[Note
from Simon: Gene sent me the following Ace routine. It's a production
of the four Aces, followed by a three phase Ace assembly. It starts
and ends with the deck in Aronson stack order. Gene modestly named
it the "Aronson Challenge Aces" (because he was responding
to a challenge I had set) but I've renamed it to more appropriately
credit its creator. Except for some minor organizational editing,
and the inevitable typos, I've left it in Gene's own words.]
Simon Aronson has revolutionized and popularized memorized deck magic
with the publication of the Aronson Stack (A Stack to Remember)
and his innovative approach in Try the Impossible to design
effects which maintain Aronson stack order.
On his website (www.simonaronson.com), Simon states, "It would,
of course, be ideal if you could start an Ace assembly or similar
routine from Aronson stack order and at the end the deck would still
be in full stack order. I’ve worked on this problem off and on,
but since the Ace effect ought to be a strong one in its own right,
thus far I’ve found the trade-off of maintaining complete stack
order too high a price. (Consider this a challenge, if you want)."
What follows is my attempt to answer Simon Aronson’s challenge.
It borrows heavily on Mr. Aronson’s groundbreaking techniques
and procedures in maintaining stack order and features the magic appearance
of the four Aces prior to the assembly phases.
Set-up:
Start with the deck in Aronson stack order and cut the KC to the face.
Production
of the Aces:
1.
Explain that gamblers have always wanted the ability to cut to the
Aces in a deck of cards. You have decided to take a different approach.
You have spent six months educating and training you pet deck. The
cards will do the work for you.
Spell F-O-U-R, reverse dealing one card for each letter into a FD
pile on your left. Spell A-C-E-S, reverse dealing one card for each
letter into a FD pile to the right of the first dealt pile. Place
the remainder of the deck FD to your right.
Simultaneously turn up the top cards on the two FD dealt packets to
reveal the black Aces! Leave the Aces FU on top of each dealt packet.
2.
Grasp both packets in Biddle grip with your palm down left and right
hands, lift both packets off the table, and turn your hands palm up
to reveal the 5C and 3H. Explain that your trained deck cannot only
spell but can also do math. Five plus three is eight. Turn your hands
palm down and replace the two packets back on the table. Pick up the
remainder of the deck and count down eight cards one at a time, reverse
dealing the FD cards into a third packet to the right of the first
two. As you deal the eighth card, flip it FU onto the third packet
to reveal the AD!
3. Explain that you will find the last Ace by a combination of Math
and Spelling. Spell M-A-T-H, reverse dealing the FD cards one at a
time into a fourth pile beneath the middle (AC) packet. Place the
remainder of the deck FD to your left. Pick up the fourth packet and
perform an UNDER/DOWN DEAL. Spell "H" as you move the top
card under the packet. Spell "E" as you deal the new top
card FD to the table. Spell "A" as you move the new top
card under the packet. Spell "R" as you deal the next card
FD onto the FD card on the table. Spell "T" as you move
the next card under the packet. Spell "S" as you deal the
next card FD onto the fourth packet. You are left with one FD card
in your hand. Flip it FU to reveal the AH and place it FU on top of
the fourth pile. You have found all four Aces!
4. Pick up the fourth (AH) pile, spread to show 3 FD cards and the
FU AH, take the top two cards spread in your right hand, and hold
the remaining two FD cards spread in your left hand. As you bring
your hands together, allow the FD card in your right hand to slide
between the two cards in your left hand while you retain the FU AH
in your right hand. Table the AH FU back to the spot on the table
where the fourth pile was as your left hand drops its three cards
FD on the FD deck. Simultaneously pick up the AS with your left hand
and the AC with your right hand. Slide the AS onto the AC, holding
both in your right hand. Drop both black Aces onto the tabled AH.
Pick up the FU AD and drop it onto the other FU aces.
As you pick up the three piles of FD cards, you will position the
cards for the Ace assemblies to follow. With your right hand pick
up the top FD card of the seven-card (AD) pile and use it as a scoop
to pick up that pile and put it into your left hand. Repeat this scoop
action with the second (AC) packet and the first (AS) packet, dropping
each packet on top of the packet in your left hand. Drop the left
hand assembled packets FD onto the FD deck.
Assembly
– Phase One
5. You are ready to begin your first Ace assembly. Explain that the
Aces are accomplished magicians and would like to demonstrate their
magical skills. Flip the FU Aces FD on the table in a squared packet.
