1. A method of encoding intra-predictions of a current block of a current frame of a video sequence, comprising: identifying and sorting into an ordered list a select number (N) of spatially best matches to a matching template for the current block within previously coded and reconstructed blocks which neighbor the current block of video; encoding a selector which identifies which of the templates in the ordered list provides the actual least predictive error for the current block; and communicating the selector for receipt by a decoder configured for performing the same identifying and sorting step and then selecting for use the best match in response to said selector communicated from the encoder to completing the current block prediction.