Spectator Cuts to the Aces

Spectator Cuts to the Aces is a classic card routine where the spectator cuts the deck to locate the four aces. T.A. Waters claims it was devised by Bob Veeser.

There have been many many variations developed. Some are self-working. Some require a gaffed deck or setup. Some allow the spectator to do all the cutting and turning the cards over. Some have kicker endings where not only the aces are on top of each pile after the spectator cuts the deck into four piles, but the kings are on the bottom.

Lots of magicians like to open with this effect before going into a four ace routine.

History

Self-working version

Belchou's Aces - was invented by Steve Belchou, written up by Oscar Weigle and first published in The Dragon Magazine in 1939.

Variations

• Poker Players Picnic in The Royal Road to Card Magic
• Giobbi's version in Vol 1 of Card College
• John Bannon's Final Verdict from Dear Mr. Fantasty
• 'Spectator Cuts To The Kings' in Williamson's Wonder's
• David Regal Deep Guilt Aces
• Gary Ouellet's "Three-Second Wonder" from 'Close-Up Illusions'
• M.I.N.T. has Marlo's extensive work on this plot.
• Shigeo Takagi's version in The Miracles of Shigeo Takagi by Richard Kaufman.
• Double Take by Harry Lorayne in QUANTUM LEAPS.
• "Cutting to the Aces", Tom Ogden's Complete Idiot's Guide to Magic
• "Women's Lib", Garcia & Schindler's Magic With Cards
• "The Weigle Aces", John Scarne's Scarne on Card Tricks
• “Swindle Cut Aces.” in THE ELEGANT CARD MAGIC OF FATHER CYPRIAN