Lee Asher | asher's playground | free stuff

It’s extremely important that you execute a reverse spread. You know if you are reverse spreading properly by looking at the indices. If you hold the packet face up in your left hand and reverse spread, you will not show any indices at the top. If you hold the packet in your right hand and reverse spread, you will see the indices at the top. The reverse spread is the key to making that Asher Twist work. Without this cover, it will flash and be obvious to all that watch. If you are interested in more applications with the reverse spread, click here. You can take over the world with a reverse spread!
You should only be using your pinkie finger to pull down on the bottom card. If you are using your first, second or third fingers, you are flashing the action. Just using the pinkie finger allows you to keep all of the movements to the back of the packet so they can be hidden from the spectators' view.
Some people have a problem getting the break on the bottom card. Here are two ways to accomplish this simple task:
- As you show all the cards for display, down-jog the bottom card toward your body. This allows you to easily get a break from the back once you square up the packet.
- Hold the packet in dealing grip and squeeze the cards so they bow convexly. Use the pad of your pinkie to pull the bottom card from the rest of the packet. Because of the bow, the cards will be stepped and it will be easier to grab.
After some practice, you might begin to hear some noise. This is the sound of the bottom card scrapping against the upper packet. Though this sound can be annoying, you will be relieved to know it’s an indication your Asher Twist is improving. Here is the best way to eliminate the noise:
- Tilt the whole four card packet on its side toward the base of your thumb. This allows the upper left corner (if you are right-handed) to smoothly pass the packet of cards above. Tilting the packet helps the card being flipped so that it does not scrape against the packet.
- Practice lifting the packet up just enough so it will clear every time.
People usually ask me what kind of patter I use with the Asher Twist. I have learned the Asher Twist speaks for itself, it breaks all language barriers. I have learned the less you say, the stronger the effect. I understand some magicians like verbose patter... so I offer you several patter lines:
- “Do you know why the Eights are considered Crazy?” (Then perform the Asher Twist with the four Eights.)
- “Do you know what the “A” stands for?” (Pointing to the A on the Ace.) “No, not Ace. It stands for Acrobat. Let me show you…” (Then perform A.T.)
- My European friend David Stone uses the four queens when performing the Asher Twist and his patter explains “...Women love to stare at me. One at a time, they turn over to look at me.” (Then David performs the Asher Twist. David is a tall and suave guy... so this patter works for him.)