How to Build a House of Cards

This is the most stable way to build large, complex card houses. The four-card cell can support as much as 660 pounds per square foot, making it a foundational structure that you can repeat and build upon. Some professional card stackers swear by this method.

1. 1
   Form the cell. First, arrange two cards into a slightly-off-center "T". Hold the cards, one in each hand, so that their flat faces are perpendicular to the table. Lean them against each other to form another almost-T. Next, place a third card against the middle of one card to form another "T". Close the box with a fourth card and "T", so you have four cards pressed against each other with a square space in the center.

   • This is the basic four-card cell or "lock box". It is one of the most structurally stable foundations that you can lay for your house of cards. Think of this cell as a pattern that you can repeat throughout your design.
2. 2
   Build a "roof" or "ceiling". Overlap two cards flat on top of your four-card cell. Then, lay two more flat cards (rotated at a 90-degree angle) to complete the roof. A "double-ply" flat layer will make your eventual structure much more stable.
3. 3
   Add a second story. Carefully construct a second four-card cell on top off the flat layer. You now have a stable two-story card structure. Feel free to keep adding stories until you run out of cards, or until you think the structure is tall enough. The four-card cell is a very strong root, so you should be able to stack many levels atop the foundation.

   • Try adding "wings" to the house by attaching more T-shapes to the ground floor. Whenever you put down a card shape that is perpendicular to the table surface, make sure to lay a flat card layer on top as a "ceiling". This will make the cards more structurally sound, and it will make the whole building look more like a house.
   • Get creative. The sky's the limit with this method – so see how big of a house you can build!
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1. 1
   Use cheap cards. Expensive pro-quality cards are usually smooth and glossy, and they are prone to slipping apart. Cheaper cards tend to be grainier and less slippery, and thus better for sticking together.
2. 2
   Choose your surface carefully. Pick a safe, sturdy space that will not shift while you're stacking cards. Try building upon a slightly textured surface, like a billiards table or an unfinished wood table. A smooth surface like a glass table could cause your cards to slip. Consider using a tablecloth or a place-mat to add texture to a smooth surface – but be aware that these unfixed foundations are prone to shift unexpectedly.

   • Make sure that there isn't a draft! Build your house of cards indoors, away from open windows, doors, fans, and vents. You don't want to lose all of your hard work to a ill-timed gust of wind.
3. 3
   Stay calm. A shaky hand or a sudden twitch can make your house crumble. Hold each card gently but firmly between two fingers of your dominant hand. Try to "float" it smoothly into place.

   • Try placing cards when you are between breaths, or at the "bottom of your breath" – in the moment just after you exhale. Take deep breaths, and pay attention to the brief space that occurs between exhalation and inhalation. Your body is at its stillest during this moment, and you may find it easier to keep your hand steady. ^[5]
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