Si Stebbins Stack

A Si Stebbins stack is a specific arrangement of a card stack. It allows you to identify the suit and value of a card with just it’s position in the deck, and vice versa. If the deck has been cut, knowing the top card will tell you the bottom card and vice versa. It can be constructed from a standard 52-card deck. A deck in Si Stebbins order is cyclic, meaning if the bottom card of the deck preceeds the top card, it can be cut any number of times without disturbing the order.

Each card in a Si Stebbins stack alternates in suit in the order Clubs then Hearts then Spades then Diamonds. This is often called the CHaSeD order. Each card also has a value three greater than the preceding card, with the order of values being:
- Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King.

For example the first 4 cards are A♣, 4♥, 7♠ and 10♦.

Arrange your stack in this order.

You can use this grid for guidance, reading left to right, top to bottom.

A table comparing playing cards, displaying ranks and suits, with some card names replaced by card symbols.


From this order, you know that the value of a card proceding or preceding the one your audience member chose will be 3 more or 3 less in value and of the prior or next suit. For example, if your spectator cuts the deck, leaving the 8♥ on top, subtract 3 (8-3=5) and choose the prior suit (clubs). You now know that the bottom card of the deck is the 5♣.

A magic trick with this stack may look like this:
1) Assemble the Si Stebbins stack beforehand. Cut the deck a few times in front of the audience. You mustn’t do a Riffle/Dovetail Shuffle (weaving two halves) or any shuffle that will change the cyclic order of cards. Show your spectator the cards briefly; they will assume it has been shuffled given you cut the deck a few times
2) Give the deck of cards (face down) to the spectator and allow them to cut the stack at any point, and place them on the bottom of the stack. You can repeat this multiple times, allowing each spectator to do it if there is more than one. You could let them do it behind their back; it doesn’t matter so long as the order is not disturbed.
3) Tell the spectator to take the top card, and then collect the deck of cards from the spectator. When you put the deck of cards away, take a look at the bottom card. Use this to determine the card proceeding this, which will be the top card.
4) Tell your spectator to privately flip over and look at the top card of the deck without telling you what it is (do not look at the card when they do this).
5) Ask them any random question you like. What did you have for breakfast? Which child is your favourite? Through them off.
6) You can now tell them the identity of the card they have, without ever seeing it.