Zarrow: A Lifetime of Magic

Book
2008
Written by David Ben
Work of Herb Zarrow
464 pages (Hardcover), published by Meir Yedid Magic
Illustrated with photographs
Language: English
274 entries
This publication has been reviewed by
Cover photograph
250 per page
Creators Title Comments & References Page AA Categories
David Ben Introduction
xiii
Part One
1
Johnny Thompson My Friend and Magical Confidant on Herb Zarrow
 		3
Chapter One
5
Herb Zarrow U-Shuffle Progressive Poker deck divided in two halves, both riffle shuffled and top five cards taken, both are straights, then both change into higher hands (flush and full house)
Inspired by
  • effect by Persi Diaconis and Ronald A. Wohl
Related to
 7
Herb Zarrow Classic Pass Packet Switch as packet is squared over half the deck
 		8
Herb Zarrow Switch Poker cards switched back and forth between two poker hands, performer wins
Also published here
Inspired by
Related to
 9
Herb Zarrow Swindle Mates matching order of two suits, swindle switch
Also published here
 11
Paul Curry Swindle Switch
11
Herb Zarrow Mind Match two suits are removed, in one cards are switched (really, no swindle switch), prediction suit matches, second deals
 		12
Herb Zarrow Outnumbered complicated mathematical location with two packets of five cards each
Also published here
 15
Herb Zarrow Touch Poker spectator touches five cards in in-the-hands spread, they are a poker hand with the four Aces
Also published here
  • Precursor, Oct. 2003
 16
Herb Zarrow Out-Jog Packet Switch out-jogged cards are stripped out one by one, switch as last card is pulled out
Variations
 16
Herb Zarrow Touch Revelation five selections are found by spectators by touching the cards in in-the-hands spread
 		19
Herb Zarrow Touch Aces Ace assembly using Out-Jog Packet Switch
 		19
Herb Zarrow Out-Jog Packet Switch Variation with small packet
 		20
Herb Zarrow Top - Second - Bottom five hands dealt, four spectators follow along with their hand in a small-packet false dealing exercise, everyone ends up with a good hand
 		22
Herb Zarrow The Straightest Gambler performer repeatedly deals himself straights, in the end he gets a Royal Flush after a spectator shuffle & deal
Inspired by
  • Lin Searles's "The Straight Gambler"
 22
Chapter Two
25
Herb Zarrow The Zarrow Block Addition credit information, three technical variations
Also published here
Variations
 27
Herb Zarrow Conceptual Variant of the Zarrow Block Addition loading cards between Aces, with variations
 		31
Herb Zarrow A Cutting Discovery Aces are cut into deck with spectator and yet end up on top, using Zarrow Block Addition instead of Unit Upjog Addition
Inspired by
 34
Herb Zarrow Quad Transposition Plus three quartets transpose, application of Zarrow Block Addition
 		35
Herb Zarrow Impromptu Out of This World application of Zarrow Block Addition
 		37
Herb Zarrow Dealing Forward and Backward to the Aces Aces shown on top, one shuffle, five hands dealt (in unusual way or with seconds) and performer has all Aces, application of Zarrow Block Addition
 		39
Chapter Three
41
Herb Zarrow Zarrow Fan Hold-Back packet is concealed underneath a regular thumb fan
Related to
 43
Herb Zarrow Four-Card Turnover four selections turn over together at once
 		44
Herb Zarrow Mental Discernment one of eight, using Zarrow Fan Hold-Back
 		45
Herb Zarrow Slap Aces Aces vanish from pack and reappear, using Zarrow Fan Hold-Back
Inspired by
 46
Herb Zarrow Fan Palm palming hidden packet under fan after Zarrow Fan Hold-Back
 		46
Herb Zarrow Consecutive Erdnase Change stealing cards from second, third, fourth position
Inspired by
 46
Chapter Four
49
Herb Zarrow Blocking the Aces using Zarrow Block Addition
 		51
Herb Zarrow Reversal of Fortune Aces vanish from all four packets, are found reversed in deck
 		52
Herb Zarrow Swing Reverse bottom cards reversed during swing cut
 		52