Pick up the FD deck, spread over the top three cards, take them into
your palm up right hand (without reversing their order), turn you
right hand palm down to show the faces of the three spot cards, and
then place the three cards as a unit FD onto the tabled Aces. As you
place these cards onto the Aces, down jog the 2H. Fan over the next
three cards of the deck, take them into your palm up right hand (without
reversing their order), flash their faces to the audience, and place
them FD on the tabled cards. Repeat this action two more times, placing
three, six, nine, twelve indifferent cards onto the Aces. The audience
will see eleven spot cards and one face card (KD). These cards will
represent close up spectators to witness and monitor the magic. Discard
the rest of the FD deck (in Aronson stack order) out of your performing
area.
6. Pick up the tabled FD sixteen card packet, turn it FU sideways,
and secure a right little finger Erdnase break under the FU 2H (easy
to do due to the down jog). You are holding the packet from above
by the ends in your right hand, secretly maintaining the Erdnase break.
Your left hand will now thumb off apparently the four Aces into your
left hand, really executing a packet switch. Fairly thumb off the
FU AD FU in your palm up left hand. Return to thumb off the AS FU
onto the FU AD. Return once again to thumb off the AC FU onto the
Aces in your left hand. As you return to thumb off the AH, you will
leave the three Aces under the FU packet in your right hand and take
all the cards above your right little finger Erdnase break. It will
appear to your audience that you simply thumbed off the four Aces
into your left hand. Flip the left hand cards FD sideways with your
left thumb and deal the four FD cards in a square formation onto the
table—first card to your upper left, second card to your upper
right, third card to your lower right, and fourth card to your lower
left. You are now going to deal three spectators (indifferent cards)
onto each magician for safekeeping.
You are holding the FU packet in your right hand in Biddle grip. Thumb
off the 8D into your palm up left hand. As your left hand comes back
to thumb off the 3H, leave the 8D under the FU packet, securing an
Erdnase right little finger break above the 8D, and come away with
the 3H. Fairly thumb off the 6C onto the 3H and place these squared
cards FD on the Ace (?) at your upper left. You have apparently thumbed
off three spot cards and placed them on the first Ace. In reality
you placed two spot cards on another spot card.
Fairly thumb off the next three cards (KD, 7D, 8C) and place them
FD on the second Ace (?) at your upper right. Apparently thumb off
the next three cards and place them FD on the Ace at your lower left.
In fact, you will execute a switch for 3 Aces and the 2D. Thumb off
the 10S and then the 5H into your palm up left hand. As your left
hand returns to take the 2D, leave the cards in your left hand under
the FU packet and take all the cards above your right little finger
Erdnase break. Place this squared packet FD on the Ace (AH) at your
lower left. Fairly thumb off the last three cards (8D, 5H, 10S) from
your right hand into your left hand one at a time (reversing their
order). Place this squared packet FD on the Ace (?) at your lower
right. You have apparently covered each Ace with three indifferent
cards. In reality, there are three spot cards at your upper left,
four indifferent cards at your upper right, four indifferent cards
at your lower right, and five cards at your lower left (the four Aces
& 2D).
7. Explain that it will difficult for the Aces to perform their magic
surrounded by spectators. Pick up the FD four-card packet at your
lower right. Hold the packet in Elmsley (Ghost) Count position in
your right hand. (I am a lefty and Elmsley Count from my right hand
into my left hand. Reverse the description if you count from left
to right.) Simulate the actions of your Elmsley Count, but fairly
remove the top three cards one at a time into your left hand. Place
the final card FD in the center your square array. Place the three
cards in your left hand FD back into their position at your lower
right. Explain that the first Ace has been positioned in the middle
of all the spectators so that no trickery is possible.
Pick up the FD packet at your upper right and repeat the exact same
actions. Hold the packet in Elmsley Count position in your right hand,
reverse take the top three cards into your left hand, and place the
remaining Ace (?) FD in the center of the square with the first Ace
(?). Place the three FD cards in your left hand on top of the packet
at your lower right.
Pick up the FD packet at your upper left and hold it in Elmsley Count
position in your right hand. Your are going to count this three-card
packet as four cards by performing an Elmsley Count. Place the last
card of the count FD into the center with the other Aces (?) and drop
the cards in your left hand on top of the cards at your lower right.
8. Explain that these three Aces will disappear on the count of three.
Count to three and turn the three FD cards in the center of the square
array FU as a packet. Spread the cards, taking the 9S and 5C into
your right hand (without reversing their order) while retaining the
3H in your left hand. Turn both hands palm down to display the backs
of the three cards, turn your hands palm up to display the faces,
slide the 3H into your right hand above the other two cards, and drop
the three FU cards back to the center position in a fanned condition.
