In effect, you show an Ace, Two, Three and Four of Spades. Each card passes from top to bottom and it is then discarded. When you reach the Four there are no more cards for it to pass through, so you change the colour of the card from a black card to a red suited card. 


This is essentially a Roy Walton trick (Ambitious Ghost), and I have simply added a twist to the finish. This twist has been used by many before me, but using Roy’s method allows for a very easy means of accomplishing the effect.

1. To begin, cut the four of Diamonds to the face of the pack, then spread through and transfer the Ace of Spades to the face, followed by the Two, Three and lastly the Four. Lift off the front five cards as four, and place the rest of the pack aside.

2. Hold the packet face up and count the cards from one hand to the other reversing their order as you say, “Here we have the Four, the Three, the two and the Ace.” the last two cards are taken on top as one.


3. Turn the packet face down. Emphasize the position once more by showing the Ace at the bottom and the Four on top. Now say, “I’ll reverse the order of the four cards...” Do an Elmsley Count, saying, “Four, Three, Two, Ace.” Injog the 3rd card as you count it. 


4. Double Lift to show the Ace on top, as expected, then turn it face down again. Transfer the top card to the bottom, saying, “If I place the Ace on the bottom, a funny thing happens.....it comes back to the top.” Turn over the top card and deal it onto the table - this is the Ace.


Without showing the next card (you can double lift to show the Two if you want) transfer the top card to the bottom, saying, “Now if I put the Two on the bottom....it also comes back to the top!” Deal the Two face up on top of the Ace.


Transfer the top card to the bottom, calling it the Three. This time buckle the bottom card slightly and flip over the top two as one to show the Three has risen to the top. Remove the double and place it on top of the Ace and Two on the table.


This leaves you holding one card which the audience presume to be the Four. It is a four but not the one they expect!

Say, “That leaves us with the Four. Unfortunately I can’t do the trick with it because there are no other cards for it to pass through. So I’ll try something else.”


Rub the card on vigorously on your sleeve, saying, “If I apply enough friction the four turns............RED HOT!” Toss it face up onto the table revealing it has changed into a red Four.