Phoenix is the line of decks that Card-Shark created specifically with magicians in mind. The idea was not to add another eye-catching deck to the shelf, but to offer a working deck: modern and attractive, yet so ordinary in appearance that it raises no suspicion, and with hidden features the magician can use or ignore.

• PublisherCard-Shark
• PrinterUnited States Playing Card Company (USPCC)
• FinishBicycle card stock with Air Cushion, casino quality
• Contents52 cards, 2 jokers, one blank-faced card and one special gaming card

Design

The back is modern and understated. Both the back and the faces include a one-way marking (a cue that tells you whether a card has been turned around), very visible to those who know it and hard for the audience to spot. The faces are almost identical to Bicycle’s, except for the aces, which have been redesigned larger so they can be read at a distance; the Ace of Spades is very similar to Bicycle’s. The tuck box copies the classic Bicycle layout and gives no hint that it is a magic deck, so you can leave it with the audience as a souvenir.

Manufacturing

It is printed by the United States Playing Card Company on Bicycle card stock with an Air Cushion finish (a fine embossing that helps the cards glide), in casino quality. The cards are cut from the back with freshly sharpened blades so that faro shuffles (precisely interweaving the two halves) and riffle shuffles work well from the very first use. In addition, the factory order is designed to reach Mnemonica, the memorised stack created by Juan Tamariz, in just a few faro shuffles.