How to Use a Gaff Deck of Cards
A Gaff deck of cards is a deck consisting of all trick cards. These cards are specifically designed to be used with different types of decks and can allow a magician to create his own tricks. Gaff decks are not actual or usable decks of cards, but rather just a lot of trick cards crammed into one case. They are extremely versatile and useful. This tutorial will help you understand how they work.
Instructions
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How to Use a Gaff Deck of Cards
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1
Inspect all of the cards. Gaff decks should not be used until you know and understand the purpose of each trick card.
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2
Separate the gaff cards into piles of each different type of deck. For instance, a gaff deck may come with trick cards for red-backed, blue-backed, ghost, or black tiger decks.
It is important to know where these cards should be used.
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3
Steps #3 and #4 are variations of the same rule. For this step, be sure to read the gaff deck manual, as it will contain tricks to learn.
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4
If you do not have a manual, study each card and think of how it can be used. You should not use a gaff deck until you are well-versed in techniques like double-lifting or forcing cards, so that seeing certain cards will immediately inform you whether one of these techniques is needed.
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5
Never use the gaff deck as a regular deck. The cards all have different colored backs and there are usually more than fifty-two in a deck.
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6
Do not go overboard with usage of trick cards in a performance. This will key an audience member in on the usage of fake cards. You can do various tricks and end with a gaff trick, but not the other way around (various gaff tricks ending with a normal trick).
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7
Have fun and create your own tricks! These decks will allow you an unlimited amount of possibilities for tricks, so take advantage of that.
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Tips & Warnings
There are different types of gaff decks out there and all have different trick cards. Do not just settle on one.