Elmsley Count by Alex Elmsley

Effect

The Elmsley Count is a card sleight that allows a magician to display a small packet of cards as one number while secretly hiding or retaining a card. To an audience, it looks like a simple, fair count of cards. The magician might show four cards, count them one by one, and then later reveal that one has changed or vanished, creating surprise. The count appears natural and unhurried, making the magical moment that follows seem impossible.

Full details

The Elmsley Count is named after the Scottish magician Alex Elmsley, who popularized it in the 1950s. It is a foundational technique in card magic. The count is used to manipulate the apparent number and order of cards in a small packet, typically three to five cards. It is not a trick by itself but a utility move that enables many effects. The count works by controlling the timing and placement of cards as they are taken from one hand to the other. One card is secretly kept back or shown twice during the count, creating a false total. This allows for transformations, vanishes, and controls without the audience detecting the method. The Elmsley Count is often used in classic routines like Twisting the Aces, Oil and Water, and various packet tricks.

Who should consider the trick

The Elmsley Count is essential for any card magician. Beginners should learn it as a core skill to build their repertoire. Intermediate and advanced performers use it constantly in their routines. It is particularly valuable for magicians who perform packet tricks, close-up magic, or routines that require clean visual transformations. If you perform effects like Twisting the Aces, Devil's Elevator, or any trick involving a small group of cards, mastering the Elmsley Count is necessary. Reviewers like Sebastian Toca note that insights into a natural Elmsley Count can elevate classic routines to showpiece status.

Information on how difficult it is to perform

The Elmsley Count is considered a fundamental sleight, but it requires practice to perform smoothly. Most reviewers place it at a beginner to intermediate difficulty level. The basic mechanics can be learned quickly, but making the count look natural and invisible takes time. Common pitfalls include flashing cards or having an inconsistent rhythm. PigCake mentions that while it involves technique, a well-presented routine can overcome minor imperfections. David from Magic Orthodoxy states that familiarity with the Elmsley Count is necessary for tricks like Con Cam, suggesting it is a prerequisite skill. The move relies on relaxed handling and consistent motion rather than speed. With dedicated practice, it becomes second nature.

What magicians say

Magicians praise the Elmsley Count for its versatility and deceptive power. PigCake uses it in routines like "Change the Cards," calling it a key technique for concealing card manipulation. In a review of Pocket Prestige, David from Magic Orthodoxy highlights the Elmsley Count as essential for performing the trick smoothly. He says magicians already proficient in it will find the trick relatively easy. Sebastian Toca, reviewing Jermay x Vernon, notes that Luke Jermay shares valuable insights into achieving a natural Elmsley Count, calling it a subtle but powerful technique. The CardMechanic describes it as a false count used to make tricks like Oil and Water appear more deceptive. AMillionCardTricks states it is a foundational sleight used in many card tricks and is a must-learn for expanding a card magic repertoire. BestMagic emphasizes that practicing the Elmsley Count until it is second nature is the backbone of routines like Twisting the Aces.