Herb Zarrow Turnover Surprise deck cut into four packets, bottom cards shown as indifferent, then they have changed to Aces when packets are turned over again
Inspired by
 54
Herb Zarrow Turnover Transfer two packets are turned over end-for-end with both hands, one card transferred
 		55
Herb Zarrow Double Progressive
56
Herb Zarrow Gathering Aces
60
Herb Zarrow Out-Jog Packet Switch Variation
Inspired by
 62
Herb Zarrow Assemble the Aces
62
David Ben Double-Buckle History credit information on multiple buckles, Herb Zarrow (inventor) and Edward Marlo
Related to
 62
Herb Zarrow Double-Buckle
Related to
 65
Herb Zarrow Small Packet Fan Palm
66
Herb Zarrow Black Mark Aces Ace Assembly in which the leader packet has three black spot cards and all other Aces three red spot cards
Inspired by
  • work of J. Stewart Smith
 67
Herb Zarrow Kicker Aces
71
Herb Zarrow Packet for Packet Change top change like
 		74
Herb Zarrow Jumping Aces
Inspired by
 75
Herb Zarrow Baseball Aces Kings/Queens transformation routine with baseball theme
 		76
Part Two
79
Marla Zarrow Filled with Magic on Herb Zarrow
Also published here
 81
Chapter Five
89
Herb Zarrow Revolving Aces four times riffle-stop to locate Aces (Christ Force type procedure), credit information
Also published here
Related to
Variations
 91
Herb Zarrow, Dai Vernon A Note on Zarrow's Revolving Aces spectator says stop four times while riffling
Also published here
Inspired by
Related to
 93
Herb Zarrow Revolving Royal Flush four times Riffle Christ Force to locate Ten through King of Spades, Ace is found reversed to complete Royal Flush
Inspired by
 94
Herb Zarrow Matched Revolvers four tabled predictions are mated with Revolving Aces procedure
Inspired by
 94
Herb Zarrow Revolving History forcing a special date/year with Revolving Aces procedure
 		95
Herb Zarrow 1-2-3-4-Déjà Vu order of Ace-Four changes several times, with transformation kicker by Herb Zarrow
Inspired by
 97
Herb Zarrow On The Up And Up
99
Herb Zarrow Doubly Ambitious with two cards, five phases
 		101
Dai Vernon, Sam Leo Horowitz First Transformation Finesse
Inspired by
 103
Herb Zarrow Ambitious Reversed ambitious card is reversed, four-of-a-kind climax
 		104
Herb Zarrow Bent Corner Replacement kind of a wedge cull displacement, see page 107 for further uses including cop
 		104
Herb Zarrow Think Change four Aces removed and one thought of, shuffled back, one half jogged, face-card of lower half changes into thought-of Ace once named, with variations
Also published here
Related to
 108
Herb Zarrow Interlock Change one half jogged, face card of lower half changes
Also published here
 109
Chapter Six
113
Herb Zarrow All Backs single card becomes double-backer, then whole deck, then four-of-a-kind is found and deck becomes normal again
 		115
Herb Zarrow False Deck Turnover like the uni-directional turnover
 		117
Herb Zarrow Short Follow The Leader 5&5
 		122
Dai Vernon Wedge Break Displacement
122
Herb Zarrow Descending Oil and Water 4&4, then 3&3, 2&2 and 1&1
Also published here
Variations
 124
Herb Zarrow Fanning the Waters 4&4
 		126
Herb Zarrow Small Packet In-the-Hands Zarrow Shuffle displacement in small packet, here for oil and water
 		126
Herb Zarrow A Quick Three-Way three cards each become selection, then double backers, then indifferent
 		128
Herb Zarrow Fingertip Strip-Out Addition
128
Herb Zarrow All Alike Sequence quick three way type
 		128
Herb Zarrow One Wrong Makes Right two selections are lost, one found and tabled, then indifferent card found which changes into first selection, table card is now second selection
 		130
Herb Zarrow Snap Change see also page 133
Related to
 130
Push-In Change Handling angled
Related to
 132
Chapter Seven
135
Herb Zarrow Magician Cuts The Aces spectator shuffles between cuts, snap crimp and Charlier Cuts
 		137
Herb Zarrow Setting the Snap Crimp with bottom cards
 		137
Herb Zarrow Spectator Cuts The Cards
138
