This arrangement goes back to the early days of mentalism, which often uses memorized deck of cards: Once you have a consonant for each digit 0-9, you’ll then assign a number to each suite. Let’s assume that you’re going to use the Major Method (sometimes called the Major System). No matter what you choose, it’s important to understand the rules of association and why such systems help.Īs a magician, I’ve always been dismayed by how many teachers talk about rote learning instead of using mnemonics, and that is why you ultimately have to not only pick your system. From what I understand, his approach is grounded upon the Major Method. To date, one of the most impressive card memorizers is Alex Mullen.

Other systems include the Ben System and the Shadow, which I talked about in detail with memory athlete Braden Adams. There are a few choices, the main ones being the Major Method or the Dominic System.

How to Memorize a Deck of Cards in 7 StepsĬhoose a method for memorizing the cards. Yet, I can tell you with absolute certainty that all of my success with memory comes from, is maintained and continually improved by this seemingly stupid stunt.Īnd 90% of it involves little more than dressing up each card in a costume using the Major Method.Īnd to convince you that you should have a system for remembering cards, I’m going to show, you 13 reasons why you should memorize playing cards as part of your memory practice. Unless you’re a magician or memory athlete, memorizing a deck of cards does sound like a meaningless skill. Since you need a means that will help you get good at remembering numbers, check out this video:Ĭards Is Still The Best Memory Exercise Ever The other 10% of memory success belongs to the Memory Palace and how you use it to store and practice recalling information. Often, this practice is called “association” or “encoding.” Tim Ferriss has used the term “converting” for memorizing a deck of cards, and many other terms abound.ĭon’t get caught up in the terminology, however. Sound weird or confusing? No worries: One of the best ways to understand this concept is by having a system for remembering cards.Ĭonsider the following when it comes to using memory techniques in your quest for total memory improvement:ĭressing information in costumes is at least 90% of what’s going on when you develop a system for remembering cards (or any information). Memory techniques work by dressing up information in costumes. Well, let’s look at it from a bird’s eye view

Whether it’s for bridge, poker, memory competition or just your own personal memory training, it’s fun and rewarding to memorize cards. Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSSĭo you have a system for remembering cards?

Deck of card online