Three card Monte- find the lady scam

I taught myself this great street hustler's trick from Paul Zenon's great book "Street Magic" (see my review on Squidoo) because it's not your average card trick- it is visual and can be repeated with a good story about street hustlers!

There are only a couple of moves to learn and time can be spent perfecting them to make this illusion both eye-poppingly good and entertaining. Performed smoothly alongside a good line in patter about con men and street hustlers in America on the paddle steamers this is a fine piece of entertainment. It could also be performed as a warning to avoid scammers and people could be invited to bet with play money until they have none left!
ALEXKAZAM THE MAGIC MAN!

I spent a long time learning the mechanics (the technique) to do three card monte but had to really think about how to perform it as entertainment. The problem is, if you do it as a challenge to your audience- there is a good chance that someone will simply say where they think the Queen card isn't and they have a fifty fifty chance of being right!

There is also the slight lack of entertainment value in the bare bones of the trick- so I got my thinking cap on! My solution was firstly to make the progression of the trick get more and more impressive- much like the explanation in Paul Zenon's book on street magic. Secondly I decided to play the role of both the punter and the operator of the scam- I was, in effect, challenging myself.

I added a cockney accent and a hat to the operator role and spoke as myself in my role as the punter- giving the audience a running commentary.

I also added a surprise ending- which I wont divulge here because it would ruin the surprise should you see me perform it!