • 4 gaffed chips (double-facers, double-backers, and a blank-faced chip)
  • A 3-hour tutorial covering 16 different tricks, including forces, transpositions, and classic routines like the 10-card poker deal and Quinta Extreme

The chips use Phil Smith's Optical marking system, allowing the magician to identify values quickly while remaining undetectable to spectators. The markings are clear under close inspection but disguised well enough to avoid suspicion.

Who Should Consider the Trick

This trick is ideal for magicians who:

  • Enjoy gambling-themed routines
  • Want a fresh take on classic ESP match effects
  • Prefer inspectable props with no magnets or shells
  • Appreciate versatile tools that can be used for card, coin, and mentalism effects

Difficulty Level

The tricks taught in the tutorial are not overly complex, making them accessible to intermediate performers. The marking system is easy to read, and the sleights (forces, false counts, and shuffles) are standard card magic techniques adapted for poker chips. Reviewer magicorthodoxy notes:

"Craig is not teaching you anything knuckle-busting... all pretty easy."

However, the 3-hour tutorial is dense, so learning one routine at a time is recommended.

What Magicians Say

Magicorthodoxy (David) praises the product for its authenticity and versatility:

"These poker chips are brilliant... Phil Smith's marking system is cleverly disguised, and unless you point it out, they'll never see it."

He also highlights the performance value:

"You can do classic tricks to a brand new audience... people understand poker chips, but they don’t understand ESP cards."

The tutorial’s length is seen as a strength, offering a wealth of material:

"Three hours of tutorial... 16 tricks. Learn one, perform it, then move to the next."

Overall, Cheater Chips is considered a strong release, combining Craig Petty’s creativity with Phil Smith’s marking system for a fresh take on classic magic.

What people are saying about Five for Five ESP Match

magicorthodoxy says...

The marking system is so cleverly disguised that unless you point to it and say, 'Do you see this mark?' they'll never see it. [...] These poker chips are brilliant—Phil Smith's talent combined with Craig Petty's creativity makes this a solid effect.

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