After showing these three aces they are turned face down (Figure 2) and handed to one of the spectators to hold (Figure 3). The Performer explains that they have the remaining Ace, the Ace of hearts in their pocket. The performer announces that by using distraction they are going to steal one of the cards from the hand of the spectator and exchange it for the one in their pocket. The performer pretends to take a card invisibly from their pocket and tosses it into the hand of the spectator who is holding the three aces. The Performer pretends to take a card invisibly from their pocket and tosses it into the hand of the spectator who is holding the three aces. The Performer then pretends to reach towars their hand taking an invisible card from the spectator and placing it in their pocket. The Performer says that the distraction was successful and to prove it asks the spectator to turn over their three aces and read them to the audience. The spectator turns the three cards over only to discover the Ace of Diamonds is missing and the Ace of Hearts is in its place. (Figure 4). The Performer reaches into their pocket and pulls out the Ace of Diamonds.

The Secret:
The secret of the trick is that the performer has had the Ace of diamonds in their pocket from the beginning and that the cards given to the spectator were originally the Ace of spades, the Ace of Hearts, and the Ace of clubs. The way this is accomplished is in the way the original three cards are displayed. When they are fanned out the Ace of Hearts is held with the center Heart inverted (Figure 5) and the heart under the A in the corner hidden by the Ace of Spades, under and in the middle of the Ace of Clubs and the Ace of spades (Figure 6). The half of the inverted heart looks like half of the center diamond. To set in the illusion the Performer says as they show them, "Here I have the Ace of Spades, the Ace of diamonds, and the Ace of Clubs." (Figure 7). Hearing this and seeing the inverted point of the heart the spectators are fooled into thinking they have actually seen the Ace of Hearts. Immediately after showing the three cards turn them over and put them into the hands of a spectator. You instruct them not to let you get ot the cards and to hold them tightly so they cannot be stolen. This causes the spectator to keep a tight grip on them and therefore they are not tempted to look at the cards and discover what has really happened. After they have possession of the cards explain the impact of distractions and do the pretend stealing and replacing of the cars. Ask them if the noticed your getting the card out of their hand and then ask them to turn their cars over and look at them. They turned them over to reveal to themselves and the audience that you successfully switched the cards.

Performing Tips:
Remember to practice several times using a mirror or video tape to make sure you have it down. Once you have it ready to perform for others never reveal the secret. revealing the secret often ruins the trick for the spectator and puts to waste any time you have spent practicing.

Have fun, do the trick often and think how you can use it to explain the power of distractions.

Enjoy and come back next month for your next trick,

Thanks,

John W. Drebinger Jr., C.Ht.