Played for centuries on the top of a barrel, celebrated by William Shakespeare, and long a closely guarded secret of the experts in deception and trickery—the oldest short-con is still one of the best. Paul Vigil now reveals the secrets to transforming this fifty-fifty chance into guaranteed moments of awe when you play Fast & Loose.

Also known as The Endless Chain, Pricking The Garter, The Old Army Game, and by many other names, this is the grandfather of all short-cons. Predating both Three Card Monte and The Shell Game, this is one of the most diabolical bets ever devised to extract money from the wallet of an unsuspecting victim.

In Fast & Loose, a dazzling silver chain is thrown in a figure-eight pattern. The spectator is invited to point to one side of the figure-eight with a finger. When the chain is pulled: if it gets caught around the finger, that’s a win; if it comes loose, that’s a loss. The chain is pulled from the center in the same way every time, but no matter how closely the pattern is examined, the spectator cannot win. The secret lies in special patterns the magician can create that look identical but contain a devilish topological secret.

You’ll receive a beautiful 65″ (approx. 165 cm) chain, personally approved by Paul Vigil, featuring a special type of braiding that makes the routine exceptionally deceptive. You’ll also get a tutorial in which Paul explains his complete routine—the one he uses in every close-up performance. Paul also shares insights he received from Johnny Thompson, and Erik Tait adds extra material he’s gathered from a lifetime of studying cons. Fast & Loose is easy to learn, requires no difficult sleight of hand, and has a rich history that’s particularly fascinating to discover. Learn from the best when you purchase Fast & Loose by Paul Vigil.