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I still haven't got my DVDs from 2010, despite several emails and assurances that they have been sent (and resent, twice). Now, they've stopped responding to my emails. I don't know how usual this is, but, basically, my advice would be to develop a saint-like patience.

Yes, the bottom change is what you're after, and I can confirm it is in Erdnase (and all editions of Expert Card Technique, and loads of other places, but Erdnase is free and an absolute essential, so you might as well go for that).

By "pulling", do you mean dealing (as you would if you were dealing out cards for a game), or palming (stealing out the card so it's hidden in the hand)?

I'm not quite sure what Steve means, as I thought this video demonstrated a great deal of skill. As I'm sure you know, there's a slightly unnatural hesitation when you're getting into position for the bottom deal, and maybe the whole process could be relaxed a little more, but other than that I...

I think, while the elimination of challenge is a good general principle, it's not a hard and fast rule. I think that, if it fits your character, you can introduce an element of challenge, or even explicit insults, to your performance. Off the top of my head, Penn and Teller, Gazzo, John Archer...

Judging by the phrasing of the instructions her gave to the participants, and the way they reacted, I'd suspect that they weren't stooges but he just used some kind of simple force before the cameras started rolling.

If you specifically want a book, then the only one I'm aware of that actually teaches the technique is Arthur Buckley's Principles & Deceptions. I think, however, that learning the muscle pass from a book is quite difficult, so you might want to supplement that with a DVD. If you do, I'd...

Annotated is useful if you're interested in the history and development of the techniques as it's main feature is extensive references to other sources for similar techniques to the Erdnase ones. Revelations is better for more in-depth discussion of the techniques themselves. Therefore, I'd say...

For some ideas on doing this impromptu, have a look at Richard Turner's Double-Signed Card Routine. It's not exactly the same, but all the building blocks to achieve the effect you describe are in there.

They both have advantages and disadvantages. With a perfectly conditioned deck, a strike technique allows for less deck hand finger movement, but if the deck is a bit older or has been used heavily you may find a strike leads to accidentally pulling out more than one card. Therefore, for the...

I would say that could be dangerous advice. Yes, adding your own imagination and creativity to magic is the ultimate goal, but don't run before you can walk. Royal Road is a great foundation, and all the sleights and effects teach important lessons. Skipping the details in order to rush out and...

Stephen, You, sir, are doing exactly the right thing, so keep at it! Learning card magic from Royal Road is a perfect place to start, and will stand you in very good stead as you progress. One note of caution, however. As you identified, you are going through the book quite quickly. Now would...

If you own ECT, and you're genuinely interested in learning these techniques, you would have done it by now. It takes, maybe a minute at most (and that's if you're particularly slow) to scan a page of a book if you're just skimming, looking for something in particular. You've had a lot more than...

I don't just want to list a series of possible methods as that isn't polite to Miika. However, if you do more research into the type of effects performed by Derren Brown, and the ACAAN plot, then you'll realise that psychological techniques aren't always being employed, even if they appear to...

That's not really the way things work. I would say "If a FISM champion has an effect that clean and incredible, the last thing they'd want to do is publish it."

Ah, "implies", you say. Would that be in the same way that if I twirl a wand it "implies" that I'm not palming a coin in that hand? You see my point. By the way, I don't know the specific method for this trick, but I'm just saying that jumping to the conclusion of stooges or chance, is to ignore...

Of course, the trick isn't exactly the same. You said that it's impossible to control a previous unknown thought-of card from an ungimmicked deck, and I was giving an example of a trick in which that happens. To spell out my overall point a bit further, I'm saying is that there are methods...

Have you heard of Dai Vernon's "The Trick That Cannot Be Explained"? That's just a single example of the work that's been done on controlling a previously unknown thought-of card, from a shuffled and borrowed deck if need be. There are lots more, but you might as well start with that one to get...

I met Miika a couple of Blackpool Conventions ago and he's a superb card magician, plus he recently won the FISM European Championship in the card division. Based on what I know of his work, I would say that I'm confident he could do this under the conditions he's specified. If you think that...

I would recommend getting Mr England's superb Foundations DVDs, Erdnase (of course), and, if your budget can stretch to it, Richard Turner's The Cheat DVD. The first of these will give you excellent in depth teaching on moves which will really help build your confidence and open your eyes to...