Allan Ackerman

This is an idea by Steve Mayhew. He turns the classic Triumph effect into something entirely different. A face up half of a deck is shuffled into the other face down half. The performer then demonstrates center dealing only the face up cards. The last face-up cards coming out of the deck are the four aces leaving the performer with only face down cards.

runtime: 4min 53s

This is a patter line used by Paul LePaul. It can be used in combination with a glide, second deal or double lift. Allan uses here a mechanical second.

runtime: 47s

This is a beautiful Larry Jenning routine where hand progressively gets better and better starting from a simple pair all the way to a straight flush.

runtime: 9min 32s

The 'card to wallet' effect is one of those all time classic magic effects. It is probably the best application for palming. A spectator freely selects a card, signs it, shuffles the pack, and magically the chosen and signed card ends up in a zippered compartment in your wallet.

runtime: 2min 49s

The 'card under drink' plot was made famous by Heba Haba Al (Al Andrucci) in the 1960s. Ever since it has been a favorite of bar magicians all over the world. Here Allan teaches a version that uses a misdirective idea by John Bannon. The effect is clear and devastating. A chosen card unexpectedly ends up under a drink (glass, can, etc.).

runtime: 2min 11s

Spectator cuts the deck into four piles of approximately the same size. Performer puts one ace on each pile, assembles the piles and without any funny business the aces end up at the very top of the assembled pile.

This is an application of the Benzais cop.

runtime: 59s

Spectator chooses a card, remembers it, and the card is lost in the deck. Then the performer places cards one by one on the table until the spectator says: "Stop!". Magically the spectator has stopped exactly at his chosen card.

This version of the Stop trick uses the Benzais Cop to achieve the effect.

runtime: 1min 49s

The performer hands 6 cards to a spectator who arranges the cards in red-black alternating order. The performer openly counts those six cards to the table. Once the cards are ribbon spread on the table the colors have, like oil and water, separated.

This is a very clean sequence that can be added to most oil & water routines or performed stand alone. The oil & water effect is an Ed Marlo creation. This version uses the Benzais cop to achieve the effect.

runtime: 1min 28s

This is a routine Allan Ackerman developed in the early 1970s where he tried to achieve the cards across effect with as little motion as possible. He also added a visual card vanish. Later Paul Harris took this routine and turned it into his famous Sleeper routine.

A spectator picks a card. A second spectator cuts off a small portion of the deck, counts the cards, and puts the counted cards in a safe place. The performer then attempts to magically add as many cards to the second spectator's pack as the value of the card the first spectator chose.

runtime: 6min 43s

This is the classic travelers plot from Dai Vernon, based on a handling by Jon Racherbaumer with some changes by Allan Ackerman. The four aces are lost in the deck at four different locations. You then pull out one ace from your right jacket pocket, another ace from your breast pocket, the third one from your left jacket pocket and the fourth one is left in your hand while the rest of the packet has magically traveled to your jacket pocket.

runtime: 2min 40s

A card is chosen and signed and lost in the deck. The card travels repeatedly to the performers pocket in ever cleaner and more unbelievable fashion.

runtime: 4min 12s

Allan Ackerman explains the Al Baker version of the classic force, the Hofzinser force and fine points of the Hofzinser force.

runtime: 3min 17s

The Tilt or Depth Illusion was developed by Dai Vernon. It is a great move, wonderfully deceptive and not at all difficult to do. Allan teaches a couple of ways to prepare for the tilt and a few fine points.

runtime: 2min 45s

This is a method by Paul Curry to change a tabled card during a turnover.

runtime: 2min 47s

The Ultra Move was created by Arthur Buckley and first published in Card Control. It was popularized by Harry Lorayne. It is a very deceptive card switch and can also be used as card vanish.

runtime: 3min 42s

You will learn the classic Allerton Move to switch out one card. Later Wesley James significantly improved on the basic idea and Allan Ackerman demonstrates and teaches these variations.

runtime: 3min 31s

Frank Pemper developed this wonderful deck switch. Being able to switch out a complete deck opens up endless possibilities.

runtime: 2min 8s

Combine a palm and a lap to switch out a card.

runtime: 1min 8s

A very deceptive technique developed by Carmen D'Amico and Ed Marlo to switch out cards using a laping technique.

runtime: 1min 5s

This is an easy shuffle reverse done during a riffle shuffle.

runtime: 1min 5s