The Aces have vanished!
9. Point to the FD packet at your lower right. Pick it up, flip it
FU sideways, and spread the cards between both your hands in a haphazard
fan. Explain that, when you asked these spectators if they saw where
the Aces went, they responded that they were totally mystified. Partially
square the fan so your left hand can hold all the cards and use them
as a scoop to pick up the three FU cards on the table. (The three
FU cards will naturally slide to the face of the FU packet.) Square
up the FU packet and place it to your lower right.
Pick up the FD packet at your lower left. You are going to show that
this packet contains just the four Aces. Hold the packet FD in dealing
position in your left hand. Push over the top card to the right, grasp
it with your palm down right hand (fingers on top and thumb underneath),
revolve your right hand palm up turning the AD FU end for end, and
deal it FU to the table. Repeat this Stud Deal action to turn the
AS FU, but slide it under the FU AD as you deal it to the table. Repeat
this Stud Deal action to turn the AC FU and slide it under the AS
as you deal it FU to the table. Grasp the last two cards aligned as
one in Stud Deal fashion and use this double to scoop up the three
Aces on the table, sliding the double under the AC. The Aces have
accomplished their first assembly!
Assembly
– Phase Two
10. Explain that the Aces vanished all at once. Would your audience
like to see them vanish one-at-a-time in slow motion? Fan out the
four Aces (holding the last two cards as one). Flip the fan FD sideways,
allowing the Aces to fall together into a squared packet in your left
hand. You are going to place the Aces in "T" formation this
time using slow, deliberate movements (slow motion as promised). Thumb
over the top card to the right (2D), grasp it from above with your
palm down right hand (thumb on lower edge, second and third fingers
on upper edge, first finger resting on the middle of the card), and
slowly place it FD on the table at your upper left. Take the next
card (AH) in the same manner and place it FD to your upper center
in line with the first FD card. Repeat the same actions with the next
card (AC), placing it FD to your upper right in line with the other
FD cards. Grasp the last two cards as one and place the double directly
below the center FD card to complete your "T" formation.
The deliberate (slow motion) placement makes handling the double very
easy.
11. You are now going to cover each Ace (?) with three spectators
for safekeeping. Perform these placements in a slow, deliberate manner,
simulating slow motion. Pick up the FU cards at your lower right and
hold them in Biddle Grip in your right hand. Thumb off the 3H into
your palm up left hand. As you return to thumb off the 9S, leave the
3H under the FU packet. Return to thumb off the 5C. Turn you left
hand palm down and drop the squared two-card packet on the double
card in your formation. Proceed to cover the remaining Aces (?) from
left to right by fairly taking three cards one-at-a-time into your
left hand (reversing their order) and dropping them FD on each Ace
(?).
12. Pick up the FD packet at your upper left and hold it in Elmsley
Count position in your right hand. Reverse count the top three cards
one at a time into your left hand, simulating the actions of your
Elmsley Count. Move your left thumb under the three FD cards in your
left hand and flip them FU sideways into a three-card fan. Your audience
will see three spot cards. Place the remaining FD Ace (?) FD on the
FU fan. As you square up the packet, secure a left little finger break
under the 8D. Explain that you will leave the first Ace FD among the
three FU spectators. Cut the top 2 cards (above your left little finger
break) to the bottom of the packet. Explain that you will surround
the first Ace with the FU spectators to prevent any trickery. Flip
the squared packet FD, grip the cards in Elmsley Count position in
your right hand, and tap the packet momentarily on the lower edge
of the lower packet in your "T" formation. Reverse count
fairly the four-card packet one at a time into your left hand, simulating
the actions of your Elmsley Count. Your audience will see three FD
cards and the FU 2D. The first Ace has vanished while surrounded.
Use the top two FD cards to flip the 2D FD in place, flip the packet
FU sideways into your left hand, and take the FU packet into Elmsley
Count position in your right hand. Fairly reverse count the four FU
cards one at a time into your left hand, simulating the actions of
your Elmsley Count. Spread the cards in a FU fan between your two
hands. Take the top two cards (5H & 10S) into your right hand
(without reversing their order) and retain the 8D & 2D in your
left hand. Use the Bob Stencel wiggle action in each hand to display
four single cards. As you bring your hands back together, slide the
two right hand cards between the two left-hand cards, bringing the
2D to the face of the packet. Square up the FU cards and return them
FU to the upper left position in the "T" formation. You
have shown backs and faces to prove the Ace has vanished.
