French Twist

From A Million Card Tricks: Performance/Tutorial and Aldo Colombini

Step 1
-Four aces face up (spades the last one) on top of the face down deck. Get a pinky break under the fifth card, and lift off the five cards as if they were just the four face up aces, placing the deck on the table.
-Hold the five cards in biddle grip and count off the four aces hiding the face down card. Square them up then turn the packed over so they are face down. (Colombini) Peel off the bottom card (ace of spades) with your right hand and as you turn it face up, simultaneously turn the packet in your left hand over. Flick the ace of spades with your left thumb then turn it over the top of the packet. (You now have two face down cards on top of three face up aces).

Step 2 First Ace Reveal
-Do an Elmsley count revealing one ace has turned over. Use the last card to flip the ace over then put it on the bottom of the pack.
Step 3 Second Ace Reveal
-Do a normal Elmsley count to show all the cards are now face down. (Now you have three face down cards on top followed by two face up aces).
-Do another Elmsley revealing a second ace has turned over. Use the last card to flip the ace over then put it on the top of the pack.
Step 4 Third Ace Reveal
-Hold the cards in biddle grip then reverse count showing four cards. Square up the packet.
-Do an Ascanio spread showing the third ace has turned over. Hold the double in your right hand. Square up the cards in the left hand. Turn them over with the cards in the right hand faced up, then place the right hand cards on top. Turn the packet over.
Step 5 Fourth Ace Reveal
-Do a normal Elmsley count showing all the cards are face down. Then do another Elmsley count revealing the ace of spades. Leave the ace of spades upjogged, then spin it out on the index finger of your left hand.
Step 6 All Aces Face Up In Spread Deck
-Show both sides of the card in the right hand and the packet in the left. Use this action to get a break under the top card of the left hand. Place the ace of spades face up on top of the packet while maintaining the break. Pick up the ace of spades and the card beneath with your right hand, then flip over the three aces in the left hand. Place the double from the right hand on top (apparently showing just the four aces). Square up the cards and flip them over.
-Do an Elmsley count showing four face down cards. Do the shake change to turn the packet over. Place all the cards on top of the pack. Cut them into the deck. Spread to reveal all four aces are face up.


See:
Impromptu Packet Tricks - Aldo Colombini
PA Million Card Tricks: Performance and tutorial
Aldo Colombini Performance
2nd Performance and Tips