FOUR ACES
Steve Beam's book
SEMI AUTOMATIC CAPD TRICKS, VOL. 2 is a great
one (and not only because I have a trick in
it!). While reading it, one of the effects struck
my ingenuity and upon practicing it, I came
up with a different handling which includes
a favorite move of mine, the Blow Away Change
by J.H. Hartman. I think this is a wonderful
opening trick.
EFFECT
The performer shows
a 4 of spades, which he splits into two Deuces,
which then split into the four Aces!
SETUP
On top of the deck
have the following cards, from top down: A Four,
an indifferent card, two Deuces, and the four
Aces. (Let's say the 4 of spades, 8 of diamonds,
2 of hearts, 2 of clubs and the four Aces).
PERFORMANCE
Take a break below
the top three cards of the deck with your left
little finger. (To do this, I simply start to
spread the cards from hand to hand, saying,
"I am not going to ask to have a card selected...
" Then spread the top three cards and square
them back onto the deck taking a break below
them while continuing, "... but I am going to
do some magic with this Four.")
The right hand turns
the 4 of spades over, face up and shows it.
Place the card back face down onto the deck
and apparently place it on the bottom. Really,
the right hand takes the top three cards as
one and places them face down on the bottom
of the deck.
Grip the deck face
down in the right hand as in Figure 1, thumb
on top and fingers below. Move the deck toward
the spectator and ask him to blow on it. Move
the right hand quickly towards the left hand
throwing the deck into the left hand, while
the thumb and fingers of the right hand retain
the top and the bottom card of the deck (similar
to the old card production).
The right hand shows
the faces of the two cards to the audience while
the left forefinger points to these two cards.
In so doing the left hand turns almost palm
down and, without saying anything about it,
you are showing an indifferent card on the face
of the deck. Apparently you have split the four
into two Deuces.
Turn the left hand
palm up and place the two Deuces face up onto
the face down deck. Spread the top few cards
and on squaring them, obtain a break below the
top six cards of the deck (below the two Deuces
and the four Aces). Now perform the Blow Away
Change by J.IC Hartman to change the two Deuces
into the four Aces for a startling climax.
The Blow Away Change
is performed as follows: Grip the packet of
cards above the break with the right hand at
the right corners as in Figure 2. Bring the
deck up toward your face in order to blow on
the two Deuces. During this upward movement,
quickly turn over the packet (6 cards) to the
left, as if closing a book, ending up in the
position shown in Figure 3. Blow on the cards,
then lower the deck and spread the four Aces
to show the change. The two Deuces have apparently
been changed into the four Aces.
NOTES
The final change appears
wonderful to the eyes of the onlookers. This
routine is a perfect opening for any four Ace
routine.
To obtain the break
below the top three cards (at the beginning of
the trick) you may use a Triple Lift or any thumb
or little finger count. I do the above written
moves as they are easy to do, logical and fail
proof . Why do I have to complicate my life?
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