I was always fond of the idea mentioned in Ortiz's The Annotated Erdnase that recommended memorizing only the 5-card stock from the book. Darwin points out that if you have that memorized then you can use it even when you only need to stack 2 (or 3 or 4) cards - in the process of stacking those 2 (or whatever) you'll just be "stacking" some random cards along with the ones you care about.
But, you can take that a step further. Memorize the 5-card stock pattern and also know when to interrupt the pattern for lesser numbers of cards. For instance, if you only want to stack 2 cards, then one goes on top and the other goes on bottom. You then begin the 5-card stock sequence but can stop after those first 2 cards are in the proper places. That happens about 3 sentences into the description of the 5-card stock.
One pattern memorized = good.
One pattern and knowing when to interrupt the pattern because all the necessary work is done = better.
Five (or more) patterns memorized = best, but a lot more taxing on the memory and more of a risk of getting patterns confused.
Jason
But, you can take that a step further. Memorize the 5-card stock pattern and also know when to interrupt the pattern for lesser numbers of cards. For instance, if you only want to stack 2 cards, then one goes on top and the other goes on bottom. You then begin the 5-card stock sequence but can stop after those first 2 cards are in the proper places. That happens about 3 sentences into the description of the 5-card stock.
One pattern memorized = good.
One pattern and knowing when to interrupt the pattern because all the necessary work is done = better.
Five (or more) patterns memorized = best, but a lot more taxing on the memory and more of a risk of getting patterns confused.
Jason