Intelligence Intensification/Memory Techniques/Memorizing Playing Cards

This module assumes you are familiar with pegwords (see parent module) and the major system. If you are not, study them before continuing. Using the major system a set of pegs was constructed for the playing cards: A2345678910JQKCCatCanCombCoreCoalCashCookieCoughCapoCaseClubCreamKingHHatHoneHamHareHellHashHogHoofHippieHoseHeartQueenHingeSSuitSunSumSoreSailSashSockSafeSoapSauceSpadeSteamSingDDateDuneDamDoorDollDashDogDiveDebDoseDiamondDreamDrink For these pegs, the first letter is the same as the suit The last letter (A-10, Ace treated as 1, 10 treated as 0)is derived from the major system, Jack is the name of the suit King and Queen (sort of) rhyme with the words "king "and "queen". If any of these give you trouble, make up one of your own. Memorizing this list will require practice. Linking To quickly memorize a run of cards visualize the first card, visualize it associated with the second, visualize the second associated with the third,and so on. For example to memorize the sequence 8H,QC,2H,KD,4S,3D, Visualize a giant hoof for 8 of hearts, link it to the next card by imagining it stomping in a puddle of cream (QC=cream)Now associate cream with Hone (2H) by imagining a pencil sharpener floating (or swimming) in that lake of cream. Associate Hone with drink by imagining yourself drinking from a pencil sharpener. Associate drink with sore by visualizing an anthropomorphic bottle or shotglass (with a cartoon mouth) yelling "Ouch!", now associate the sore with a dam by imagining a dam with an oozing sore (not a water leak but a bloody sore) on it. Destroying This is a quick method for keeping track of which cards have been played and which have not. When a card is dealt out, visualize its peg and imagine that item destroyed. When you want to know whether a particular card has been dealt, visualize the pegword, and you will immediately notice whether or not it's been destroyed. Example the 6C is dealt out imagine cash being destroyed (a $100 bill on fire) next the 10H is dealt imagine a hose chopped in half 4H- a rabbit (hare) is run through a meat grinder 2D- a sand dune is washed away in a hurricane 8C- cough - someone coughs so hard they are turned inside out AH- a hat is stomped flat 6S- a sash is ripped from the window and torn to shreds 4D- a door is kicked in so hard it bursts into a million pieces AC- cat-picture the most gruesome cruelty-to-animals you can imagine 3H-Ham- throw it down the garbage disposal QD- dream- you are awakened suddenly, destroying your dream. Picture a dream cloud vanishing KH- break a hinge in half 8H- hoof- a blacksmith pounds a horseshoe on so hard that the hoof shatters into pieces 5D- Doll- tear its head off 2H-Hone- Smash a pencil sharpener with a hammer 9C- Capo- Tony Soprano is gunned down 10S- the sauce is burning on the stove. Imagine the smell. QS- steam- a meteor crashes into the Old Faithful geyser, destroying it 3D- Dam - the dam breaks open with a massive flood 6D- Dash- a runner does the 100 yard dash-right off of a cliff 8S-Safe-a safe is blown up with dynamite JH-a heart (bloody organ-not the valentine) is chopped up on a cutting board 3S- sum- smash a calculator with a hammer 9D- Destroy a debutante somehow- dump a bucket of blood on her like in the movie Carrie JC-A (golf)club is mangled by an irate golfer. Imagine it twisted like a pretzel. AD- Date- You are so mad at your date that you hit her/him with a baseball bat Without looking above see if you can answer the following questions: Which Jacks are still unplayed? Has the King of diamonds been played? How about the 2 of hearts? How many Aces remain? Can you make a list of the remaining cards? Double Pegword System You can memorize the entire deck (or any sequence of cards) by associating the card pegs with these number pegs: 00 1234567890 TieNoahMaRyeLawShoeCowIvyBee10ToesToadTeenTimeTireTowelTeach(er)TacoTVTub20NoseNetNunEnemyNairNailNotchNukeKnifeKnob30MiceMatMoonMummyMowerMuleMatchMicMovieMop40RoseRodRainRamErrorRollRoachRockRoofRap50LassoLootLion This will take a lot of practice! Even if you can't memorize an entire deck error-free with one run, you can still learn it fairly quickly and can amaze anyone by handing them a deck, asking them to name a card, then instantly telling them where it is with an answer like "that's 24th in the deck".