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Fixing Memory Gaps — 3-Strike Rule

Even with a perfect mindmap, some verse groups will be harder. Anki can automatically suspend cards after 3 times pressing Again, so you can fix the mindmap, not just repeat the verses. The recommended setup below uses auto-suspend.

User Guide: How to Auto-Suspend and Find Quran Error Cards​

Step 1: Set Up Automatic Suspension (Do this once)​

  1. Open Anki and click the gear icon next to your Quran Deck.
  2. Select Options.
  3. Scroll down to the Lapses section:
    • Leech threshold: Set to 3 lapses.
    • Leech action: Set to Suspend Card.
  4. Click Save.

How it works: Whenever you hit "Again" 3 times on any verse, Anki will automatically suspend the card and tag it as leech.

Step 2: Find Your Error Cards for Mindmap Revision​

When you are ready to work on your weak verses in Obsidian:

  1. Open Anki and press B (or click Browse at the top).
  2. In the search bar at the top, paste this search: deck:"YourQuranDeckName" is:suspended tag:leech
  3. Copy the list of verse numbers shown in the browser.
  4. Open Obsidian, locate those verses in your mindmaps, and update your visual connections.

Tip: in Quran Life the deck is called QuranLife::Review by default, and deck:QuranLife searches cover it (along with any sub-decks). If you renamed the deck on export, use your name instead in all searches below.

Step 3: Re-export & Unsuspend​

  1. Re-export your deck from the Obsidian plugin to update the cards in Anki.
  2. In the Anki Browser (B), search deck:"YourQuranDeckName" tag:leech is:suspended.
  3. Select all cards (Ctrl + A or Cmd + A), right-click, and select Toggle Suspend (Ctrl + Shift + S or Cmd + Shift + S) to put them back into rotation.
  4. (Optional) Remove the leech tag if you want a clean slate.

More Detail — How Difficult Cards Work​

  1. Deck options — what the export sets vs what we recommend:

    • The export sets a 3-strike threshold by default, tagging difficult cards after 3 times pressing Again.
    • Recommended (see the guide above): change the leech action to Suspend Card in Deck Options, so error cards pause automatically (is:suspended) until you fix the map.
    • You can also flag a card red yourself whenever you feel stuck, even before reaching 3 strikes.

  2. Find difficult cards:

    • If using auto-suspend (recommended): search deck:QuranLife is:suspended tag:leech.
    • Otherwise: open Browse and look under Tags for leech, or search tag:leech or your red flags.
    • Narrow it down per Surah, for example difficult cards in one Surah, and sort by creation or due date to see the most urgent first.

  3. Do NOT just press Again again — fix the mindmap:

    • Open the Anki Deck tab and pick that Surah.
    • View the map, then edit it — ask: why did I confuse these verses? Add a visual landmark, separate the branch, add a small story for that chunk. Keep groups to 2–4 items per branch.
    • If the group is too long, split it into two smaller groups in Define Splits and save.

  4. Re-export the fix:

    • Export the full deck and re-import it into Anki. Matching cards are updated (keeping your review dates) and new split groups arrive as New cards. An outdated group card stays as it was — you can delete it or suspend it yourself.
    • For the difficult card itself: after fixing the map, select it in the Browser and choose Forget (starts over as New) or reschedule it a week ahead for a short interval, then remove the leech tag.

Why “Fix the Map, Not Just Repeat”​

Pressing Again on the same verse group builds a weak trace. Moving similar verses far apart on the map and adding a logic bridge (thematic cause and effect) creates a distinct retrieval cue — next time you recall using the map, not rote sound.

Searches to Use Weekly​

  • deck:QuranLife is:suspended tag:leech — your auto-suspended difficult cards (recommended)
  • deck:QuranLife tag:leech — all difficult cards (including ones that aren't suspended)
  • deck:QuranLife flag:1 — your manual red flags (similarity errors)
  • deck:QuranLife tag:mutashabihat is:due — due similar verses to prioritize
  • deck:QuranLife tag:surah::67 — all cards for one Surah you just edited

Tip: After fixing 2–3 difficult cards in one Surah, do a 5-minute “teach back” — explain the map (big picture, then concept, then big picture again) out loud before the next Anki session.