Rajadodve786's Cards Training Journal

[Rajadodve786 (Raja Dodve)]

When I Started and what system I used?

• I started my 2 card block system, on 16th June 2025.
• I use phonetic based approach, doesn’t follow lance tschirhart shadow mapping, I have modified 3 digit so it’s somehow similar to it, but I like the idea of using alternate loci suggested by hannes atleast for now.

The day I achieved my first GOAL

• I finally got my first 52 cards in 49.56 sec on 11th July 2025. Time: 11:30 PM. That’s my initial goal.
  (I guess my background in using 3 digit indeed helped, for me right now recalling cards fastly in ml time is giving trouble a lot, and also because I left memory community for more than 2.5 years and coming again. I forgot my 3 digit system too because I did some experiments on it so it’s incomplete.)

How my training went?

• for me training is, just playing ml card matches. and sometimes playing training ml game.
  I started out playing 2 card since the first day without even knowing all images of it or even mapping of it perfectly.
  started playing IAM 10 min card games since 8 July 2025. And surprisingly it helped a lot.
  since the beginning of starting two cards, here is how many games I have played in total.

ML rated games : 58 games
ML friendly + training games : 6 games
IAM 10 min card games : 4

on ml rated 58th game (Day 26 since starting) I have finally achieved my first 52 cards. I am really happy with the results.

Loci: $ Palace (just for me, to check later what loci I used for this time)
Total locus used : 14
Time: 11 July 2025 (11:30 PM)

[Rajadodve786 (Raja Dodve)]

In the past I have tried 2 card block system but only for 1, 2 days and dropped because of procrastination.
Since that time I had my 1 card peg system that I casually made because I don’t want to seriously focus on any ml events except numbers and for playing league matches that time.

I casually tried 1 card still was able to get under 25 sec range so ofc why would I need 2 card where I can’t even able to get 52 in 2 minutes.

Finally I am not even good in 1 card system because I left memory community. and I am trying my 3 digit practice again so that’s more than enough reason to try 2 card as well. Since I am thinking to make atleast few plans for each ml events unlike before.

And again I have no plans or interest atleast this point in time to participate in any competition, I am just doing it casually to improve myself.

[Rajadodve786 (Raja Dodve)]

Second time got all 52 correct today, after doing one yesterday.

Time: 12 July 2025 (19:48)
Loci: AM House. (12 loci in this set)

Unique part : on 11th loci I got continuous 8 black initial images straight.
But luckily I felt that easier than tough.

I placed 4 images without any trouble on 11th loci, when I got 5th image on same spot I reflexively gave the 5th image hands, and later black card images I put that on the hands.

Alright, the initial goal was mentioned doing 52 cards, now my new aim is to get all 52 cards in top 5. After that I will think what new goals. Maybe going in 30-39s range.

[Rajadodve786 (Raja Dodve)]

kinda imagined like this, object got hands from itself. and put the remaining images on it.
I didn’t meant to do it initially, I just reflexively did it and then went with the flow.

[Rajadodve786 (Raja Dodve)]

I was trying 10 min card games on IAM just now, memorized 2 deck of cards and still going at 3rd deck, going super good this time. but someone came, and I need to go outside, leaving at only 2 deck and stop the 10 min card game. That’s really so bad when we are in a flow state and someone just came and made it worse.

I am just feeling if 10 min card games someone can show up what would happen in 1 hour card games if I ever try for fun experiment. I need to go insane lockdown without anyone knowing I am inside house lol.

That was my 5th iam game that I ever did, but I am not counting it now, I am just labelling it as drill game. I didn’t did drills since the start of 2 card block system. I guess I should try drills as well, and this maybe the start of drills (2 decks drilled in total)

Edit: conclusion, try at night time, no one will pop-up.

[Rajadodve786 (Raja Dodve)]

60th game on ml - 12 July 2025 (Day 27)

Too bad, when you get out of the box thing that didn’t even expected.
I had no idea I will go 30 sec pace atleast currently in time. (Just yesterday I was tired of getting 52 literally and now atleast one time but got 36 sec speed.)
I am too happy with the results. Trust me anyone who is looking for 2 card , try it. Getting 52 is insanely tough. But once you did it. After getting speed is easier. I am feeling it, it’s just no clue how much time it will take me to grab it perfectly.

But I memorized a deck of cards completely in 36.61 sec. I got too shocked and in excitement, I wasted some time on recalling. my hands were shaking literally. but I try to calm myself and in the end didn’t able to recall on time.