Herb Zarrow Matching Cut Cards four cards are mated via Spectator Cuts to the Aces
Variations
  • "The Translating Deck" (Johnny Thompson, MUM, Sep. 1995, p. X)
 140
Herb Zarrow Aces Wild four Aces tabled, another wild card tabled, three indifferent cards added to one Ace, other three Aces lost, the four cards all change into wild card, then back into all four Aces
 		140
Herb Zarrow A Cutting Revelation
Also published here
  • MUM
 142
Herb Zarrow 4-Card Catch card face up sticking from deck, deck thrown in other hand card is now sandwiched
Also published here
 145
Chapter Eight
147
Herb Zarrow Long and Short Spell, Etc. indicator card chosen and its suit and value are used to spell to four cards, they match four prediction cards
 		149
Herb Zarrow Double Spell freely chosen indicator card is used to spell to two selections
Variations
 151
Herb Zarrow Business Card Prophecy Move Variation starts in tabled spread
Inspired by
  • James Patton subtlety in Genii, Sep. 1991, p. 746
 151
Herb Zarrow Fan Prediction Hofzinser Force Principle
Related to
Variations
 154
Herb Zarrow Under-the-Spread Force Handling
Related to
 154
Herb Zarrow Fan Double Match Fan Predictions plus Double Spell
Inspired by
 155
Herb Zarrow Minimal Miraskill with up to three predictions
Also published here
Variations
 156
Herb Zarrow A Red/Black Prediction spectator completes a prediction form about red/black distribution of cards after a riffle shuffle and deal into six or eight hands
 		158
Part Three
161
Ronald A. Wohl (Ravelli) Rock Solid on Herb Zarrow
 		163
Chapter Nine
165
Herb Zarrow Insight a trick Zarrow invented for a blind magician, magician matches shuffled red/black order of a pile
Also published here
 167
Herb Zarrow Tosheroon Two borrowed coin put on face-up deck, deck cut, again cut at coin, now coin on selection
Also published here
Variations
 168
Herb Zarrow Double Tosheroon Two coin locates two selections
Inspired by
 170
Herb Zarrow Coin Pick-Up from Deck of Cards
170
Herb Zarrow An Off Beat Card Trick card is reversed in center of deck and penetrates table
 		172
Herb Zarrow Refined Center Palm Steal as top half is replaced
Related to
Variations
 172
Herb Zarrow Under-the-Spread Reverse fingers flip card over
 		173
Herb Zarrow Faro Throw-Off locator card changes into selection, faro is apparently used as part of method
Also published here
Variations
 174
Heel Crimp with base of thumb
 		176
Herb Zarrow A Card Between two Aces face-up in different parts of the deck, after a "faro" a selection is found between the Aces
Inspired by
Variations
 176
Herb Zarrow Deliberate Bottom Steal block side steal to bottom
 		176
Spread Corner Crimp
177
Herb Zarrow Another Card Between two Aces face-up in different parts of the deck, later a selection is found between the Aces
Inspired by
 179
Herb Zarrow A Surprising Discovery four cards lost, faro, first two found and tabled, they change into the other two
Variations
 180
Herb Zarrow A Surprising Discovery II four-of-a-kind is lost, first two found and tabled, they change into the other two
Inspired by
 182
Herb Zarrow Overhand Shuffle Shift Variation
Inspired by
  • Roger Crothswaite's Overhand Shuffle Shift
 182
Chapter Ten
187
Herb Zarrow Seven Times Two intro to transposition effects by Zarrow
 		189
Herb Zarrow One
Inspired by
 189
Herb Zarrow Two
190
Herb Zarrow Three
190
Herb Zarrow Removal Exchange as an out-jogged card is removed, really top card
 		191
Herb Zarrow Four
191
Herb Zarrow Misdirection Top Change as deck in left hand is turned to show an out-jogged card
 		191
Herb Zarrow Five
192
Herb Zarrow Center Change as deck in left hand is turned to show an out-jogged card the card in the right hand is switched for one at a break in the center
 		192
Herb Zarrow Six out-jogged and in-jogged cards transpose
 		193
Herb Zarrow Seven
194
Francis Carlyle A Carlyle Transposition
196
