Quote from Marty Jacobs on August 5, 2024, 2:56 am

Have you ever been so captivated by a magic trick that it has sparked endless creativity? That’s exactly what happened to me with Dr. Daley’s Last Trick. This simple yet ingenious card plot has fueled my imagination for years. It has inspired me to develop many alternative methods and original presentations for the plot—too many, in fact!

This passion for Dr. Daley’s most famous trick is the driving force behind my upcoming book, Developing Daley. It will be a treasure trove for card magic enthusiasts, a comprehensive resource featuring fifty-two unique variations of this classic card magic plot!

The book will also explore the origins of the trick and some of its most popular handlings. You’ll discover how to enhance the effect through scripting and additional props. Several variations will also be included that use Jokers, blank-faced and odd-backed cards.

Because this is a daunting project, and to make the writing process more engaging, I’m serialising Developing Daley on my blog (Marty’s Bag of Tricks) and in my regular Ruseletter column, Packet Trick Paradise 🃏🌴. This will keep me motivated, and, more importantly, it will allow you, the LSOH community, to actively participate in the book’s development by providing feedback, ideas and suggestions that might end up in the book. In this way, the final product will be as good as we can possibly make it together.

In my first blog post on the plot, I analyse its four inherent weaknesses:

Daley Dilemma: How Do We Fix the Four Weaknesses of Dr. Daley’s Last Trick?

Here’s the exciting part: If you’re a member of the LSOH community, you’ll be among the privileged few to get exclusive access to all the trick tutorials directly in this thread, bypassing any paywalls on Substack! This is my way of showing my deep appreciation for your input and support.

The first three variations are already waiting for you!

• The Jaybird Jump🐦 - This is a fun variation using two Jokers and Jacks rather than the four Aces, with a cool kicker ending. Doug kindly taught this one in the first Member's Showcase.
• Laughing Boy and Lumberjack 😆🪓 - Similar to “The Jaybird Jump”, it involves four Jokers transforming into four Jacks.
• Quick Change Queens 👑 - An unusual variation of Dr. Daley’s Last Trick in which the backs of four Queens repeatedly change colour.

Yours Magically,

Marty