A decoder receives a bitstream containing quantized coefficients representative of blocks of video representative of a plurality of pixels and decodes the bitstream using context adaptive binary arithmetic coding. The context adaptive binary arithmetic coding decodes the current syntax element using a first mode if the current syntax element is intra-coded and if selecting between a first set of probable modes and a second set of probable modes, where the first set of probable modes are more likely than the second set of probable modes. The context adaptive binary arithmetic coding decodes the current syntax element using a second mode if the current syntax element is intra-coded and if selecting among one of the second set of probable modes.