Francis Carlyle Touch Change card touched on spectator's hand, it visibly changes
 		197
Herb Zarrow Bottom Change Handling
197
Herb Zarrow Choose The Aces red or black Aces are chosen, those vanish and appear at different positions reversed in deck
Also published here
Variations
 198
Herb Zarrow Multiple Switch-In repeat Biddle type steal into center
Also published here
 198
Herb Zarrow Push Through Kings indifferent cards are pushed into deck, on other side previously lost Kings emerge, with variations starting on page 201
 		199
Herb Zarrow Two Card Transposition two chosen cards vanish from five-card packet and appear in different positions reversed in deck, Biddle trick
Also published here
Inspired by
 202
Herb Zarrow Red Ace-Black Ace using Curry Turnover Change on hands of spectator
Also published here
Inspired by
  • Russ Bent effect
 203
Herb Zarrow Vernon's 1-2-3
Also published here
  • MUM, Mar. 1982
Inspired by
 203
Herb Zarrow Modified Curry Turn-Over Change
204
Chapter Eleven
207
Herb Zarrow Addition and Subtraction spot cards are used for calculations multiple times, outcome predicted
Inspired by
 209
Herb Zarrow Card Affinity two cards tabled, one chosen, cards are dealt simultaneously from two packets and when the chosen card is matched the card in the other pile matches the other tabled card
Also published here
  • MUM, Oct. 1957
 212
Herb Zarrow Zig & Zags card in one packet at thought-of position transposes with one in a second packet, memorized deck suggestion
Also published here
Inspired by
  • George Kaplan's "Zig-Zag" (Hugard's Magic Monthly)
 213
Herb Zarrow A Four For Two a Four turns over and locates two selections
 		214
Herb Zarrow Herb's Variant four cards, with selection that travels into deck
Also published here
Inspired by
Variations
 215
Dai Vernon Vernon's ACAAN multiple deals to get a thought-of card to any number
 		216
Chapter Twelve
219
Herb Zarrow Three Cards Across three cards are chosen from one half and reversed in different positions, they travel into other half
 		221
Henry Christ Christ Twist brief
 		222
Herb Zarrow Two Mental Cards two cards, one freely thought of, one ahead, using two decks
Inspired by
 223
Ed Balducci Balducci Glimpse step at center
 		223
Herb Zarrow Sliding Switch two tabled cards are turned over and switched in the process
 		225
Herb Zarrow A Two Deck Routine unknown card moved from one deck to another, spectator choses any card from the face which turns out to be the odd-backed one
 		225
Herb Zarrow Face Up To A Selection twisting, then one changes into selection
 		227
Timing Stop Force finger moves along face-down fan, brief
 		228
Fan Insertion jogged
 		228
Herb Zarrow Red/Black Royal Flush featuring a red/black tabled riffle shuffle which shuffles the halves but retains the separation and the center of the deck, applications for that center retaining (dealing five hands and a Royal Flush card ends up on top of each hand, or a selection)
 		231
Herb Zarrow Herb's Hotel handling with entire deck, cards reversed in the center of the deck change composition, credit information
 		234
Future Reverse
235
Herb Zarrow Multiple Card Future Reverse
236
Herb Zarrow The Card Puzzle Revisited with five piles (Tens through Aces), ends up with four Royal Flushes
 		237
Herb Zarrow Another Packet Switch
240
Part Four
245
John E. Mintz Personal Magic on Herb Zarrow
 		247
Chapter Thirteen
249
Herb Zarrow Strip-Out Production two halves are weaved together in faro fashion, then stripped out again, four cards remain out-jogged at different positions which are a four-of-a-kind
 		251
Herb Zarrow Unshuffling the Colors card control, deck is separated into reds and blacks despite shuffles
 		253
Red/Black Overhand Shuffle with Break
253
False Shuffle from Back packets dropped from back instead of front
 		254