13. Pick up the upper center FD packet and hold it in Elmsley Count
position in your right hand. Flash the AH on the face of the packet
by turning your right hand palm down. Explain the AH will be the second
Ace to go. Apparently reverse count the top three cards one a time
into your left hand, retaining the AH in your right. In reality, you
perform an Elmsley Count which switches the AH to the top of the three-card
packet in your left hand and leaves the KD in your right. Use your
left thumb to flip FU the squared three-card packet in your left hand.
Place the FD Ace (?) on top of the FU packet, slightly down jogging
the 8C. As you square the packet, lift up under the down jogged 8C
and cut the top two cards under the packet. The 7D will show on the
face of the FU packet. Flip the squared packet FD and take it into
Elmsley Count position in your right hand. Tap the packet momentarily
against the lower edge of the lower packet in the "T" formation.
Fairly reverse count the four cards one at a time into your left hand,
simulating the actions of your Elmsley Count. Your audience sees three
FD cards and the FU KD. The AH has vanished. Use the top two FD cards
to flip the FU KD FD in place and then flip the packet FU into your
left hand which keeps the cards squared. Grasp the FU packet in Elmsley
Count position in your right hand. Apparently reverse count all four
cards one at a time into your left hand, showing one KD and three
spot cards. In reality, perform an Elmsley Count to show three spot
cards and one KD. (The 8C is seen twice during this Elmsley Count
but will pass unnoticed since the audience is looking for the missing
AH and sees only one KD in its proper position.) Return this squared
FU packet to its upper center position in the "T" formation.
The second Ace has vanished surrounded by spectators!
14. Pick up the FD packet at your upper right and flip it FU in your
left hand which keeps the cards squared. The AC will show on the face
of this packet. Explain that the AC will be the third Ace to go. Use
Brother John Hamman’s no get ready double turnover from a small
packet to apparently turn the AC FD. Cut the top three cards under
the remaining card of the packet, simulating a random cut. Flip the
squared packet FD and Elmsley Count the cards into you left hand.
Your audience sees three FD cards and a FU AC going third from the
top. Grasp the packet in Elmsley Count position in your right hand,
momentarily tap this packet against the lower FD packet in the "T"
formation, and perform an Elmsley Count, simulating reverse counting
the four cards into your left hand. Your audience sees three FD cards
and a FU 3H. The AC has vanished! During your Elmsley Count, take
the FU 3H into an out jogged position (so that the first Heart pip
is fully exposed). You will secretly reverse the FU AC (which is on
the face of the packet) as you openly turn the 3H FD, using a variation
of the Christ-Annemann Alignment Move. You are holding the packet
in left hand dealing position with the 3H out jogged. Your left fingers
are at the right edge of the packet and your left thumb is lying along
the left edge of the packet. (This grip assures proper alignment during
the move to follow.) Bring your palm up right hand to the packet,
placing your right thumb on the FU 3H, your right forefinger at the
forward edge of the 3H, and your right middle finger on the FU AC
at the bottom of the packet. As your right thumb begins to push the
3H forwards, your right middle finger slides the FU AC forward under
the cover of the 3H. (Your left fingers and thumb keep the jogged
cards aligned. If the FD card above the AC moves together with the
AC as your right middle finger slides it forward, you can single buckle
the FU AC with your left forefinger prior to the move and hold a left
little finger break. Now when you execute the move, only the AC will
slide.) Stop moving the 3H forward when its second heart pip is fully
exposed. Start to push the 3H back down with your right forefinger
until it aligns itself with the AC and then pull the double card forward,
turning it FD end for end as it clears the packet in your left hand
and falls on top of the packet. You have apparently turned the 3H
FD on the top of the FD packet.
Thumb over the top FD card of the packet and take it in your palm
up right hand. Thumb over the next FD card and take it on top of the
card in your right hand. (You have apparently moved the 3H to second
from the top.) Both hands now hold two FD cards. Perform the Bob Stencel
wiggle with both hands to display four FD cards. Replace the cards
in your right hand on top of the cards in your left hand, square the
packet, and flip it FU sideways. Perform an Elmsley Count to show
four spot cards. The Ace has vanished! (During the Count the 6C is
seen twice but will be unnoticed because your audience is looking
for the Ace and sees the 3H exactly where it should be--third from
the face.)
