What is a perfect faro shuffle?
A perfect faro splits the deck into two equal 26-card halves and interlaces them so cards alternate exactly. It requires precise technique and is a studied skill in card magic.
5th Faro Stack – Full Card Order
The 5th faro stack is a memorized deck order derived from repeated perfect faro shuffles. A perfect faro splits the deck into two equal halves and interweaves the cards exactly one-for-one, so each shuffle produces a fixed, predictable arrangement.
Because the order comes from a mathematical procedure rather than being hand-built for specific tricks, it appeals to magicians who already faro fluently or who like structural stacks. The complete 52-card sequence is listed below—drill it in Mem Deck like any other memorized deck.
Complete 52-card order
- Ace of Spades
- 9 of Spades
- 4 of Hearts
- Queen of Hearts
- 7 of Clubs
- 2 of Diamonds
- 10 of Diamonds
- 6 of Spades
- Ace of Hearts
- 9 of Hearts
- 4 of Clubs
- Queen of Clubs
- 7 of Diamonds
- 3 of Spades
- Jack of Spades
- 6 of Hearts
- Ace of Clubs
- 9 of Clubs
- 4 of Diamonds
- Queen of Diamonds
- 8 of Spades
- 3 of Hearts
- Jack of Hearts
- 6 of Clubs
- Ace of Diamonds
- 9 of Diamonds
- 5 of Spades
- King of Spades
- 8 of Hearts
- 3 of Clubs
- Jack of Clubs
- 6 of Diamonds
- 2 of Spades
- 10 of Spades
- 5 of Hearts
- King of Hearts
- 8 of Clubs
- 3 of Diamonds
- Jack of Diamonds
- 7 of Spades
- 2 of Hearts
- 10 of Hearts
- 5 of Clubs
- King of Clubs
- 8 of Diamonds
- 4 of Spades
- Queen of Spades
- 7 of Hearts
- 2 of Clubs
- 10 of Clubs
- 5 of Diamonds
- King of Diamonds
Learning tips
- If you can perform perfect faros reliably, shuffle through the sequence physically while naming cards—it connects muscle memory to stack knowledge.
- Use mixed-mode drills early so you cannot rely on a single direction of recall.
- Pair numeric drills with cutting practice—knowing a card's position helps estimate cut depth.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 5th faro stack good for beginners?
It is viable if you already faro well or enjoy mathematical stacks. If you want maximum published routine support, Tamariz or Aronson offer larger libraries.
How long does it take to memorize the 5th faro stack?
Expect a similar timeline to other full-deck systems: four to eight weeks for working recall with daily practice.