The Day Out

The McDonald Aces. In terms of method there is nothing special to say. Just the plot is something I assure you will entertain the audience. I have done that routine for real people a few times by now and the reactions are great. Personally I would like the cards to be picture cards (The living people) but I'm short of certain gaffs. But this red and black thing is a good contrast I think.

Personally I think that any Ace Assembly needs a story in order to not become a complete borefest.

Le Temps Four Aces

Expert Card Technique: Close-Up Table Magic by Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue
Page 246 et seq.

Personal Comment: This is an incomplete trick. The book just tells you how to get into the "usual" situation needed. So it basically tells you all about the ruse that makes you get away with the switch. Is it usable? Yes it is. Is it great, no not really. But worth a mention I think.

Difficulty: 3/5

The Nomad Aces by Charlie Miller

Expert Card Technique: Close-Up Table Magic by Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue
Page 256 et seq.

Personal Comment: Compare this to Marlo's take. I think it is solved much better in Marlo's version. But if you are skilled it should matter as both would look nearly the same.

Difficulty: 3/5

Ace Affinity

Expert Card Technique: Close-Up Table Magic by Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue
Page 234 et seq.

Personal Comment: As said in the video, I left out a part of the presentation that is supposed to challenge the spectator to question if you really put the aces on the table. This is an element which is not needed I think to appreciate the trick. Personally I think this is one of the better Ace Assemblies out there. It has a build in little convincer and the method is fine. Also... it is easy.

Difficulty: 3/5

Merlin's "Lost' Ace Trick by Jack Merlin

Expert Card Technique: Close-Up Table Magic by Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue
Page 233 et seq.

Personal Comment: If your BD is solid, you cannot get any better than this. Otherwise... Tomorrows is easier and in terms of effect the same thing.

Difficulty: 5/5

Nomad Aces by Ed Marlo

The Legendary Hierophant by Jon Racherbaumer
Page 307 et seq.

Personal Comment: Actually good. I would take away the fake stuff in the beginning. It just arouses too much suspicion. More than you get "proof" later on in the routine in my humble opinion. Also, there is a lot to mess up, even if you make a minor mistake. As in most assembly routines. That is kind of a bad thing I guess. But if you wanna study how a routine should not be, even though it is good. Study this one.

Difficulty: 4/5

Slow Henry by Roberto Giobbi

Card College 5 by Roberto Giobbi

Page 1239 et seq.



Personal Comment: This is demanding and I don't do it justice. I'm sorry. But this really is a good trick. It has suspense and surprise. It is deceptive (if done right) and a very clear effect. But it's not easy. In fact, it's the kind of trick, that if you don't do it regularly you will forget the phases. Aside from that you need quite a lot of table space. This makes the trick not a work horse. It remains for those special occasions when there is enough time and space. But I like it anyways.



Difficulty 4/5

I've got no Table Space Ace Assembly by Jim Abrahams

The Lecture That Has Never Happened by Jim Abrahams
Page to be added

Personal Comment: This version got rid of the three card packets and the illogical 3 extra cards per packet. That is something I like. Also, as the title suggests... You need little table space, so you can do it between wine glasses and napkins. Also there is actually no setup at all. That makes it really cool. And you have a few convincers here and there and it leaves a lot of room for personal style.

Difficulty: 2/5

Aces Up by Lynn Searles

Pallbearers Review by Karl Fulves
Autumn 1973 The Lynn Searles Issue
Page 670 et seq.

Personal Comment: Talk about quick assembly. Can't get any quicker and simpler than that. Nice throw away filler. This is the sort of stuff I would do with no words, as people are signing a card or something like that. Just to look busy.

Difficulty 1/5

Reds and Backs by Bob King

Apocalypse by Harry Lorayne
Volume 7, Number 9 September 1984
Page 970 et seq.

Personal Comment: As much as I would like to dislike the routine I cannot help to notice that it is a damn practical method. Only bad thing... you need to decks. Which most have anyway.

Difficulty 4/5

X Plus One Ace Trick by Roy Walton

The Complete Walton Vol 1. by Roy Walton 1981
Page 18 et seq.

Personal Comment: This is a demonstration piece. Even Roy Walton says so, that he wanted to create an Ace Assembly using no double lift. And under that premise the routine is good. But there is a lack of motivation. Why do I lay down the packets only to pick them up again and then deal them down again? If you can look past this it might be something for you. Honestly, I don't think I can fool you with this, I chose the worst possible angle, but fooling other magicians should hardly be the aim of any performer.

Difficulty 3/5

Picasso Aces by Phil Goldstein

Focus by Phil Goldstein 1990
Page 122 et seq.

Personal Comment: This is just bloody brilliant. The problem with most of these tricks is, that the Aces are too long out of view. But adding a different colored back to them helps to keep up the image of the aces being there where they're supposed to be. Now adding odd colour backs usually means stuff gets complicated in terms of setup and all of that. It is not so in this case. Just cull/cut/control one regular ace to the top and you are ready to go.

Difficulty 3/5

Umpteenth Aces by Phil Goldstein

Focus by Phil Goldstein 1990
Page 115 et seq.

Personal Comment: Practical. Hardly any more to say than this. No extra cards in play. All in all a good routine. But... this is more a routine if you are sitting. So if this is your performance style, then go for it.

Difficulty 2/5

Immediate Aces by Phil Goldstein

Focus by Phil Goldstein 1990
Page 37 et seq.

Personal Comment: Kinda interesting. The initial switch is not really up to my personal taste, but it gets the job done. Been playing around with this for the last hour and I gotta say... it is not really too practical. There are better versions out there and this is forgettable in a way too. If you own the 1978 July version of Pabular... there you'll find this too. Man 1978... that was the year I was born. Damn, Max Maven is old.

Difficulty 3/5

Jumping Bean Aces

Focus by Phil Goldstein 1990
Page 35 et seq.

Personal Comment: This is good. Really good actually. This routine is a version of Elmsley's "1002nd Aces" with an added kicker. It was first published in Scattershot. What I love about the routine is the method and it's design. Very direct and very simple in a way. I have not tried it out for real people yet, but I will. If this plays well I might consider adding it to my repertoire.
In the end you are left with four aces and four kings. That means you could do oil and water style routines, Reset, Jazz Aces and all sorts of stuff. I like it.

Difficulty 3/5

The Four Seasons by Lynn Searles and Roberto Giobbi

Card College 3 by Roberto Giobbi
page 525 et seq.

Personal Comment: I like that trick. But more in terms of method than effect. There are far better examples out there, but you will get a kick out of the method.

Difficulty 1/5

Train Robbers

It went so well yesterday... so does anybody know the source?

Modern Jazz Aces by Darwin Ortiz

Apocalypse by Harry Lorayne
Volume 3, Number 7 July 1980
Page 369 et seq.

Personal Comment: Peter Kane's Jazz Aces is certainly a trick that needs refinement because it has a lot of potential. Darwin Ortiz version certainly is a good refinement and in my opinion the better version. I like it, but again as with so many card tricks I do not see myself doing this for laymen. I am told that the routine kills. I think it is dull. Opinions are different, so I guess I am wrong on this one.

Difficulty: 2/5

SentiMental ACES by Michael Skinner

Richard's Almanac by Richard Kaufman
Issue 16, December 1983
Page 148 et seq.

Personal Comment: Nice version of the classic plot. It needs a very soft surface which makes it difficult most of the time. I still like it, but cannot see myself performing this any time soon. But those who can control their performing environment will get a kick out of this solid routine.

Difficulty: 3/5