Twisting the Aces

[Cain]

I'm in a bit of a dispute -- what, me you ask, no way!. It's with some notable and accomplished magicians over the greatness of "Twisting the Aces". I think it's merely OK, not great.

I will not bother summarizing my criticisms here. Criticisms of my criticisms take the standard approach ("you've never seen it done correctly", and that might be true). I suspect there's something of a generational gap at work.

Yes, of course, it goes without saying that an engaging performer can take something good and make it great. It's also difficult to separate an effect from presentation. Nevertheless, I think it is possible to "rate" tricks in our minds.

[JLam]

This trick is one of my favorites. It's fairly easy, and if done correctly can really blow peoples minds. I suggest letting the spectator do the last "twist." Just hand the spec the cards after you do that last count, and let them find the final ace face up. It's really neat to watch someone's face when that happens.

[NeilC]

I think it's quite good but average. It's bit low on the wow factor and I think that although it would be hard to work out exactly, people's perception of magicians counting turns it from miracle to quite clever.

Not that it matters, if you don't like it then that's that.

I also don't believe an engaging performer can make any great, unless you count Tommy Cooper making rubbish tricks funny. Some tricks are just plain rubbish.

[SpaceFluffer]

Guy Hollingsworth does a great version of this effect. I recommend checking it out.

[Azrael 5]

NFW is a better variation although not examinable.Twisting The Aces is good but not remarkable per se.

[Cain]

Guy Hollingsworth does a great version of this effect. I recommend checking it out.

I'm familiar with it. There's also McClintock Aces, Asher Twist, and many other takes (gaffed and ungaffed). Richard Sanders has an ungaffed version of NFW called "Hard Core Packet Trick".

The things I like about Twisting the Aces is that it's: difficult for a lay person to figure out; completely in the hands; impromptu; it can be done surrounded, naked; totally examinable before and after. I just don't think the effect is all that surprising or momentous (unlike Daley's Last Trick, for example).

But when I mention these sort of things, a couple magicians became upset, and started talking about their "great reactions" (which I don't deny), and how this is one of the "best tricks" in all of card magic, and how I'm an "obstinate" knuckle-dragging troglodyte for failing to repent for such blasphemous remarks.

[Garrette]

I don't perform it but have seen it by a few different people. For myself, I enjoyed it as I admire other people's technical skills.

My impression of non-magician observers is that they enjoyed it, too, but no more than they would any other well-presented transposition effect.