Loci : My home outside (14 loci )

[Rajadodve786 (Raja Dodve)]

have done 10 drills (12 July 2025) in training at sub 13.5 sec pace without actually putting them on loci.
there were some cards that I didn’t able to read in that pace , I just skipped them and move on…

Alex Mullen (comments from his website Mullen Memory)

finally I got something I really want to see, I had my doubts that alex doesn’t use 2 card block system or particularly what he told. But atleast this confirms atleast half things, I mean knowing the world’s best also use this method gives some confidence for sure.
but sorry for what happened at the cards event, theoretically appearing red-black-red-black… that’s not possible for sure.

I mean I had doubts will I really get better with this 2 card block, when even doing sub 10 sec number feels easier than getting 52 cards in 2 min???, is alex actually use this method or he just fake it out like some other competitors. doubts like this pop-ups like crazy.
Thanks to the above post, I am going to believe in 2 card block. and give it a try for real. Making shadow for each image is headache for sure, so why not atleast give block a try.
I actually tried 10 min IAM just to see , is using 2 card block in longer event’s bad choice, nope. I felt no problem in doing it for longer events. There is one old friend of mine that gives suggestions that it will not work and I used to believe everything. I should just try and check myself.

Anyway that thoughts were of previous month, when I couldn’t get 52 cards even in more than 2 minutes.
now atleast I believe I can speed things up, but how much I can able to boost it that time will say. Since I had no idea.

Thanks to the people whom after watching them I got some extra motivation of trying 2 card system. (Rest motivation came from inner self)
@TheHumanTim , @IceLegend , @BradenExplosion , @AlexM , @LociInTheSky

[Rajadodve786 (Raja Dodve)]

New PR

Woohooo, so I got my new personal record (2 card) - 41.37 sec on ml on 14th July 2025
(Day 29)
Although I didn’t felt that much happiness of getting it , that I felt when I did 52 cards first time.

(time : 12:13 am)
Loci : SS Museum (13 loci used)

Total Count

Rated games : 78 rated games
Training games : 6
IAM 10 min : 4
Drills : 12 (at the pace of average 13.5 sec without placing it on loci)

[Rajadodve786 (Raja Dodve)]

Finally got my all tops 5s with all 52 cards correct - Second goal of achieving all tops in the recent scores succeeded. ✓

That was insane, try to go beyond my limits. But failed. I did memo all and felt I get it all but failed to recall. (Temple location, 2nd part)

[Rajadodve786 (Raja Dodve)]

Got new Pr - 52 cards in 38.07 sec on 15 July 2025 (Day 30) at 1:35 am
Location - fal.. school (12 locus)

After a few moments later by 1 sec difference got again a new personal best by 2 card on 15 July 2025 (Day 30)
Location : barbershop (14 locus), 4 images grabbed at last.

Total games ever right now (I am not doing any secret training just what I am writing)
Rated games : 88
Training games : 6
IAM 10 min : 4 (I will attempt one Tommorow)
Drills : 25 (at the pace of average 14.5 sec without placing it on loci)

Almost reached my third goal of getting in 30-39 sec speed. I thought that was luck. But I got it just after few moment again. I will try to fill all top 5s with 30s as my third goal. Not gonna dream unrealistic like getting in the 20s.

[Rajadodve786 (Raja Dodve)]

just drilled IAM 10 min cards (13 decks) - just visualise each pair images, didn’t place at loci . going to take break now from cards.

[Rajadodve786 (Raja Dodve)]

Day 31: Today, I was busy , didn’t able to do any cards. just tried 10 min IAM cards so day will not be left without training.

so that’s finished one month training since started. I am going to close this post now. And further this, I will write anything in my notes instead of posting here. (other’s training feels like you can see their struggle, but I am feeling more like showing off, instead of struggle. I guess I am more suited to training in private and keeping my notes to myself then tell.
Thanks

[Rajadodve786 (Raja Dodve)]

before closing the post, as last discussion regarding this matter.
above are the top 12 people in the world, who is best at hour cards event.

