Savant Deck by Lloyd Barnes and Craig Petty

Effect

The Savant Deck allows a magician to perform seemingly impossible feats with a regular looking deck of cards. A spectator can shuffle the deck freely. The magician can then instantly calculate the total value of a group of face-up cards after only a brief glance. The magician can also name a card a spectator has pocketed after the deck has been shuffled. These effects are repeatable with different outcomes each time. To the audience, the magician appears to possess superhuman calculation skills or mind-reading abilities.

Full details

The Savant Deck is a collaborative creation by Lloyd Barnes and Craig Petty. It is a gimmicked deck printed by the United States Playing Card Company with standard Red Rider backs, making it look and handle like a normal deck. The deck is fully examinable and contains no marked cards or duplicates. It utilizes a classic, undisclosed principle to achieve its effects. This principle allows for a full shuffle by spectators while enabling routines that would normally require a pre-arranged stack. The deck is capable of performing over a dozen different routines, including Any Card at Any Number (ACAAN), magic squares, book tests, and pocket change predictions. The included training covers a wide range of these effects.

Who should consider the trick

The Savant Deck is designed for magicians of all skill levels. It is particularly well-suited for performers who want to present high-impact mentalism or mathematical-based card magic. Beginners will find it accessible because it requires no sleight of hand or memory work. Professionals can use it to add powerful, pro-level effects to their walkaround or close-up sets. It is an excellent tool for magicians who enjoy interactive performances where spectators are allowed to handle and shuffle the deck.

Information on how difficult it is to perform

The Savant Deck is considered easy to perform. The core method is self-working, meaning the gimmick does the majority of the work. No advanced sleight of hand is required. There is no need for memorization or complex mathematical calculations from the performer. The primary challenge lies in the presentation and scripting of the effects to maximize their impact. The deck resets instantly, making it practical for repeated performances.

What magicians say

Reviewers highlight the deck's powerful and deceptive qualities. Magic Orthodoxy notes the deck "enhances certain routines with subtle yet powerful features." itsallthingsmagic states it is "perfect for beginners and professionals alike" and that it produces "over a dozen killer effects." In a performance context, AlakazamMagicUK observed that a routine using the deck "emphasizes clever methodology and strong audience impact." Craig Petty himself, in a discussion on magic-tv, described the Savant Deck as enabling "lightning-fast card calculations without marks, sticky substances, or memorization." Lloyd Barnes, in an exclusive preview for his Patreon members, expressed considerable excitement, positioning the deck as containing a "previously unseen gimmick" that expands the boundaries of card magic.