Here is my review for the Truffle Shuffle which can be found at dan and dave's site: DD.
Experience on the subject:
I started off with Green's version of this concept. An in the hands riffle which basically went right over my head when I first saw it. To someone who's not aware an in the hands false riffle exists (the target audience), Green's shuffle cracks heads and takes names later. Benjamin Earl states while explaining his Grey shuffle "I just knew that the shuffle he did was false, I didn't know how he'd done it." This gets the job done and gets it done well and was my primary means before coming across Earl's version.
I've dabbled with the Heinstein shuffle but to be honest I didn't find any need for it to replace Green's handling. I found it as a step in the right direction, but not enough to put in the necessary work. It is a great shuffle though and it wouldn't be a mistake to get it.
The Grey Shuffle is what I use currently. As far as I'm concerned this has been the most elusive one I've come across (besides Truffle). This can be found on Benjamin Earl's Past Midnight disc two (Gambling).
The Truffle Shuffle:
In the credits it is attributed to Steve Forte for inspiration (amusingly from a tabled shuffle). Other credits include Ron Wohl, Lennart Green, Jerry Andrus and "a good friend of his" Benjamin Earl. The only problem being that he credits the "psychological shuffle" instead of the "grey shuffle." The psychological shuffle is one of Earl's tabled false shuffles. I think what he meant was the Grey Shuffle, being a good friend they might want to edit the text/voice over. It's not a huge issue, just something that struck me as odd.
The execution of the shuffle when I first saw the preview, as noted in another review, is VERY similar to the "Grey Shuffle". There are a few minor differences as well as some additions that weren't covered in Past Midnight. The main difference could very well constitute this as an upgrade to previous versions. However, and it is just personal opinion, I'm not sure if it is necessary. When using previous versions of the shuffle adequately (Grey/Green) the question of separation doesn't arise.
The way this shuffle is executed and explained immediately tipped me off to the fact that it is slightly unnatural. You can overcome this point if you put a little bit of thought or have experience with another version. The main point being that when someone riffle shuffles they do it evenly. Half and half and aligned properly. The Grey shuffle goes into detail why using a few less cards on one side will go unnoticed. This one doesn't touch on that subtlety as well as making it worse by limiting the amount of freedom you have. In an effort to shadow an inconsistency that, as mentioned, might not be necessary.
I didn't get so much out of this purchase. Possibly because it borders on the exact same way I use the Grey shuffle. On the other hand, I also use the Grey shuffle in a way that doesn't require a cut. As noted on the download this is not the way a man would do it! Dude, you don't have to end with a cut. How does that constitute masculinity?
So, to end, this IS a great false shuffle. If you already know the Grey shuffle you may or may not get so much out of it. I didn't but there are additions that you might not have considered. I would certainly recommend this as a method for anyone who hasn't been exposed to previous standards.
One thing to add... This is not so much a download as it is a streaming video. If you find that you want to go back and watch a certain part you will have to wait for it to stream up to that point. The quality is great but you're stuck not being able to change the size or save to your hard drive.
Thanks for reading,
Fans
Experience on the subject:
I started off with Green's version of this concept. An in the hands riffle which basically went right over my head when I first saw it. To someone who's not aware an in the hands false riffle exists (the target audience), Green's shuffle cracks heads and takes names later. Benjamin Earl states while explaining his Grey shuffle "I just knew that the shuffle he did was false, I didn't know how he'd done it." This gets the job done and gets it done well and was my primary means before coming across Earl's version.
I've dabbled with the Heinstein shuffle but to be honest I didn't find any need for it to replace Green's handling. I found it as a step in the right direction, but not enough to put in the necessary work. It is a great shuffle though and it wouldn't be a mistake to get it.
The Grey Shuffle is what I use currently. As far as I'm concerned this has been the most elusive one I've come across (besides Truffle). This can be found on Benjamin Earl's Past Midnight disc two (Gambling).
The Truffle Shuffle:
In the credits it is attributed to Steve Forte for inspiration (amusingly from a tabled shuffle). Other credits include Ron Wohl, Lennart Green, Jerry Andrus and "a good friend of his" Benjamin Earl. The only problem being that he credits the "psychological shuffle" instead of the "grey shuffle." The psychological shuffle is one of Earl's tabled false shuffles. I think what he meant was the Grey Shuffle, being a good friend they might want to edit the text/voice over. It's not a huge issue, just something that struck me as odd.
The execution of the shuffle when I first saw the preview, as noted in another review, is VERY similar to the "Grey Shuffle". There are a few minor differences as well as some additions that weren't covered in Past Midnight. The main difference could very well constitute this as an upgrade to previous versions. However, and it is just personal opinion, I'm not sure if it is necessary. When using previous versions of the shuffle adequately (Grey/Green) the question of separation doesn't arise.
The way this shuffle is executed and explained immediately tipped me off to the fact that it is slightly unnatural. You can overcome this point if you put a little bit of thought or have experience with another version. The main point being that when someone riffle shuffles they do it evenly. Half and half and aligned properly. The Grey shuffle goes into detail why using a few less cards on one side will go unnoticed. This one doesn't touch on that subtlety as well as making it worse by limiting the amount of freedom you have. In an effort to shadow an inconsistency that, as mentioned, might not be necessary.
I didn't get so much out of this purchase. Possibly because it borders on the exact same way I use the Grey shuffle. On the other hand, I also use the Grey shuffle in a way that doesn't require a cut. As noted on the download this is not the way a man would do it! Dude, you don't have to end with a cut. How does that constitute masculinity?
So, to end, this IS a great false shuffle. If you already know the Grey shuffle you may or may not get so much out of it. I didn't but there are additions that you might not have considered. I would certainly recommend this as a method for anyone who hasn't been exposed to previous standards.
One thing to add... This is not so much a download as it is a streaming video. If you find that you want to go back and watch a certain part you will have to wait for it to stream up to that point. The quality is great but you're stuck not being able to change the size or save to your hard drive.
Thanks for reading,
Fans
Thanks, think I'll pick this up when I have some spare money, but it's not a priority.