Kings to Aces

Two red Kings are shown sandwiched between two face-down cards. With a magic flourish, the red Kings magically change into black Kings. Another magic flourish and the Kings change again… But this time into the four Aces!

Secret: The Kings have been cleverly faked so that each card can show two different suits (one red and one black). Also on the back of these two cards are two Aces. Set up the cards as shown, with the two red Kings showing in the centre and all four Aces facing down. Make sure that the four Aces are set up alternately as red, black, red, black.

Spread the cards to show the two red Kings, being careful not to reveal the hidden black suits. Square up the cards and give them a 180 degree turn from end to end.

Give another half twist and then yet another (three in total). This will turn the cards around, end to end, so that when you spread them once again, the black Kings will now be revealed. Show that the red Kings have changed to the two black Kings. 

Square up the cards once more and slide out the bottom card. Turn over this bottom card to reveal an Ace and place it on top of the pile about half an inch forward. Now, to reveal the next Ace, take the bottom three cards, turn them over and place them on top of the remaining single card.

Spread out and then separate and count the four cards one by one to show that all the Kings have now changed into the four Aces!

This brilliant effect looks like stunning sleight-of-hand magic.