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Svengali Forcing Cards by Lant from Milan

Created by: Lant from Milan

The Svengali Forcing Cards are a versatile magic trick inspired by Bob Cassidy, designed for forcing any card or item in a seemingly fair and clean manner. Suitable for both close-up and stage magic, these cards come in regular and mini sizes, allowing performers to adapt to various performance environments. The trick involves spectators shuffling and handling the cards, which appear completely normal, yet the magician can force a specific card or item with absolute certainty. This trick is perfect for prediction routines, mentalism acts, and any performance requiring a reliable forcing method.

Key features

  • Versatile forcing method suitable for any item or card

  • Comes in two sizes: regular and mini, for different performance settings

  • Allows for multiple prediction routines from a single deck

  • Clean and fair appearance, even when handled by spectators

  • Suitable for magicians and mentalists of all levels

Pros

  • Highly deceptive and fooled even experienced magicians

  • Quality construction with thick cards that don't bleed through

  • Instant reset, making it ideal for walk-around magic

  • Can be used to create a full routine, not just a single effect

Cons

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Effect

The Svengali Forcing Cards create the illusion that a spectator freely chooses any card from a shuffled deck, while the magician retains complete control. The cards appear normal and can be handled by multiple people, making the selection process seem fair. No matter how the deck is shuffled or cut, the spectator always ends up with the predetermined card.

Full Details

The Svengali Forcing Cards are inspired by Bob Cassidy and designed for versatility. They come in two sizes—regular and mini—making them suitable for both close-up and stage performances. The deck allows the magician to force any card, name, or object without suspicious handling. The cards can be freely shuffled and examined, reinforcing the illusion of fairness.

One clever application mentioned in the review is using different categories (e.g., celebrities, countries, or objects) on separate cards to create multiple prediction routines from a single deck. This expands the trick’s potential beyond a simple force.

Who Should Consider the Trick

This trick is ideal for magicians and mentalists who need a reliable forcing method. It works well for:

  • Close-up performers who want a hands-off approach.
  • Stage magicians needing a clean force for large audiences.
  • Mentalists constructing prediction routines.
  • Beginners looking for an easy-to-use yet deceptive tool.

As the reviewer states, "I honestly don't think there is a better forcing method... it's hands-off, you could even get them to do everything."

Difficulty

The Svengali Forcing Cards are simple to use, requiring no advanced sleight of hand. The method is self-working, making it accessible to performers of all skill levels. The deceptive design ensures that even experienced magicians may be fooled, as noted in the review: "They fooled me badly, and I'm very aware of the principal going on here."

What Magicians Say

The Alakazam review praises the Svengali Forcing Cards for their deceptive nature and high-quality construction:

  • "They're made beautifully, they look great... even when we demonstrate to magicians, their minds are going."
  • "You cannot give this anything less than 100%... it does what it does, and it does it very, very well."
  • "The quality is superb... they're nice and thick, ink doesn’t bleed through."

The reviewers emphasize that the trick is versatile, reliable, and suitable for any performer needing a convincing force.

What people are saying about Svengali Forcing Cards

AlakazamMagicUK says...

The Svengali Forcing Cards fooled me badly, and I'm very aware of the principal going on here but there's some beautiful subtleties. [...] You can force absolutely anything but look how clean and fair this is.

Review videos