During
this Elmsley Count you will set up the AC & 2H for a Gambler's
Cop. When you take the 2H (really a double) into your left hand, position
both cards in Gambler's Cop position. Count the remaining two cards
into your left hand, maintaining a separation between them and the
copped cards with your left fingers. As your palm down right hand
grasps in Biddle grip (your right fingers at the forward edge and
your right thumb at the rear edge) the two cards above the copped
cards in your left hand, your left hand drops naturally to your side
in rest position concealing the copped cards. Drop the FU cards onto
the FU packet at the upper left of the "T" formation and
then pick up the combined FU packet and drop it on the FU packet at
the upper center of the "T" formation. Explain that the
Aces have vanished one at a time from one, two, three groups of different
spectators.
15.
As your right hand approaches the four FD cards in your "T"
formation, bring your left hand with its cards in Gambler's Cop behind
the FD packet. You are going to turn the FD packet FU end for end,
allowing the packet to fall FU into your left hand (directly on top
of the copped cards). Your palm down right hand contacts the FD packet
with your right thumb in the center of the packet, your right fingers
sliding under the upper edge of the packet. Revolve the packet FU
end for end into your waiting left hand, allowing the packet to fall
squared on to the copped cards in your left hand. Immediately Elmsley
Count the packet to show four FU Aces. (The AD is seen twice during
the count but will pass unnoticed.) The Aces have assembled a second
time! To prepare for the final phase, as you count the last two Aces
into your left hand, secure a left little finger break under the AC
& AD.
Assembly
– Phase Three
16.
Explain that every time the Aces come together many spectators suspect
you are using more cards than just the four Aces and twelve indifferent
cards. With your palm down right hand spread the top four or five
face cards of the FU packet in the upper center of the "T"
formation down towards you. Scoop up the FU indifferent (?) packet
and flip it FD end for end near you. Use your right hand to turn the
FU Aces (?) in your left hand FD sideways. Your left little finger
break will cause the AC & AD to angle jog under the remaining
four cards (Marlo's Book Break Technique). Grasp the packet from above
in your right hand, fingers at the upper edge and thumb at the lower
edge. Your right hand should be directly above the FD indifferent
packet on the table. You are going to Direct Add the two angle jogged
Aces onto the FD packet as your left hand takes the cards above the
angle jog and places them on the table in a spread fan to display
four FD cards. Your palm up left hand approaches the FD Aces (?) in
your right hand, grasping the cards above the angle jog at their left
inner corner between thumb on top and first and second fingers underneath.
As your left hand moves forward to the center of the table, spread
the four FD cards between your left thumb and fingers. Your right
hand drops on top of the FD indifferent (?) packet adding the two
Aces directly on the FD packet. As your left hand drops the spread
Aces (?) in the center of the table, your right hand picks up the
FD indifferent (?) packet and places it FD in dealing position in
your now empty palm up left hand.
17.
You will now prove that you are using only sixteen cards—the
four Aces and twelve indifferent spectators. Use your right hand to
spread the four FD Aces (?) more widely in the center of the table,
displaying four single cards. You will now count the FD packet in
your left hand into your right hand one at a time, taking each card
under the previous card (thus not disturbing their order). Down jog
the fourth card counted. When all twelve cards have been counted into
your right hand, drop the slightly spread packet FD near the edge
of the table closest to you. Use both hands to scoop up the spread
Aces (?) and hold them in dealing position in your left hand. Explain
that the real secret of the magic Aces lies in the power of the AS.
Perform a three-card turnover from the bottom of the packet, flipping
the AS FU sideways onto the single FD card on top (a Brother John
Hamman technique). Turn the FU triple FD as one card and deal the
AS (really 9S) FD to the center of the table. Deal the next card (5C)
FD to the center upper position of a new "T" formation.
Take the next FD card (AS) into your right hand, flick it against
the last FD card (2H) in your left hand, and deposit both cards into
the "T" formation, your left hand placing its card at the
left upper position and your right hand placing its card at the upper
right position. You are going to perform a third assembly with a twist.
Explain that the master AS will act like a magnet to attract the other
Aces. To prove the power of the AS you will cover each Ace with three
spectators.
18.
