The Grifter by Peter Nardi

This video is a tutorial and promotional piece for Peter Nardi’s *The Grifter*, a reimagining of Theo Land's classic *Pickitout* routine, famously popularized by Michael Skinner's *Ultimate 3 Card Monte*. Nardi shares the story of how he was “grifted” in Las Vegas, which serves as the inspiration and narrative framework for his version of the effect. He emphasizes that *The Grifter* aims to remove the usual challenge for the spectator, making it a fun and engaging experience for everyone involved, rather than a frustrating guessing game. Nardi believes his version is the best to date, and he’s sharing it for the first time. The Grifter is presented as a five-phase routine, utilizing Nardi’s own specially designed gaffed cards, which differ from the standard *U3CM* gaffs. The routine culminates in a climax where the cards can be thoroughly examined by the audience. A key element of Nardi’s approach is the captivating story, which avoids directly challenging the spectator, allowing them to enjoy the experience of being fooled. The package includes everything needed to perform the routine: specially designed casino-backed gaffed cards, matching un-gaffed cards, a switch wallet, and two prop $100 bills. Nardi highlights an innovative “in the hands handling” technique, allowing the 3 Card Monte to be performed without the need for a table. He stresses the importance of the narrative, drawing from his personal experience to create a compelling and relatable presentation. Nardi references the original *Pickitout* routine by Theo Land and acknowledges Michael Skinner's significant contribution to popularizing the effect. He explains the numerical values assigned to the cards as a way to further mislead the spectator. He also emphasizes the importance of misdirection and presentation, using his own experience as a framework for the routine. Overall, *The Grifter* appears to be a well-crafted and engaging take on a classic effect, showcasing Nardi’s belief in the power of storytelling and presentation to elevate a trick.