EFFECT: The magician shows the four Aces and sets the rest of the deck aside. One at a time each of the black Aces magically turn face down. Next, they both turn face up. Finally, the red Aces jump fromthe table to the hands and the black Aces change to two black Jacks!
METHOD: The deck is face down in the left hand with the two blackJacks face down on top. The right hand holds the four Aces face up, with the black Aces at the face. Hold a little finger break below the top two cards (the Jacks). Momentarily place the four face up Aces on top of the deck and square them up. Pick up the little finger break with the right thumb and set all the cards below the break aside. You are now holding six cards as four. Spread the top three face upcards, showing the four Aces. Place the face black Ace to the bottom of the packet. Again spread the first three cards (holding the last three together as one), this time it appears as if a black Ace has turned face down. Again place the face Ace to the rear and again spread the first three cards. It appears that both black Aces are now face down. Take the two face up red Aces and turn them face down and place them on the bottom of the packet.
Do the "Elmsley Count" showing four face down cards. Holding the cards face down in the right hand in a Biddle grip, peel off the top card into the left hand. Follow with the second and the third and finally place the last three together on top. One of the black Aces has turned face up. Repeat the above action showing that the other black Ace has turned face up. Openly turn the two face up Aces face down. The position of the cards is now, from the top down: Jack, red Ace, Jack, red Ace, black Ace, black Ace. Double lift showing a red Ace. Turn card(s) face down and deal the top card off onto the table.Place the top card of the packet to the bottom of the packet. (**) Repeat the Double Lift and turnover and again deal off the top card.Put the top card of the packet to the bottom.
Apparently the two red Aces are on the table. Turn over the packet in your hands and push off the face Ace showing the red Aces to be in your hands. Ask, "What would that leave on the table?" When they answer, "The blacks", say; "Right, but for a moment I thought you said 'the Jacks' ". Turn over the two cards on the table showing this to be the case.
MagicDan Notes: ** While working on this trick, I found what I believe to be a flaw in the logic of the effect. After showing the first red Ace and dealing it to the table, the top card should be the other red Ace. However, for the trick to work, per the instructions, you must place the next card to the bottom, then DL and show the"second" red Ace. Logically this should be a black Ace. I have done this effect a number of times and so far, no one has questioned it. Let me know if you have any "trouble" with it or wheter or not you can come up with a better handling.
Originally published in the "Sorcerer's Apprentice" magazine. Volume 1, No. 3 October 1978
EFFECT: The magician shows the four Aces. He deals two red Aces face down on to the table and retains the black Aces. The red Aces change places with the black Aces.
SET-UP: From the top down: black Ace, red Ace, red Ace, black Ace.The rest of the deck is not needed.
METHOD: Do a triple lift displaying a red Ace. Turn the triple face down and deal the top card to the table. This is the "red Ace". Actually it is a black Ace. Fairly turn over the top card, showing the other red Ace. This subconsciously "proves" that the card on the table must be the other red Ace. Turn this red Ace face down and bottom deal a card to the table. This is actually very easy because of the size of the packet. You can use the misdirection of having them "touch the red Ace" on the table as you bottom deal. Build upthe situation (not too much) and reveal the transposition.
Originally published in the "Sorcerer's Apprentice" magazine. Volume 3, No. 5 April 1981