Herb Zarrow Is This Your Card? four selections lost, four cards removed by spectators, they are shown as four duplicates of the first selection, one is placed in front of him, remaining three are all shown to be the second selection and so on
 		255
Dr. Jacob Daley Daley Delight Switch
256
Tom Burke Tommy Burke's Faro Finesse slough-off handling
 		257
Herb Zarrow Expert Gymnastics Aces leap one at a time out of the deck when shaking incompletely shuffled deck, cards come out from underneath top card
Inspired by
 259
Herb Zarrow Double Bilis two named cards are placed invisibly between two face-up tabled sandwich cards, they appear
 		260
Bernard Bilis Bilis Switch
Also published here
  • B.S. Move (Notes de Conference de Bernard Bilis, 1980)
 262
Herb Zarrow Dunbury Delusion Revisited
Inspired by
 263
Herb Zarrow Injog Add-On as in-jogged card is pushed square with right hand which hold half the deck, it is secretly added under right-hand packet
 		264
Herb Zarrow Trapeze one-handed flourish production
Also published here
 266
Chapter Fourteen
271
Herb Zarrow Penny and Quarter Transposition one coin in each hand, they come together in one hand, Tenkai Pennies with two different coins
Also published here
  • MUM, Aug. 1959
Inspired by
 273
Herb Zarrow Tenkai Pennies Point Transfer Variation with two different coins
Also published here
 273
Herb Zarrow Switch-Change coin balanced on fingertip transforms when other hand waves over it
Also published here
 275
Herb Zarrow Starfish Copper/Silver copper coin balanced on second finger and silver coin on fourth finger, they transpose when other hand waves over them, three handlings (extra coin and without)
Also published here
 276
Herb Zarrow Visu-Pinch coin dropped into other hand changes visually
Also published here
Related to
 278
Herb Zarrow The Penetrating Bands Crazy Man's Handcuffs, credit information
Also published here
Inspired by
  • "Getaway" (Arthur Setterington, New Pentagram, May 1970, p. 220)
Related to
 279
Herb Zarrow Wyatt Earp and the Rubber Lariat deck rubber-banded cross-wise, band vanishes and appears around the Jacks and an Ace in the center
Also published here
 282
Herb Zarrow Rubber Match deck rubber-banded cross-wise, band vanishes and appears around three cards that match three prediction cards
 		286
Herb Zarrow Found, Bound and Changed deck rubber-banded cross-wise, band vanishes and appears around selection, it then changes into another selection
 		286
Herb Zarrow Double Spin Out rubber band around deck, deck pivots and two cards stick out
Inspired by
 288
Herb Zarrow The Berg Knot Revisited knot tied in handkerchief and pulled tighter and tighter, it dissolves in the end, credit information
Inspired by
 292
Chapter Fifteen
299
Herb Zarrow A Criss-Cross Cut Force force card added from palm perpendicularly as top half is placed on bottom half
 		301
Russ Bent Card Through Pocket card penetrates trouser pocket
 		303
Herb Zarrow Flicker Again card is flicked while some cards are scattered on table, it changes visually
Also published here
Inspired by
Variations
 304
Herb Zarrow Flipper In Hand card is flicked with hand that holds half the deck and it changes, unload
Inspired by
 305
David Ben Fancy False Cuts intro
 		307
Herb Zarrow Simple Fancy False Cut in the hands, packets are turned over in the course of the cut (natural breaks)
 		307
Herb Zarrow Moderately Fancy False Cut in the hands, packets are turned over in the course of the cut (natural breaks)
 		307
Herb Zarrow Truly Fancy False Cut in the hands, packets are turned over in the course of the cut (natural breaks)
 		307
Herb Zarrow Easy Cut Flourish
Also published here
 314
Herb Zarrow Swivel Cut Revelations card revelation based on a swivel cut sequence
  • HZSC1
  • HZSC2
  • HZSC3
  • HZSC4/5
Related to
 318
Herb Zarrow Universal Count Grip grip for common false counts, packet held at inner corner
  • Elmsley Count
  • Hamman Count
Related to
 323
Herb Zarrow The Worraz Move flushtration count alternative
