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A web-based application to prepare you for memorizing a full deck of playing cards using the Person-Action-Object (PAO) system, a powerful memory technique.

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PAO Card Memory Trainer

A web-based application to prepare you for memorizing a full deck of playing cards using the Person-Action-Object (PAO) system, a powerful memory technique used by memory athletes.

General info on the PAO memorization system here.

Getting Started

  1. Clone the repository
  2. Open index.html in your browser
  3. Practice with the flashcard system
  4. Track your progress with the streak counter

Demo

https://pao-trainer.netlify.app/

What is PAO?

PAO is a playing card memorization system where:

  • Each group of three cards represents a scene
  • The scene consists of a Person performing an Action with an Object
  • This creates vivid, memorable images that are easier to recall than abstract card numbers

How it Works

  1. Each group of 3 cards corresponds to:

    • First card = Person
    • Second card = Action
    • Third card = Object
  2. Example Scene:

    Cards: Ace of Spades (AS), King of Hearts (KH), Queen of Diamonds (QD)
    Scene: Albert Einstein juggling glowing lightbulbs
    - Person: Albert Einstein (AS)
    - Action: Juggling (KH)
    - Object: Glowing lightbulb (QD)
    

Memory Techniques

Creating Memorable Scenes

  1. Make scenes vivid and outrageous
  2. Use all your senses when visualizing
  3. Add emotion and movement
  4. Link scenes together in a journey

Practice Tips

  1. Start with one card group at a time
  2. Practice both forwards and backwards
  3. Time yourself to track improvement
  4. Use spaced repetition

Example PAO Systems

Here are some example associations from the trainer:

AS-KH-QD = Albert Einstein juggling lightbulbs
JC-10S-9H = Bruce Lee karate chopping a brick wall
8D-7C-6S = Marilyn Monroe dancing in a red dress

Complete Card Mappings Reference

Suit Themes and Memory Hooks

Each suit has a specific theme to help with memorization:

Hearts (♥) - Story & Fantasy Characters

  • Theme: Literature, mythology, and fantasy
  • Memory Hook: Hearts represent passion and creativity
  • Examples: Shakespeare (writing), Thor (hammer), Robin Hood (bow)
  • Pattern: Characters known for dramatic or passionate stories

Diamonds (♦) - Historical & Professional Figures

  • Theme: Achievement, discovery, and expertise
  • Memory Hook: Diamonds represent value and excellence
  • Examples: Mozart (music), Napoleon (conquest), Amelia Earhart (aviation)
  • Pattern: People who pioneered or mastered their fields

Clubs (♣) - Greek Mythology

  • Theme: Ancient Greek gods and their powers
  • Memory Hook: Clubs represent power and authority
  • Examples: Zeus (thunder), Poseidon (sea), Athena (wisdom)
  • Pattern: Each god's traditional powers and symbols

Spades (♠) - Modern Icons & Celebrities

  • Theme: 20th century pop culture and achievements
  • Memory Hook: Spades represent groundbreaking achievement
  • Examples: Einstein (science), Muhammad Ali (sports), Marilyn Monroe (film)
  • Pattern: People who revolutionized their fields in modern times

Memory Association Tips

  1. Connect the suit's theme to its symbol:

    • Hearts (♥) → Passion → Story characters
    • Diamonds (♦) → Value → Historical achievers
    • Clubs (♣) → Power → Greek gods
    • Spades (♠) → Innovation → Modern icons
  2. Use card ranks meaningfully:

    • Ace-King-Queen: Usually the most powerful/famous figures
    • Jack-10: Secondary but still important figures
    • 9-2: Supporting characters or specialized roles

Hearts (♥)

Card    Person               Action           Object             
AH Shakespeare writing quill
KH Thor swinging hammer
QH Wonder Woman lassoing golden lasso
JH Robin Hood shooting bow & arrow
10H Beethoven conducting symphony
9H Ninja sneaking smoke bomb
8H Chef cooking frying pan
7H Wizard casting spell book
6H Astronaut floating space suit
5H Cowboy riding horse
4H Pirate sailing ship
3H Knight jousting lance
2H Jester juggling balls

Diamonds (♦)

Card    Person               Action           Object             
AD Mozart composing piano
KD Napoleon conquering sword
QD Amelia Earhart flying airplane
JD Indiana Jones exploring whip
10D DaVinci painting brush
9D Sherlock investigating magnifying glass
8D Firefighter rescuing hose
7D Blacksmith forging anvil
6D Scientist experimenting microscope
5D Surgeon operating scalpel
4D Race Car Driver racing steering wheel
3D Gardener planting seeds
2D Photographer shooting camera

Clubs (♣)

Card    Person               Action           Object             
AC Hercules lifting boulder
KC Zeus thundering lightning bolt
QC Medusa petrifying snake hair
JC Poseidon wave making trident
10C Atlas carrying globe
9C Artemis hunting silver bow
8C Dionysus drinking wine cup
7C Aphrodite charming mirror
6C Hades ruling helm of darkness
5C Apollo healing lyre
4C Ares fighting spear
3C Athena strategizing shield
2C Hermes delivering winged sandals

Spades (♠)

Card    Person               Action          Object             
AS Albert Einstein theorizing blackboard
KS Arnold Schwarzenegger lifting dumbbell
QS Lady Gaga singing microphone
JS Bruce Lee kicking nunchucks
10S Elvis Presley dancing guitar
9S Muhammad Ali boxing gloves
8S Marilyn Monroe posing white dress
7S Houdini escaping chains
6S Marie Curie experimenting test tube
5S Michael Jordan dunking basketball
4S Serena Williams serving tennis racket
3S David Copperfield levitating magic wand
2S Charlie Chaplin waddling cane

Stats Page

The stats page (stats.html) provides an overview of your training performance:

  • Displays each memorized triplet along with correctness.
  • Shows aggregate metrics, including the correct/incorrect ratio and total hands.
  • Warns you if your local storage usage exceeds 8 MB.

Practice Strategy

  1. Start by memorizing one suit at a time
  2. Create vivid mental images for each card's three possible roles
  3. Practice recalling both forward (card → PAO) and backward (PAO → card)
  4. Use the trainer's spaced repetition to reinforce your memory

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A web-based application to prepare you for memorizing a full deck of playing cards using the Person-Action-Object (PAO) system, a powerful memory technique.

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