Person
The first card chooses a recognizable character. Distinctive faces, clothing, voices, and mannerisms help.
Person · Action · Object
A full deck becomes a short walk through vivid scenes.
PAO compresses three abstract cards into one image. A memory palace then gives each image a stable place to wait until recall.
Action
The second card chooses a visible movement. “Smashing” is easier to picture than something vague like “thinking.”
Object
The third card supplies a concrete prop. Let it be oversized, noisy, messy, or otherwise hard to ignore.
Optional association shortcut
Let the rank suggest a sound.
The suit can narrow your cast while the rank supplies a consonant sound. The Major System works by sound—not spelling. For cards, the Ace uses 1 and the 10 uses 0.
Read the full Major System guide ↗A / 1T · D2N3M4R5L6J · SH · CH7K · hard G8F · V9P · B10 / 0S · Z · soft C
Example from Daniel's deck
Superman
10 supplies an S sound. Spades suggests a fictional character. Superman satisfies both clues.
Jack, Queen, and King: use a J/Q/K initial, a title, or whoever feels like the jack, queen, or king of that suit.
A three-card example
Queen of Hearts + Seven of Clubs + Ace of Diamonds
PersonYoga instructor+Actiontossing+Objectapple
Don’t memorize three labels. See a yoga instructor tossing a gigantic apple across the room. Add weight, movement, sound, and surprise.
Watch an example
See the complete card method in action.
Memory champion Nelson Dellis demonstrates how people, actions, objects, and a familiar route turn a shuffled deck into memorable scenes.
Your memory palace
A familiar route keeps every scene in order.
A memory palace does not have to be a palace—or even one building. It can be your home, your walk to work, or any route you know well. Each stop keeps one generated PAO scene in its proper place.
Memory palaceThe complete familiar route.
Location or locusOne distinct stopping point.
PAO sceneThe three-card image placed there.
Why 18? Seventeen complete PAO scenes cover 51 cards. The final card uses the eighteenth location as a distinctive last marker.
Your saved palaceMy memory palace
18 locations1Front gate
2Front door
3Entryway
4Coat rack
5Sofa
6Coffee table
+ 12 more locations
Recommended path
Build associations
Complete all 52 cards with images that feel personal.
Drill both directions
Recognize each PAO and recover its card without hesitation.
Practice scenes
Combine random triples until the image forms immediately.
Attempt full decks
Track perfect recalls first; then gradually reduce your time.