How to Do the Four Aces Illusion

King Charles VI commissioned special playing cards that he referred to in his diaries and thus began the tradition of kings and queens depicted on them. It's noted that gamblers were using card tricks to improve their chances of winning. However, Leonardo da Vinci makes honorable mention of an Italian card magician as early as the fifteenth century.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Begin with an ordinary deck of 52 cards. Take out the four aces and put them on top of the deck. Shuffle the cards so that the four aces remain on top.

2. Hand the deck to the spectator and ask him to cut the cards into two piles. Watch carefully where the deck is cut and which of the two piles has the four aces on top.

3. Cut each of the two piles in half again, leaving four piles. Make sure they volunteer to start at opposite ends of where the aces are located. Keep track of the aces.

4. Tell the person to pick up the pile, take three cards from the top of that pile and move them to the bottom of the pile. Ask him to then deal one card from that pile onto the top of each of the other three piles.

5. Repeat Step 4, using the other three piles, moving three cards to the bottom. Next deal a card from each pile to the other three piles. Monitor the card movements carefully.

6. Take each pile of cards after the volunteer has completed Steps 4 and 5. Tap the top of the pile twice with the index finger. Turn over the top card on each pile to reveal an ace.

7. Practice this trick alone with the aces turned face up in order to track them more easily. Involve a spectator only when the trick is flawless.