It is the little things that really make the difference. This post is to make you aware (or remind you, if you have forgotten) of some brilliant analysis and thinking by Ascanio regarding the Hamman Count.
Usually this count is done in a steady rhythm:
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9
Let us assume that we are going to show/count 9 cards and make the change on the 5. The challenge is to make a perfect change on the 5, keeping the rhythm. If there is a slight delay in the action of the switch (and I have seen very few people who can do this perfectly), then the switch stands out and is noticeable.
But if we take Ascanio’s suggestion and start experimenting with breaking the rhythm into uneven chunks, the deception of the display increases. The change is also easier to make. For example, we could count like this (making the change at 5)
1 … 2 – 3 … 4 … 5 – 6 … 7 – 8‑9
This feels different and much better. Other combinations are possible.
By doing the switch on the 5 – 6 and putting the emphasis on the hand that ‚counts‘ and takes the cards, the switch is much better hidden.
Try Roy Walton’s ‚Oil and Queens‘. The setup is (from front to back) B,R,B,R,B,Q,Q,Q,Q. Now do the Hamman count using the 1 … 2 – 3 … 4 … 5 – 6 … 7 – 8‑9 pattern, changing the packets to 5. Can you see the difference?
The same is true if we use Fred Kaps‘ handling of the ‚Gypsy Curse‘. In this, Kaps used to do the Hamman Count while doing a casual overhand shuffle (with the cards facing the audience). Breaking the rhythm here makes everything so much easier and more deceptive.
All this is described in detail in Ascanio’s book ‚The Magic of Ascanio, Vol. 3‘ (written by Jésus Etcheverry), starting on page 320.
Read and study Ascanio’s books, there is much more gold to be discovered that will make you think and improve your understanding of magic.
Ascanio’s work has done this for me.
