Mnemonic Decks

Here are the videos for the Mighty Si-Stebbins:

and an example of a routine:

Cheers!

As many have said, it's a super useful tool! I don't think it's for beginners; you really need to master other techniques and build confidence first. If you're just starting out, it's pretty tough to do an entire set only with a memorized stack, as you might not have the cunning for deck switches or simply to convincingly make it seem like the deck has been thoroughly shuffled. You can definitely do some killer effects, but I also believe that you can get the same or even better reactions without a memorized stack when you're just starting. And above all, it really depends on your capacity. You'll have to learn all 52 cards, their positions, what comes before, what comes after, and then, in just a second – like when you take a quick glimpse – you need to instantly know the chosen card. It's super useful, but take it step by step, and the memorized stack will come in time!

P.S. If you're into the idea of memorized stacks, I think the Si Stebbins is a bit easier for beginners, since you don't actually have to memorize anything.

Cheers! :D

Best,

Hey everyone!!!

Here's a long-time Mnemonic user.

@sergi:

Could someone clarify what a "Mnemonic system" is?

First off, as @ricardorg2283 mentioned, it's called a Mnemonic because it uses mnemonic techniques for memorization.

@OierAgirresarobe:

and I also know it's not basic

It's not basic, but honestly (in my opinion) it's not difficult to memorize at all (using it, on the other hand, is a different story and requires practice, like anything else).

Seriously, in a week (at most), you should be able to learn the order of all 52 cards without a problem... The routines you can do with it, however, have many levels of difficulty.

There are routines you can do just by knowing 13 cards.

Other routines with 26 cards (Juan Tamariz's second book discusses this)

And if you add the rest of the deck, the possibilities are practically endless.

While it's true that to really use it, it would be beneficial to know and have mastered several techniques – especially a perfect Faro Shuffle (which would allow us to get a freshly opened deck into Mnemonic order),

the truth is, you can perform many routines perfectly just by knowing the order, having the deck pre-set, and knowing how to execute a deck switch at the right moment.

For me, it's a very useful tool that lets you do "impossible things" and totally blow anyone's mind.

@sergipascual95:

I don't think it's something for beginners; you really need to master other techniques and build up your confidence first.

I completely agree. In fact, I revisited it recently and realized it would be a huge headache for me right now (the memorization aspect is pretty challenging for me as it is). For now, I'll stick to the first 13, and we'll see about the rest later...

@sergipascual95:

If you're into mnemonics, I think the Si Stebbins is easier when you're starting out, since you don't need to memorize anything.

That's the one I use. The only thing you really need to memorize is the method for "calculating" the unknown card. Plus, it's super simple. It's true that if someone knows a bit about magic and is very observant, they'll detect there's an order. But for those who don't know magic (which is usually the audience we perform for), it flies right by without a hitch.

On YouTube, there's a channel (I can't recall the name) that explains a modified Stebbins stack. They call it the Powerful Si-Stebbins (PSS), which improves the illusion of a shuffled deck because it doesn't alternate red-black; instead, it's a bit more "chaotic." The downside compared to the regular Stebbins is that you have to memorize a bit more (but they teach a very effective method).

Cheers

The Mnemonic Deck is a pre-arranged deck that doesn't appear to be, whose order you've memorized, and it allows for a ton of effects. Juan Tamariz's stack is just one of many, and it's thoroughly explained in his book, Mnemonica. The core idea is to essentially have a 'key card' for all 52 cards simultaneously. For example, wherever a spectator cuts, by glancing at the top card, you immediately know their selection. If they pick a card and reinsert it anywhere in the deck, you can cut as many times as you want, and by looking through the cards, you'll know which one it is because it's the only one out of place (since you know all 52 positions). And there are countless other examples like these. Ultimately, it's just another incredible tool for creating magic.

As @corderolosada rightly mentions, there are several threads about this topic here in the club.

Cheers

I'm in the dark too. I know it's a way to arrange the cards and memorize an entire deck, even though it looks shuffled, and I also know it's not basic, like you said.

Check out the topics here in our club; you'll find plenty of posts on the subject.