Rank 1 => Andrea Muzii from Italy (ofcourse he use PAO)
Rank 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10 => 6 Mongolian Athletes (not sure about their exact approach, but they do use PAO too) - can you believe literally out of 12 candidates, half list are filled with mongolians. (Tenuun Tamir, Munkhshur, Enkhshur, Lkhagvadulam, Solongo, Puruvjav.)
Rank 4 and 6 => Li Ying and Shi Binbin from China (no clue about their methods let me know if anyone knows)
Rank 7 => Orkhan Ibadov from Azerbaizan
Rank 11 => Ewelina Pres from Poland
Rank 12 => ALex Mullen from USA (2 card Block System, just 1352 images, since he didn’t create shadow for each image like lance did, If my info is correct.)
Rank 12 => Ola kare risa from Norway

in general, most of them use PAO. and still are raising at the top. even though images do repeat in pao. but still despite the fact, they are at the top. while 2 card users lance, ben, alex, katie are not in the top 10.
Andrea is number 1 with his pao in 10 min cards, 30 min cards, and even Hour cards.

@MatteoCillo
Since you also started at the same time 2 card system, what’s your take on it matteo ? What’s your reason to pick 2 card system? Pao does seem to have potential. even speed card alex favorite event, shijir raising at the top with his PAO (I am currently thinking it in this way, 2 card block system is like a tricky path, where majority have chose and went with pao. and instead of going with the crowd. I am picking this path. When make such decisions. It might take us to the supremacy and may we never even reach anywhere. since not many have taken this path, there are not much idea about it)

this is troublesome and double effort work. but instead of choosing one, maybe try PAO and 2 card block simultaneosly (work on both systems, the one that give better results pick that one and go later with that?)

[Rajadodve786 (Raja Dodve)]

I am going to take a one month break from memory, or if necessary more.
See you later. (matteo if you happen to see the above post, can leave comment if want tok or let it be like that. I will check if I get time to see it.)

[BradenExplosion]

2 Card block system is the way! Don’t shy away from it because it is difficult. I’ve achieved things I never thought possible with it. But is just my experience though.

[Rajadodve786 (Raja Dodve)]

Since the day I started doing 2 card block system this is my first time seeing this. Literally just 5 loci game. and rest I just grabbed. (I got super surprised when I was at loci 2 like when it’s going to end lol)
if I was good in identifying all cards image, this is really something a personal best score breaker moment, I got unlucky there a shift missed.

I tried both approaches, of putting a smoke when image gets past 3 cards limit, so if it’s more than 3 cards, I just put smoke and go to next loci. but I am quite liking second way of putting whatever amount of images per locus get , it gives me more speed somehow.

[Rajadodve786 (Raja Dodve)]

Date : 21 October 2025, evening.

I finally broke my personal best score that I had done in the past 2, 3 years ago. that was 52 cards in 24 sec by 1 card object-object system. Not pa or pao, just a basic card system and I used to place 2 objects per locus.

for months, I stopped card training, since I was getting too addicted to it and I had others works busy there. In this month sometimes I am trying cards again, recently daily ml trials. just playing there per day is training for me.

I got 23 sec with 2 card block system today few hours ago (many top atheletes on ml still use 1 card system, that’s good. my reason for this , is now with 2 card block, I can play many games literally 10+ or even more without getting slow on any games. but when I used to use 1 card system, after 2, 3 games, I get low accuracy because of repetitve ghost images. maybe if I had done pao , I might have not faced this problem that much in the past)

[Rajadodve786 (Raja Dodve)]

Date: 11 November 2025, evening (6:30 pm)
Location: Tree House.
Just got a new personal best.
I was also able to finish recall while having more than 1:30 minutes on the clock, and I was so excited that I literally checked 5, 6 times before clicking finish.

At the moment, I still need to match the sounds to make images, and story out of it by chaining suit colors in a 2-card block. I feel that if I can able to instantly see images of 2 card pairs without the middle step of matching sounds, I might be able to get into sub 20, even much higher.
I am mentioning this, just in case, if I can do a new personal best in the future, I had better be aware that at this point, I wasn’t able to instantly see images of 2 card pairs.

[Rajadodve786 (Raja Dodve)]

Date: 14/11/2025 (10:00 am)
Location: Joker game palace.

That was so close, I really had it, all correct except the last card image at the wrong location, I even knew it, but didn’t have enough time to shift the cards. I get slow sometimes in recall.
Starting to feel like I am getting lots of 1352 repetitive images that I have seen, and the images I have seen already, I am getting good at handling them. As soon as I get good at instant image recognition, I feel I will surpass my current one.

[Rajadodve786 (Raja Dodve)]

Yessss, I did it finally.
It’s my first time achieving a sub-20 speed with all 52 cards correct. Looking forward to improving more.

Loci: AM house
Time: 9:00 am (22/11/2025)
I finish recalling faster as well. I had 1 minute extra on the clock, so I had much time to check if anything was wrong. (Recalling faster has benefits, I can check and click finish with confidence.)