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4 Ace Production Routine

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This 4 Ace Production Routine looks like you shuffle and cut the deck freely, then produce the four Aces one at a time, each with a different flashy move. It is visual, it impresses magicians and laypeople alike, and it doubles as a great practice drill.

Difficulty

Advanced. Each move can be learned on its own. Nailing all of them in a row with smooth timing is the long road.

Sources

This routine strings together published moves, including Paul Harris's Instant Replay, Lennart Green's Top Shot, Chris Kenner's Sybil Cut, and Daryl's Hot Shot Cut.

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Intro to Card Magic CourseFree

What Is the 4 Ace Production Routine?

You are playing the part of a master card shark. To the audience you mix the deck with shuffles and fancy cuts, then track down and produce each Ace using a high level of skill. In reality the Aces start on top and stay under your control the whole time. The shuffles and cuts only create the illusion of mixing, and each phase ends with a production.

The routine uses four phases, one for each Ace, and every phase leans on moves that have their own tutorial. This page gives you the structure and the timing. Learn the individual moves from their tutorials first, because those pages cover details that are not repeated here. Any move can be swapped for one you prefer that does the same job.

How to Do the 4 Ace Production Routine, Step by Step

Follow along with the video. Each step names the move used at that point, so you can jump to its tutorial if you get lost.

  1. Step 1: Start with the four Aces on top

    Put the four Aces on top of the deck before you begin. Everything that follows keeps that top stock under control while it looks like you are mixing the cards.

    Four Aces shown before they go on top of the deck for the routine
    The four Aces go on top of the deck before you start.

  2. Step 2: Riffle shuffle while keeping the top stock

    Give the cards a riffle shuffle, but hold back a chunk of cards on top as you riffle, then do the cascade. The Aces never mix into the deck. If you need a refresher on the basic action, see the In The Hands Riffle Shuffle.

    Riffle shuffle that holds back the top stock of Aces
    Hold back the top chunk during the riffle so the Aces stay on top.

  3. Step 3: False cut sequence and the first Ace

    Next comes a false cut sequence very similar to the Classy False Cut. Swing cut, swing cut again while keeping a break, come over and swap the two packets while maintaining the break, then slap a packet down. Transfer the break to the right thumb, swing cut half of the cards above the break, and swivel cut the rest of the cards above the break.

    Now the Ace is on top of the packet in your hand. Place your thumb on it, peel it to the left, start to flip it over, and trap it face up in the middle of the deck. At speed it reads as cut, cut, cut, slap, cut, cut, produce. Place the first Ace aside.

    First Ace peeled and trapped face up in the middle of the deck after the false cut sequence
    The first Ace is peeled, flipped, and trapped face up in the deck.

  4. Step 4: Hindu shuffle, false triple cut, and the Top Shot

    For the second Ace, do a Hindu Shuffle Control that keeps the top stock in place, then a False Triple Cut. As you finish the triple cut, raise your right hand a little, drop it, and immediately come down with a snap into the Top Shot. The top card shoots out and you catch the Ace.

    Second Ace caught in the right hand after the Top Shot
    The second Ace caught after the Top Shot.

  5. Step 5: Add a flourish and twist the Ace face up

    After the Top Shot you can add a flourish if you like, such as Instant Replay back onto the deck. Then come over and scissor the card with your hand palm down. Turn your hand palm up, twisting the card more in the process, snap it face up, and place it down.

    Card scissored between the fingers and twisted face up
    Scissor the Ace, turn the hand over, and snap it face up.

  6. Step 6: Sybil Cut and a color change for the third Ace

    Do a Sybil Cut, then riffle down the edge of the deck and remove a random card. It does not matter what it is, as long as it is not an Ace. Flash it, and as you turn your hand palm down, push the top card over a little, pull it back, and catch a pinky break below it.

    Flip the random card onto the top of the deck and push down slightly to square it with the card above the break. Then do the ShapeShifter Color Change to turn it into the third Ace. The choreography is change, snap, turn the hands palm down, turn the back palm up, then an optional Instant Replay before you deal it to the table.

    Third Ace revealed in the right hand after the color change
    The random card changes into the third Ace.

  7. Step 7: Send the last Ace to the bottom

    For the final Ace, get a pinky break beneath the top two cards. A Pinky Count works well, but use whatever method you like. Then double undercut both of those cards to the bottom of the deck. That places the fourth Ace on the bottom.

    Double undercut sending the top two cards, including the last Ace, to the bottom
    A double undercut takes the last Ace to the bottom.

  8. Step 8: Bottom retention overhand shuffle

    Now do a Bottom Retention Overhand Shuffle for as long as you like. You can make it interactive here by asking a spectator to tell you when to stop shuffling. Wherever they stop, the Ace is still on the bottom.

    Deck in overhand shuffle position for the bottom retention shuffle
    The overhand shuffle keeps the last Ace on the bottom.

  9. Step 9: Hot Shot Cut for the fourth Ace

    Produce the last Ace with the Hot Shot Cut: a one-handed cut that shoots the card out of the deck. If you talk during the routine, a line like "I will do this last one with just one hand" sets it up nicely. Give yourself room and do it at a wide arm span. That is the fourth and final Ace.

    All four Aces displayed on the table after the Hot Shot Cut
    All four Aces on the table at the finish.

4 Ace Production Routine Tips

  • Learn each move separately first. The tutorials for each move cover details this structure page leaves out.
  • Substitute freely. These are the moves this routine prefers. Any move that does the same job, like keeping the top stock or producing a card, can take its place.
  • Rehearse the transitions. The routine looks skillful when one phase flows straight into the next. Practice the handoffs as much as the moves.
  • It can be silent. The routine is visual enough that you do not need to say anything. Add patter only if that is your style.
  • Use it to draw a crowd. If you want to perform but do not want to approach people, run through it for yourself. In the right setting, people come to you.

Common Mistakes

  • Rushing the false cuts. The cut sequence has to look like real mixing before the production lands. Keep the rhythm even.
  • Losing the break during the packet swap. In the first phase the break has to survive the swap and transfer to the right thumb. If it drops, the Ace is lost.
  • Flashing an Ace before the color change. The card you remove and flash must be an indifferent card, not an Ace.
  • Not squaring the card before the change. Push down so the flashed card squares with the card above the break, or the color change will look messy.
  • Doing the Hot Shot Cut cramped. The shot looks best at a wide arm span. Give yourself space before you go for it.

How Long Does It Take to Learn?

This is a long road. If you already know some of the moves, you can learn the structure in an afternoon, but each individual move can take weeks to get performance ready. Learn the moves one phase at a time, then link two phases together, then three, before running the whole routine. Once you can do it in sequence, it becomes a great daily drill for keeping all of these moves sharp.

4 Ace Production Routine FAQ

Can you substitute your own moves in this routine?

Yes. These are just the moves this version prefers. If you have a move that achieves the same thing, such as a different false cut or production, use it instead.

How do the Aces stay on top during the riffle shuffle?

You hold back a chunk of cards on top as you riffle, then cascade. The top stock never mixes with the rest of the deck.

What card do you flash before the color change?

Any random card that is not an Ace. While you flash it, you push over the top card and catch a pinky break under it, which sets up the change into the third Ace.

How does the fourth Ace get to the bottom of the deck?

Get a pinky break under the top two cards, for example with a Pinky Count, and double undercut both cards to the bottom. The bottom retention overhand shuffle then keeps it there.

Do you need to talk during the routine?

No. It is visual enough to perform silently. If talking is your style, a simple line before the last Ace, like saying you will do this one with just one hand, works well with the Hot Shot Cut.

What to Learn Next