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blpprt Regular user South Carolina 122 Posts |
Greetings users of MacDonald's Aces,
I noticed in the Ammar version taught on his card series and in a version taught by Simon Lovell that a couple times they put the gimmicked card on top of the face-up packet of three cards and do a double lift to turn the gimmicked card over. Since a double lift is being used, the face value of the card on top of the packet changes. When I've been practicing this, in one moment I'll see a Two of Clubs on top and then while doing the double lift...hello!...a Queen of Hearts is briefly seen. When Ammar and Lovell do this, they don't make any attempt to hide this discrepancy. Have any of you had spectators catch this or does it always fly by them? I have a way to conceal the face value of the top card in the three-card packet when placing the gimmicked card on top but the handling is not as "open" as simply placing the gimmicked card on top. Thanks for any suggestions, Bob L. |
Thomas Wayne Inner circle Alaska 1977 Posts |
Many performers will use specific "indifferent" cards in McD's Aces for this very reason. If you are just using the gaffs, with an otherwise random deck arrangement, then you may have to adapt your handling to avoid this discrepancy.
TW
MOST magicians: "Here's a quarter, it's gone, you're an idiot, it's back, you're a jerk, show's over." Jerry Seinfeld
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Gasman New user 77 Posts |
I've never had anyone notice the discrepancy. There are many different ways to do the four-card display with the ace disappearing if you're concerned about the discrepancy. What's nice about McD's Aces is the number of idifferent ways to present and perform it.
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blpprt Regular user South Carolina 122 Posts |
Many thanks for your responses. I see that I was on the right track in setting up the deck so cards that appear similar end up on the Ace that will get the double lift. Its curious that nothing was said about it in the instruction videos...but maybe its only of concern for us perfectionists.
Gasman...you are right, there are lots of ways to show that the Aces have disappeared. Someday I hope to buy L&L's MacDonald's Aces with their "World's Greatest Magic" series. I'm sure I'll see lots of variations there. But for now...I like the double lift version and want to stick with it. Thanks again! Bob L. |
seraph127 Special user 587 Posts |
Typically, the laydown puts you in a situation such that the "Aces" are face-up underneath a face down packet. Pick up the face-down cards with the palm-down hand as you make some comment about the Ace or its impending flight. Hold the cards with the faces toward yourself (the back of the hand is toward the audience). Get your break in this position. Pick up the Ace with the other hand and bring it toward the hand with the packet, which turns palm-up just as the ace comes over the other cards. The face card is not seen, hence no discrepancy can be observed.
That's the way it's usually done. Ammar show this on the aforementioned "World's Greatest Magic" video.
There are many tricks, and many effects, but rarely a Grand Effect. There are many entertainers, but few real magicians. Many technicians, but few artists who use their art to explore their vision. - Derren Brown, Absolute Magic
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holycrikey New user 53 Posts |
The discrepancy was blaring to me when I first practised it, but to my surprise, no one ever seemed to notice it. I guess the attention is all focused on the ace. I only had the embarrassing situation once of two 4 of spades appearing in the sets at the same time... All I could say was, *** - I must have mixed two decks, and hastily went on... Ha.
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Andy Moss Special user 713 Posts |
The following is an alternative presentation that will solve any problem (if there truly is one) with respect to discrepancy.It uses blank cards and my three gaffed aces are all blank backed Ace of Spades.
With respect to the 'hidden' pile of the three genuine Aces of spades I ensure that there is a blank card at the face of the 'left over blank cards' pile. I am then in the positiion to be able to repeatedly show the face of this single blank card as I seem to be showing all the faces of all of these remaining 'blank' cards in the process of passing them from hand to hand. This makes for a convincing optical illusion. It also makes for a more surprising reveal of the aces since the spectator will feel that the cards have most truly 'transposed'. With respect to the single blank card in the genuine ace pile I simply place it face up above the face down three Aces. This makes sense since all the other blank cards are also face up in the other three ribbon spread piles. The double push and turn over of the gaffed Aces naturally does not give rise to any discrepancy since all the cards in the three piles are blank faced. I also put the Elmsley Count to good use in the end to reinforce the impression that the fronts and backs of all the cards in all the piles can be freely shown and that there really is no sign of the originally placed aces anywhere. The blank card (or 'all cards the same') approach is not an improvement on the original in my opinion.It is offered to you only as a simple 'non discrepancy alternative' for the perfectionist that perhaps has the potential for a presentation patter that involves printing or ink transference. Hope this helps. Andy. |
EdgarWilde Regular user 120 Posts |
You could aim for the indifferent card to be very similar to the newly visible card.
i.e. 4 clubs: 4 spades or 5 clubs - the discprepancy is then less visible, though I've never had a spectator noticing anything (then again, I make a point NOT to use any court cards for this reason) |
blpprt Regular user South Carolina 122 Posts |
Thanks for all of your suggestions!
I'm putting many of these ideas to use. Bob L. |
Ryan930 New user 31 Posts |
You could do an elmsley with card face down to vanish the aces. Turn the card over to show the back with turn them all over and reveal it one by one or fanning the cards.
You can also show the back of the card by splitting into 2 squared sets with the gaff facing you. The gaff is shield by a normal card when you show the back. Drop the gaff and show the back again, and drop another card and show the back... etc... It kind of create a subtle effect that it is really clean if you do it in a fluid motion. |
revmike Special user Annville, PA 646 Posts |
The WGM gives you many different routines and way to handle it.
The magic is not in our sleights and illusions, but instead in our ability to bring love and joy.
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Bendy Special user Columbus, Ohio 518 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-10-25 10:39, blpprt wrote: I've never had anyone notice the discrepancy. I pick up the three cards, place the Ace on top, and perform the DL quickly. Also, I immediately sprad the three cards out. The one they just saw is now in the middle of those three cards. They see it right after having seen it before and being prominent in the middle, they apparently don't realize it should be the top card. I also take the face-down card and place it under the three face-up cards, telling them to keep their eye on the ace, (touching the face-down card to indicate that it's the ace). The ace disappearing apparently overrides any notice of the cards having been different. No one has ever mentioned the discrepancy. |
Demonbrn Veteran user Oakley, CA 338 Posts |
The first pile I show, I show that the 4 cards are exactly 4 cards (rubbing them together). After that I put the ace into position for an emsley count to make it appear as though it magicly flipped over, then disapeared! The 2nd and 3rd pile I do together (useing the aces to flip the 3 cards under them face up keeping the aces on top) I'll tap the tops together with the aces showing (as if squaring) then slide the very back card out, when I flip to their backsides I give them some flicks against each other to show there are no other cards, then put them on the table. Repeat on the 2nd cards in the piles, when down to the last two cards, I give them one final 'squaring' (with aces showing) then put the cards face down ontop of the rest, then slowly slide the last card and flip it over (doing both piles at once doesn't give them time to conventrate on any one thing).
I always get fantastic responses with this version, and no one ever notices any discrepancies with it. EDIT: Quote: <----- what he said, lol
On 2008-11-06 05:54, Ryan930 wrote: |
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