Effect: The spectator chooses a card and
places it face up between the two black aces (face down).
These are then returned to the deck and flipped over and the
spectator's card has disappeared. The magician looks a bit for
the card and then ribbon spreads the deck to find the card
between the face up red aces.
Method. This trick takes a
little preparation and a little sleight. During the
preparation I usually say that I have to put the aces on the
top of the deck. First, put a red ace face up on the bottom of
the face-down deck. Then, place the other three aces on top:
black ace, red ace, black ace. Now you are ready to begin.
Hold the deck face down in a mechanic's grip. Take the first
card, a black ace, off the top of the deck like you were
executing a
double-lift, only don't.
Show the spectator the card, then replace it on the top of
the deck like a double lift just occurred. Then lay it on the
table face-down and show them that this is indeed the black
ace. Then fan cards and let them pick a card. While you have
them look at it, execute a little-finger break. Have them
place it face up on the first black ace so that half of the
back of the ace is showing. Then double lift the two aces and
show them the other black ace on the bottom and then replace
it on the deck and put the actual top card, the red ace, on
top of the outside half of the face up card.
Restate the fact that their card is between the two black
aces. While doing so, execute a little finger break on ONLY
the top card, the black ace. Then scoop up the cards w/o
screwing up the order and set them on top the top card, which
has a little finger break. Immediately slide your thumb under
the break and turn all four cards over, keeping them well
squared. Then, one at a time, take the two black aces off the
top and note the their card has disappeared. Discard the two
aces. The top of the deck is now their card face-down on a red
ace face-up. Now look into the middle of the deck (actually
cut the cards, but don't make it too obvious) and say that you
don't see it. You have to cut the deck before they try to look
at the top card.
Now ribbon spread them and point out the other two red aces
and pull out the card between them. The trick is done. I have
used this for a long time and many times over on the same
people, and it continues to baffle them every time. Even the
best of critics don't get all of it.