Pick up the FD twelve card packet near you and flip it FU sideways
into your palm up left hand. As you grasp the packet from above in
Biddle Grip with your right hand, lift up on the down jogged card
so you can secure a left little finger break above the Aces. You will
now use the Veeser Technique to exchange three spot cards for the
three Aces. As you thumb off the 6C into your palm up left hand, take
the three Aces under your break along with the 6C, maintaining your
left little finger break between the 6C and the three Aces. Thumb
off the 3H onto the 6C and then thumb off the 2D onto the 3H. You
have apparently counted off three spot cards. Momentarily allow your
left-hand cards to go under the FU packet in your right hand. Grasp
all the cards above your left little finger break with your right
hand as your left hand turns palm down and deposits its three cards
FD on the AS at your upper right. Fairly reverse count the next three
cards one at a time into your left hand and drop them FD on the Ace
(?) at the upper center of your "T" formation. Fairly reverse
count the next three cards one at a time into your left hand and drop
them FD on the Ace (?) at the upper left of your "T" formation.
Fairly reverse count the last three spot cards one at a time into
your left hand and drop them on the master AS (?) below the upper
row of your "T" formation.
19.
Pick up the FD packet at your upper left. Simulate the actions of
an Elmsley Count, reverse counting the top three cards FD into your
left hand one at a time. Lever these cards FU sideways with your left
thumb to display 3 spectators. Insert the FD Ace (?) above the KD
and pull it to the right away from the fan. Drop the FU indifferent
fan to the left of (and in line with) the FD master packet in the
center of the table. Flip the FD 2H FU in the upper left position
of your "T" formation. The Ace has vanished!
20.
Pick up the upper center packet of your "T" formation and
hold it in dealing position in your left hand. You are going to Stud
Deal the top three cards to the table one at a time, explaining that
this time you will get rid of the spectators guarding the Ace. Stud
deal the 5H FU to the upper center area of your "T" formation.
Stud deal the 10S FU and slide it under the 5H. Stud deal the 8D FU
and slide it under the 10S. Give the last FD card a Through the Fist
Flourish, turn it FU to show the 5C, and deal the 5C FU under the
2H at your upper left. The second Ace has vanished!
21.
Pick up the FD master packet in the center of the table and hold it
in dealing position in your left hand. Explain that the AS must be
a very powerful magnet. Wave your right hand over the packet and make
a tossing motion toward the audience member directly before you. Explain
that you have transferred the magic magnetism from the AS to the audience
member. Stud deal the 2D FU and drop it onto the 5H at your upper
center. Stud deal the next card (3H) FU and drop it below the FD packet
at your upper right. Stud deal the next card (6C) FU and drop it on
the 3H. Turn the last card (9S) FU and drop it on the 2H at your upper
left. The AS has vanished!
22.
Have the audience member with the magic magnetism wave his hand over
the FD packet at your upper right and reveal that the Aces have assembled
for a third time!
Reassembling
the Deck:
23.
Pick up the KD-7D-8C packet and drop it on the four-card packet at
your upper center. Scoop up the upper center combined packet and drop
it on the 3H-6C packet at your lower right. Pick up this combined
pile at your lower right and drop it on the 3-card packet at your
upper left. Return all these cards FD onto the FD deck. The deck is
Aronson Stack order except for the Aces. Do a trick using just the
four Aces (Dr. Daley’s Last Trick, Vernon’s Twisting the
Aces--or its many variants, Phil Goldstein’s Overture, The Asher
Twist, etc.) At the conclusion, fan the deck with faces towards you
and insert the Aces into their proper positions in the Aronson Stack.
Proceed with your favorite Aronson Stack miracles.
COMMENTS:
(1)
Credits. The multi-phase assembly plot was directly inspired by Brother
John Hamman's Final Aces. The first assembly phase is a minor variation
on Marc DeSouza's Ace Assembly from his lecture notes. Phases 2 &
3 were derived from my unpublished exploration of Ace Assemblies (Some
Assembly Required). The visual changes in Phase 2 use Elmsley's
Four Card Trick as a starting point. The initial production of the
Aces from Aronson Stack order was derived from Aronson's Aces Awry.
Of course, Simon Aronson is directly responsible for suggesting that
an Ace Assembly could be done maintaining stack order. Without his
explorations in maintaining stack order (Try the Impossible),
this trick would not exist.
(2) [Note from Simon: Gene also sent along some routining suggestions
for combining all or parts of the above with my Christ-Aronson Aces.
Gene's first combination is to use his Ace Production (steps 1 - 3)
as an entry to my routine; his second suggestion is to present a combination
of both routines, beginning with his routine, and concluding with
mine. There are a few minor variations that are needed to make these
transitions (e.g., doing some of the spelling FU to preserve stack
order, or culling the 6D to its place next to the 6H beforehand),
but practitioners should be able to quickly recognize what needs to
be done. If you want to see Gene's full descriptions, you can email
him directly at sscarlett715@aol.com.]
