As stated in the Introduction, playing cards are difficult to remember because they are intangible. The system you are about to learn is based on having each card in the deck represented by a tangible item, which can easily be pictured.

The system is in fact an extension of the system you have already learned to help you remember numbers. You will be taught a Card Word for each of the 52 cards. The Card Words follow a definite phonetic pattern (remember the Phonetic Alphabet ?), and are easy to learn. Each of the Card Words is an item which can easily be pictured, and hence associated to other items.

The phonetic pattern used is very simple. The Card Word for each card will begin with either C,D,H,S, for Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, Spades. The next consonant sound in the word represents the value of the card. For example, the word home can only represent the 3H. It begins with a H for Hearts, and the next consonant sound in the word is m, for 3.

The word (and also picture) cake must represent the 7C. It begins with a C, for Clubs, and the next phonetic sound is k, for 7. Similarly, the 9S is soap, and dune can only be the 2D.

Once you understand the pattern, there are no choices or decisions to make. Before proceeding any further, make sure you understand the examples given so far.

Now, before presenting you with the full list of 52 Card Words to learn, here are some further rules about the Phonetic Pattern used.

The s sound will always be used to represent the four 10 cards - i.e. 10C, 10D, 10H, 10S. Since there is no zero of any suit, this fits in nicely with the pattern. The Aces are simply counted as 1 - e.g. the AD (Ace of Diamonds) will always be represented by the Card Word date.

The Court Cards Jack, Queen, and King are treated as numbers 11, 12 and 13 respectively. So the QC (Queen of Clubs) will always be represented by the word cotton - c for clubs, tt for 1 (the first digit of 12), and n for 2 (the second digit of 12). Similarly, satan will always represent the QS (Queen of Spades), and hooded will be the Card Word for the JH (Jack of Hearts).

As with the Peg Words, you will need to form a definite mental picture for each Card Word, and learn the words so well that every time you see, say, the Jack of Hearts in a deck of cards, you will instantly see a mental picture of a hooded man. Once again, the mental pictures you form are entirely up you - the important thing is that you should be able to see each picture clearly, and be able to conjure up the picture instantly.

On the next page is a list of the 52 Card Words for you to learn thoroughly. To obtain a hard copy of the list, print the file 'CARDS.LST' on the Memory Master disk. Because the words follow a definite pattern, they are much easier to learn than you think. Take some time now to learn them thoroughly - you will find them just as effective an aid for remembering Playing Cards as the Peg Words are for remembering numbers.

As you learn each Card Word, fix on a definite mental picture for that word and stick to that same picture every time. We could give you suggestions for the mental pictures, but you will be aware by now that this removes your Initial Awareness - it is much better if you form your own, vivid mental images for the words. Here is the complete list of 52 Card Words :

    Clubs           Diamonds    
    -----           --------         
    AC  - Cute      AD  - Date     
    2C  - Can       2D  - Dune     
    3C  - Come      3D  - Dame    
    4C  - Core      4D  - Door    
    5C  - Cool      5D  - Duel    
    6C  - Cash      6D  - Dash    
    7C  - Coke      7D  - Deck   
    8C  - Cuff      8D  - Dive     
    9C  - Cap       9D  - Dip     
    10C - Case      10D - Daze   
    JC  - Cadet     JD  - Dotted   
    QC  - Cotton    QD  - Detain   
    KC  - Cut Me    KD  - Dead Ham  


    Hearts            Spades
    ------            ------
    AH  - Hat         AS  - Suit
    2H  - Hen         2S  - Sun
    3H  - Home        3S  - Sum
    4H  - Hair        4S  - Sore
    5H  - Hole        5S  - Sail
    6H  - Hash        6S  - Sash
    7H  - Hog         7S  - Sock
    8H  - Hoof        8S  - Safe
    9H  - Hoop        9S  - Soap
    10H - Hose        10S - Suds
    JH  - Hooded      JS  - Steed
    QH  - Hoe Down    QS  - Satan
    KH  - Hit Me      KS  - Steam

Take some time right now to learn them as thorougly as you learned the Peg Words. Remember that the phonetic pattern almost tells you what the word for each card is. When you think you are ready to test yourself on the Card Words, press Try Me.