Acrobatic Aces

Original Author: Unknown

Effect: The four aces are dealt out with three random cards on each. The spectator is then asked to hold the pile with his "favorite" ace in a secure place. The dealer then "removes" the aces from the other piles. All the aces are then found in the hands of the spectator who has no idea how he got them.

1) Deal the four aces in a row so that the spectator(s) have them to examine.

2) Ask the spectator which is his "favorite" card. While the spectator deliberates, finger-break the top three cards of the deck.

3) Once the ace is chosen put it on top of the deck followed by the other three aces.

4) take the pile of aces (with the three hidden cards from the top of the deck) with your right hand. the aces should be face up with the selected ace on the below the others and the three random cards below that. Make sure the spectator doesn't know about the three cards from the top of the deck. the squared pile of cards (four face up aces and three face down random cards) should be held by the top and bottom edge parallel to the deck (in the left hand palm)

5) By sliding off the top face up ace you can let it drop onto the deck while flipping it over. this is done by drawing off the ace with the left thumb and flipping it with the edge of the cards in the right hand.  Each ace, except for the last selected one, should in turn flip from right to left and end up face down on the top of the deck. When turning over the third ace, the selected ace (with the three random cards), is dropped on top of the deck face up effectively placing three random cards between the selected ace and the three others. continue in the following steps to turn over the ace and deal out the top four "Aces" (the selected ace and three random cards).

6) Say "This is still your ace, correct?" showing the top card.

7) Turn over the ace and proceed to deal out the four top cards (now the ace and three random cards.)

8) Follow by saying "I will now deal three random cards on each pile." You should now be dealing the three aces onto the "favorite" ace and random cards onto the other piles.

9) Square the piles and show only the first pile to show that the original ace is still there (being careful not to flash the other aces.)

10) Have the spectator sit or stand on the pack of aces while you take the other packs. Explain: "Your pack has an ace and you want to keep it safe. These two packs," gesturing to two of the three packs, "have no owners so they do not need their aces."

11) Make a motion that shows you magically taking out the (non-existent) aces and throwing them to the spectators pile. Continue "Since you have three aces now and I only have one, I am sure to lose so I will just give you my ace." "throw" your ace to his pile.

12) Turn over all three of the packs you have showing no aces.

13) The spectator then turns his pile to discover that he has all the aces!

afterthought: The hardest part of the trick is finger-breaking the cards and flipping them over without the audience knowing. If you can get that done right then you are pretty much home free!

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