This is a 1-x-x count developed by Canadian magician Norman Houghton around 1955 and popularized by Brother John Hamman. You repeatedly show the same card while tabling the others one by one. Very easy to do, but perhaps not that deceptive. Allan shares a nice touch to make this count quite a bit more deceptive.
This is a wonderfully versatile count by Elmer Biddle. It is next to the Elmsley Count probably the most important count available today due to its versatility and deceptiveness.
Essentially this is a reverse Biddle action where the Biddle move is used as a force. This idea was developed by Ed Marlo. (If anybody knows why this is called "Here's Hockley" please email us.)
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.
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.
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.
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 a nice opening effect for a routine where you need aces and kings. Performer shuffles and cuts to produce two kings. He does that another time to produce the other two kings and repeats the sequence to produce the four aces.
