How to Riffle Shuffle With Playing Cards

Learning to riffle shuffle with a deck of playing cards can take a bit of practice. But once you master the technique, you can impress your friends with your manual dexterity. The table riffle shuffle allows players to see very few cards as the dealer shuffles them. This shuffle does a good job of mixing the cards.

Things You'll Need

• Deck of playing cards

Instructions

1. Lay the deck of cards face down on the table in front of you. Place the deck lengthwise. If the deck of cards is brand new, flex them a bit first to loosen them up and to separate the cards.

2. Place both thumbs on the front lengthwise side of the deck. Put your middle and ring fingers of both hands on the back length of the deck. Let your pinky fingers rest on either end of the cards.

3. Split the deck into halves. Pull one half into your left hand and the other half into your right.

4. Angle the lower left corner of the left half and the lower right corner of the right half slightly away from you with both hands. Pull both halves closely together.

5. Gently lift those two corners with your thumbs. Keep your middle and ring fingers on the far side of each half and your pinky fingers on each end. Place your index finger knuckle on the top of each half.

6. Let the cards fall together. Try to alternate cards from both sides of the deck so that each side is equal.

7. Practice, practice, practice. Some decks of cards slide together better than others. And if this hold isn't comfortable, try another until you find one that works for you. It is possible to riffle shuffle the far corners as well as the entire narrow side of the deck.