"Ultra Monte" by Daryl and Fooler Doolers
Suggested Retail USD$10.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 8 Out of 10

"Ultra Monte", a packet trick by Daryl, is an excellent and easy "three-card monte" styled trick, great for those wanting to add a monte routine to their arsenal without all the sleight work, and only lacks a good climax to make it darn near perfect.

"Ultra Monte" is a three-phase routine where the spectator, no matter what, can locate the Ace of Spades from among three cards. But you already knew that so let's get to the things you don't know about "Ultra Monte".

First up, Daryl has made this about as self-working as you can get. There are no sleights involved; a clever handling and the gimmicked cards do all the work for you on this one. So forget turnovers and tosses and all of that stuff; you won't be needing anything more than an overhand shuffle.

Second, Daryl has thrown in a number of nice touches to make this more commercial and easier to present. He opted for using the Ace of Spades as the money card (with that nice, big, center pip larger audiences can enjoy this routine as well as smaller groups). He also worked a handy visual cue -- a pointer -- to make sure you don't screw up and flash the method. Then, to top it all off, he included a great set of instructions and an excellent DVD to make sure you get the most from his creation. All of that is good stuff indeed.

Third, "Ultra Monte" suffers from the same ailment as most monte routines: the climax is weak, in effect a two-card monte as opposed to a three-card routine. For a legitimate exposé, that would be fine; for a magical presentation... well, not so much. This is the biggest problem with "Ultra Monte", likely the only problem you'll run into, but it's a big one for those of us who want a bit more punch for the money. The presentation, that this is done straight-faced as a gambling demonstration, is worn but works well enough. Put another climax on this one, work up something other than a rationalized "Wannaseesomethin", and you've got a powerhouse. As it stands, it's an above average routine, sure, but not much more.

At the end of the day, it's all about what you're looking for. I like "Ultra Monte" a lot -- the simplicity of it is great as is the cleanliness -- and for those looking to add a monte routine to their repertoire, it's about as good as it gets, especially for the ultra low price and especially considering the documentation. But if you already do a monte, there's little to recommend this one. A better climax, a more inspired presentation, and this would probably replace most monte routines folks are doing nowadays.

In other words, buy "Ultra Monte" if you want or need a monte routine and most likely give it a pass if you've got one already.

"Ultra Monte" by Daryl
In a Blink: 8 Out of 10

Practicality: 8
This is, essentially, a packet trick so you know what to expect when it comes to practicality. Reseting is quick and easy, angles aren't a problem, and the handling is quite simple. All told, this is a very practical piece of work.

Workmanship: 10
The gimmicked cards are printed by USPCC and are very well done.

Documentation: 10
The written documentation is superb with plenty of photos to help get you going. The DVD contains some additional ideas and makes a great complementary piece. An excellent job all the way around.

Effect: 7
This version of the monte game packs a pretty healthy wallop, with the clean and open handling going a long way toward that impact. However, it doesn't play as strong as it should, lacking any real climax.

Presentation: 5
It's all done as a gambling demonstration, which is fine if not pedestrian. Magically, the presentation relies on the cleanliness of things and little else. A more structured, fleshed-out, magical routine would send this one into the stratosphere.

Shane

Available direct from your favorite dealer. Dealers, please contact Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc. toll-free at 1-800-853-7403 or visit Murphy's Magic Supplies website.