The Elmsley Count

by Alex Elmsley

Take any four cards.  Turn the 2nd and 3rd face up.  Top and bottom are face down.  Hold them well squared up in the position shown in Fig. 1.   Note the position of the left thumb. IT PLAYS A VERY IMPORTANT PART.

The right hand comes over to the left in the position shown in Fig. 2. (Look at the hand position only at this stage.)  The right thumb takes the top card away to the right as the count of ,"One", is made.

The right hand comes in towards the left again, as it does so, the ball of the left thumb pushes on THE EXTREME EDGE of the packet of (3) cards.  The left fingers will naturally create a friction on the bottom card of the packet and this card will be retained in the left hand, BUT, due to the pushing action of the left thumb, the two (face up) cards above it will be moved over together , as one card only.

Whilst the above is taking place, the right hand brings its card UNDER the packet, the leading edge (the edge at the performers left when working) is slipped under the finger tips of the left hand - the single card is retained in the left hand and the two cards (as one) are taken into the right hand as the count of, "Two", is made.  See Fig. 3

IT IS MOST IMPORTANT that the two cards just taken are spread very slightly as the count of, "Two", is made.  Just how much will depend on the actual trick you are performing, BUT, they must be spread, otherwise, the complete illusion of the count is lost.

The right hand comes over again.  The left thumb pushes over the top card of the two it holds  as you count, "Three".  The card goes ON TOP of the two cards in the right hand.

Finally, the right hand comes over again as the remaining card from the left hand is placed ON TOP  of those (3) in the right hand.

I asked you to turn the center cards face up only so you would get the general idea of the count  from the drawings.  In actual practice, the cards would be set up as described in the working of the trick you are performing.