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This is one of my favorites...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGZJhdPPW_I

Feedback appreciated

Nice job! The only comment I can make is that you need to watch the replacement while doing the count. You're fishtailing the card, which, while not a dead giveaway, creates a discrepancy you don't want.

A few minors points - I wouldn't mention the ace of clubs turning face up before showing that it has. It loses the impact.

Your handling of the ace of diamonds turn isn't consistent with the rest of the handling. This is a problem I see quite a bit. Because you're not doing any dirty work here, people often feel it's ok to do a display of the cards similar to the way you've done. This shouldn't be the case. The true cover in this effect is consistency of motion. Everything should look the same, every time. Even though you don't need to perform the EC - you should mimic the handling of one, so everything looks the the same.

Great work! Keep it up.

Hey thanks a lot!
It's great to have a forum where we can discuss our performances. I don't have any magician friends to show my stuff to so this is fab!
Thanks again

Demitri wrote:Nice job! The only comment I can make is that you need to watch the replacement while doing the count. You're fishtailing the card, which, while not a dead giveaway, creates a discrepancy you don't want.

A few minors points - I wouldn't mention the ace of clubs turning face up before showing that it has. It loses the impact.

Your handling of the ace of diamonds turn isn't consistent with the rest of the handling. This is a problem I see quite a bit. Because you're not doing any dirty work here, people often feel it's ok to do a display of the cards similar to the way you've done. This shouldn't be the case. The true cover in this effect is consistency of motion. Everything should look the same, every time. Even though you don't need to perform the EC - you should mimic the handling of one, so everything looks the the same.

Great work! Keep it up.

I did see some stuff all because i can do the trick as well and also i saw the ace of diamonds part i dont wanna go into exsposure but work on the turning over of the cards.
Also i believe some mention this trick to be called Twisting Aces, or Twisting the aces, GOOD JOB

It is indeed Twisting the Aces and was published in Dai Vernon's More Secrets of Card Magic Vol 2. It was invented by Alec Emsley and used what he originally called 'Counting 4 as 4' but later changed to the 'Ghost Count'

After his death it was named the 'Emsley Count'

Jesta, as already said, I would stick with the Emsley for the 3rd count to provide exact repetiveness but other than that, its a good performance.

The only thing I would criticise is your patter. Work on that. You show 4 Aces, show them and then say, 'There are only 4 cards' or something like that. You have just shown them, so by saying what you said are you implying there might be more ?

Also, I disliked Emsley's version of the count the 3rd time where the last card was bottomed unlike before and I changed the routine to make the count the same as the first 2 counts. Good vid, I liked it.

Nice contribution feller

A few clarifications, Tenko -

First - Twisting the Aces was not invented by Alex Elmsley, it is a Dai Vernon creation.

It's been called the Elmsley Count for a long time - and was in regular use long before Mr. Elmsley passed away (bear in mind, he only died in January of 2006).

Also it should be noted that you should NOT do an EC for the 3rd card - you're only supposed to simulate the move. Performing the count there would mix up the cards and throw the effect off.

i knew it was Dai Vernons. i was pondering a while and didnt want to look stupid

Hello,

As Tenko mentioned don't call attention to your cards when doing a packet trick. The second you mention that you have no extra cards, or no hidden cards, the spectator gets instantly suspicious.

It's like saying 'Don't think of a black cat.' What's the first thing you do? You think of a black cat.

Demitri is right about the fish-tailing too. Most specs wouldn't notice this, however us picky magicians do! Listen to the man, he knows his stuff.

Personally, in an EC, I like to see all the motion come from the left hand (where the cards start), and the right-hand (where the cards are drawn from) remaining stationary. Mr Elmsley makes this comment on his Tahoe sessions video when he teaches the '4 Card Trick'

Anyway, keep up the good work. Look forward to seeing more stuff. I love a good packet trick!

Hey thanks for the tips guys, just been going over it again... and again lol

As Demitri said, the 3rd time round for the ace of diamonds has to be like that or the routine wont work. I have tried to alter it but it's very difficult.

Thanks for the info on the name Twisting the aces, I'm afraid I don't know any names for my tricks Hope this wont be a problem...

I understand what you're saying about not mentioning the cards etc so not to make to the 'victim' think there are more, I will definitely change that for future use.

Thanks again, and more on the way

cant wait man!

Demitri,

Thank you for that. I have contacted my Oracle and early mentor and asked for clarification.

I am told that the first originator of a 4 Ace effect whereby each Ace turned over in turn was a man called Tom Sellars, The Magical Schoolmaster, in the 1940's.

It is believed that Vernon took the idea and used it. Whether the original effect used the Emsley Count isn't known, so its not known if Vernon adapted the original effect to use the Emsley Count or just used it.

In More Inner Secret of Card Magic, Ganson states that the trick is a favourite of Vernon, but he doesn't credit the trick as to being his.

So, now open to discussion !!

Sorry Demitri,

I missed your last bit.

If you do the proper Emsley as the 3rd count to look more natural you don't lose control at all.

After the 3rd Emsley spread the cards to show only the one face up card. Then deal the cards from hand to hand thus reversing their order. Move the top card to the bottom and you are now back in the original position enabling you do the last move before finishing with a further 2 Emsley's.

Hope this helps.

i learned the emsley count on my own with no ones help,
all started when i bought the Dvd greg wilson in action it came with jumping gemini. The opening part i wanted to change to the magic roy opening(Magic roy is very famous for his jumping gemini) so i played with the cards to make an illusion of reverse the order of the deck and there i had learned it.

SORRY FOR BAD GRAMMAR AND NO CAPITALIZATION