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THE WILLIAM COFFRIN STACK

Also known as Si Stebbins

by

Docc Hilford

C O P Y R I G H T © D O C C H I L F O R D 2 0 1 4
The true arrangement of card that William Coffrin, AKA Si Stebbins used in his famous
Vaudeville act is not as supposed by many modern card workers. The +3 value,
CHaSeD suit order is what he sold the rubes in his pitch book, Card Tricks and How
They Are Done.

Below is the actual arrangement. As you’ll notice it’s a +4 order. Coffrin used HiS DiCe
as the suit order, however, I have always found the SHoCkeD order easier to use in a
forward, backward position. (This suit arrangement was first popularized by Edward
Bagshawe circa 1923.

Notice the amazing patterns not seen in the +3

value order.
S H C D
For example, every 3rd card is -1 value and -1
A 5 9 K suit. Start at say, AS and count 3 cards to the KD.
The king is one less in value than the ace and
4 8 Q 3
diamond is one suit BACK from the spades.
7 J 2 6
Also, every card of a particular suit runs in the
10 A 5 9 traditional Si Stebbins order, i.e., +3 values.
K 4 8 Q This makes for a perfect pumping deck.
3 7 J 2 There are 4 different suits and one duplicate suit.
6 10 A 5 All the cards are separated by odd or even, face
card or number card.
9 K 4 8
If you always go with the majority choice, you’ll
Q 3 7 J only get a single “no” response before you know
2 6 10 A the mentally chosen card.

5 9 K 4 The Coffrin stack also allows for some excellent

poker deals. Cut a 2 to the bottom. (Example:
8 Q 3 7
Deal 3 hands of Five card Stud. You will have a
J 2 6 10 Royal Straight.)

The best feature of the Coffrin, or REAL Si Stebbins stack is that it can’t be
recognized. Almost every popular stack is explained on line in hundreds of ways.

C O P Y R I G H T © D O C C H I L F O R D 2 0 1 4
 DOCC HILFORD’S MONSTER SUIT SET-UP

In 1990 I released a full deck stack that used a memorized line. It became known
as the FIVE TREES stack. The most important feature of this arrangement is that
the suits were mathematically jumbled so a stack was extremely difficult to see.

Over the years many have adopted my suit jumble to their favorite stack.

The suits are arranged based on the value of the card preceding it. There are only
two simple rules:

It the card before is an ODD value, move forward 1 suit.

If the card is an ODD value, move 2 suits.

This second rule is even easier if you think of - same color, different suite.

With this incredible arrangement the Coffrin Hilford stack is as follows:

AS-5H-9C-KD-4S-8C-QS-3C-7D-JS-2H-6D-10H-AD-5S-9H-KC-4D-8H-QD-3H-7C-
JD-2S-6C-10S-AC-5D-9S-KH-4C-8S-QC-3S-7H-JC-2D-6H-10D-AH-5C-9D-
KS-4H-8D-QH-3D-7S-JH-2C-6S-10C

Of course, this changes the suit rotation of the original Coffrin stack, but it’s
infinitely easier to use than many other deck stacks, and it’s visually appealing.

Simply remember to calculate the suit first, then the value (+4) and you can do it
faster than the traditional Si Stebbins order.

Enjoy,

Docc Hilford

For more fun, go to:

DOCCHILFORDPRODUCTS.COM

C O P Y R I G H T © D O C C H I L F O R D 2 0 1 4