Gary Jones’ “The Ammo” contains 3 different colour and different value casino-type poker chips.  The 3 different values are 5 (green chip), 20 (blue chip), and 1000 (purple chip).

As far as magic is concerned, they are like 3 different value coins.  There are mainly 2 differences between the coins and the poker chips.  Firstly, the coins are of different sizes whereas the poker chips are of the same size.  Secondly, the coins are all silver whereas the poker chips are of different distinguishable colours.  The exception is if you use a copper and a silver coin.  Therefore, these poker chips allow you to perform the various effects possible with copper and silver coins.

You receive a total of 10 custom made poker chips, 3 of which are specially gimmicked.  The poker chips are made of ceramic.  You also receive a small black velvet bag.  This is too small to hold all the poker chips.  It is meant to be used for some of the effects.

With regards to the effects, Gary Jones teaches 10 tricks with these poker chips.  The instructions are in the form of a 81 minutes video tutorial.  The video features Gary Jones together with Dave Forrest.  The video goes straight into the performance and explantion of the 10 effects.  It does not explain what you receive in the package.

Here are a brief description of the 10 effects:

1. Ceramic Sheep – this is the popular “Thieves & Sheep” usually performed impromptu with 7 coins. However, with the use of gimmicked coins, the impact of the trick is enhanced tremendously.  In this effect, the premise is different.  Gary demonstrates how an ingenious gambler could cheat with casino chips.  He has a 5 chip in each of his 2 hands.  He then takes several “1000” chips and divides them between his 2 hands.  When his finally opens his hands, one hand has only the two “5” chips and the other hand has all the “1000” chips.
2. Chipper Silver – a borrowed coin changes into a “5” chip and then back to the coin, and then to a “1000” chip and back to the coin, to be returned to the spectator.
3. Chips Across – 3 chips jump, one at a time from one hand to another. It uses the pop-up coin move, and no gimmicked chips.
4. Deep Fly – this is an interesting version of 3 fly. This one is based on Lee Asher’s “3 Stylin Poker Chips” routine.  3 different colour (“5”, “20” and “1000”) chips travel one at a time from one hand to another.  Finally, a fourth chip is added and all magically changed to the “1000” chips.  It uses no shell because “The Ammo” does not come with shells.
5. Elimnation 1 – 4 different poker chips are displayed on the table. You have to supply the 4^th poker chip yourself since the set comes with only 3 different poker chips.  The spectator eliminates 3 of them.  The last one left matches the poker chip you have in your hand all along.
6. Elimnation 2 – same effect as “Elimination 1” except you use 2 different poker chips, a folded note and a dice. The last item left behind matches the one in your hand.
7. Lucky 1000 – a “20” chip is placed in the hand. A “1000” chip (the lucky chip) is waved over the hand.  The “1000” chip changes to the “20” chip and the “20” chip in the hand becomes the “1000” chip.
8. Right Handed Poker Chip – 2 cips, a “5” and a “1000”, are placed in the left hand. Magically, the “1000” chip travels to the right hand.  This is repeated a couple of times.  Finally, both poker chips become a dice.
9. The Gambler – a poor hand of Black Jack is shown to be a 9 and a 7. The gambler bets only with the “5” chip on these cards, and gives the spectator the “1000” chip.  With a magical gesture, the gambler turns over his “bad” hand and he gets the Black Jack (Jack and Ace of Spades).  And the “5” chip transforms into the “1000” chip.  When the spectator opens her hand, she has the “5” chip instead.
10. Big Money – three “5” chips are placed in one hand. They magically transform to three “1000” chips. Then, one at a time, the “1000” chips change back into the “5” chips.  Finally the last “5” chip become a jumbo coin.

All the effects are performed and explained by Gary Jones except for the last 2 effects which are performed and explained by Dave Forest.

All these effects give you ideas on how you can use the poker chips in “The Ammo”.  You can create your own routines using these poker chips, or adapt them to your coin routines.  (Rated 5/5 stars)