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I'v recently gained a great interest in memorized stacks. I'm planning on learning one, but now I wonder, what is the most useful stack to learn? I'v read Simon Aronson's article about memorized decks and somebody had put up a very nice post about the subject a couple of years ago (i forget who it is).

I have heard about two stacks, the Aronson ant the Tamariz stack but I have no doubt there are more. So, if you would be so kind, could anybody with experience about the subject give me any tips on what kind of stack I should go about trying to memorize.

Oh, and I have heard of Juan Tamariz' Mnemonica but it seems to be a rather expensive book, so I would like to know about my choices before going and buying such book.

Thanks,
Jacob

It's not so much advice, but my favourite isn't memorised at all; the algorithmic Si Stebbins stack.

It has sooooo many hidden properties and uses outside of a regular deck.

There's also the Nikola stack, the Joyal stack and the memorised version of Richard Osterlind's Breakthrough Card System.

The Joyal one is supposed to be easy to learn, while the Aronson and Tamariz ones have inbuilt routines.

The subject's come up many times before, so I suggest you have a search against Mnemonica, Joyal, Aronson, Nikola, etc. and see what people have suggested in the past.

EDIT: Tomo's suggestion is a good one. I'm rather fond of the Eight Kings stack. Almost any deck I pick up round my place turns out to be in either BCS or Eight Kings!

I agree with Tomo, it is really great

Yeah, I've looked up the si stebbins stack, but Aronson make a very good point about the difference between a memorized and an algorythmic(?) stack and now I'm convinced that its a memorized stack I want.

Thanks anyway, Tomo.

ps. for anyone interested the article can be downloaded from simonaronson.com > magicians only.

Try Andrew Mayne's Zero Memorization Memorized Deck... You don't even have to rememberthe stack! It comes with a killer 3-phase routine as well.

Michael Kras wrote:Try Andrew Mayne's Zero Memorization Memorized Deck... You don't even have to rememberthe stack! It comes with a killer 3-phase routine as well.

It should be noted that you can't really do any memorised stack work with it... it's more a pseudo piece than a reality.

You can't go wrong with the Aronson Stack. It will definitely improve your mental routines. Try marking the AS after you've memorized the stack. You'll be able to do miracles.

If you want to use a memorised deck I feel you should start with the 8 Kings or Si Stebbins first. This will teach you how to handle a system.

Then there is the Bart Harding Set Up. Highly recommended by many famous magicians.

About the 3rd time I coached Marc Oberon on Showmanship & Presentation he showed me his memorised deck.Simple & clever. It's on sale these days.

Then there's Robert Harbin's idea. You shuffle the deck thoroughly. Practice memorising the first dozen cards. Keep the deck intact. Then add another dozen till you can recount all 24 and so on till you know the whole deck. Thus you have an individual effort.

Allen Tipton

I personally favour the Sioux-Jennard stack.

Trouble is, as far as memorised stacks go, it's so foolproof that I can't remember it.

I know there's an ace in there somewhere...

My favourite is Osterlind's ....

seige wrote:I know there's an ace in there somewhere...

makes sense...

Anyway, thanks guys, I'll go and look up those suggestions.

Oh, and I have heard of Juan Tamariz' Mnemonica but it seems to be a rather expensive book, so I would like to know about my choices before going and buying such book.

Mnemonica is not an expensive book and worth every penny... This is the more complete work on the subject, by one of the better specialist of the word... Even if you don't use Tamariz stack, a lot of what is said can be adaptated to every stack.

Do not hesitate : read Mnemonica !...

And read also Simon Aronson books.

Only then you will be able to choose your stack.

Working with memorized deck is just wonderful. It needs some time, but it's worth it. Take your time and study all you can about memorized decks, then come to play in this wonderful world...

Take a long time reading everything you can about memorised decks. By that I mean tamariz, Aronson, close etc. I have been gradually doing that for about 8-9 months now, and still haven't decided which I prefer. I'm taking my time, as I know I can memorise it, but its harder to unmemorise and change stacks if you decide you chose the wrong one. As you have noticed with this thread, there really isn't one definite 'the greatest' steck. It all depends on what you want out of your stack.
You could also think about what your favourite effects are, see if you can include them in a stack, and make your own. Thats the way I'm leaning at the moment.

if you decide you chose the wrong one.

In fact, there is no really "wrong stack", as nearly all the effects can be adaptated to nearly all the stacks. There is some work to do, but it's possible...