Related to
 326
Chapter Sixteen
331
Herb Zarrow Double Peek Glimpse step turnover, with two cards at different positions
Inspired by
  • Peek Glimpse (Ed Balducci, Magic Manuscript, Vol. 4 No. 3, p. 43)
 333
Herb Zarrow The Vertical Turnover Pass deck turned end-for-end
  • Vertical Square Turnover Pass
  • Spread Vertical Turnover Pass
  • Delayed Vertical Turnover Pass
Also published here
 335
Herb Zarrow Loose Lifts various handlings
 		338
Tom Burke Loose Lift
338
Tom Burke On The Trick That Fooled Houdini handling detail
 		342
Tom Burke Deck Balancing Flourish also turns it end-for-end
 		343
Tom Burke One Handed Top Palm from Packet
344
Herb Zarrow Double Lift Substitutes: Method One top card is levered up with left fingers as card is flipped face down
 		344
Herb Zarrow Double Lift Substitutes: Method Two
Related to
 345
Herb Zarrow On The Erdnase Bottom Palm credit information
Also published here
Inspired by
Related to
Variations
 346
Herb Zarrow On The Diagonal Palm Shift without raising deck to fingertips
Inspired by
 347
Ed Balducci Too Good to Lose
Variations
 348
Herb Zarrow Too Good to Lose Bottom Palm reverse of Balducci's replacement
Inspired by
 349
Herb Zarrow A Middle Palm as top half is replaced, Ambitious Phase application with face-up card
 		349
Herb Zarrow Center Fugue as top half is replaced, finesses, fanning
Inspired by
 351
Herb Zarrow Cutting To A Card squared deck is often cut at the same spot because of natural air pockets
Related to
 355
Herb Zarrow Dhotel Revisited card pushed out and pivoted upwards behind deck, another card quickly pushed in front of it, various handlings
Also published here
  • MUM, March 1969
Inspired by
 355
Herb Zarrow Five Card Revelation ending with a five-card display
 		358
Herb Zarrow Tour Through The Outback one of ten is named, process of down-under deal elimination produces same card without adjustment
Related to
 360
Chapter Seventeen
363
Herb Zarrow Angle Step Jog Stack finessed milk build alternative
 		365
Herb Zarrow Overhand Shuffle Injog setting the in- or out-jog, top stock control with angle jog instead of break
 		366
Herb Zarrow Cull Stack Shuffle
369
Herb Zarrow Spring Riffle Top Palm while waterfall springing the cards after in-the-hands (or tabled) riffle shuffle
Also published here
Related to
 371
Charlie Miller Cut Palm Replacement while completing tabled cut, long sides towards performer
 		372
Herb Zarrow Multiple Bottom Palm delayed with cards first brought to perpendicular position
 		373
Herb Zarrow Riffle Steal during tabled riffle shuffle into Gambler's Palm
Also published here
Related to
 374
The Hop
376
Herb Zarrow V-Shift draw shift variant
 		376
Herb Zarrow Triple Pick-Up draw shift variant
 		377
Herb Zarrow Double Hop draw shift variant with both hands simultaneously
 		378
Herb Zarrow The Double-Cover Hop draw shift variant using both hands for more cover
 		379
Herb Zarrow Bottom Hop bringing only bottom slug back to bottom
Variations
 381
Herb Zarrow, Joe Artanis Bottom Hop Variation bringing only bottom slug back to bottom
Inspired by
 381
Herb Zarrow Table False Cut
383
Herb Zarrow One-Hand Table False Cut top half pushed back with first finger
 		384
Part Five
387
Persi Diaconis* Fifty Years with Herb and Phyllis on Herb Zarrow, Zarrow Shuffle comments
 		389
Chapter Eighteen
393
Herb Zarrow The Zarrow Shuffle detailed explanation
Also published here
 395
Herb Zarrow Adding a Cut Zarrow Shuffle get-into
 		401
Herb Zarrow Two Shuffles Zarrow Shuffle sequence
 		403
Herb Zarrow Double-Cover Zarrow
405
Herb Zarrow Three Shuffle Double-Cover Zarrow Shuffle sequence
 		406
Herb Zarrow Skimming the Aces getting rid of extra cards in a top stock control with the Zarrow Shuffle
 		407
Herb Zarrow Four Packet Red Black using Zarrow Shuffle
 		408
Herb Zarrow Zarrow Cull Stacking
Related to
 409
250 per page
Data entered by Denis Behr, November 2025.