How to Do the Drunken Shuffle With Playing Cards

Whether you're playing a card game, sitting around the poker table or getting ready to perform some magic tricks, the shuffle is usually where you have to begin. After all, to make a trick impressive, you must mix the cards well. If you want to impress your friends, you should try the Drunken Shuffle. It's a normal shuffle, upside down.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Deck of cards

1. Split the deck of cards in half. Just like in a normal shuffle, split the deck in two, placing half in each hand. (It doesn't have to be exact.)

2. Invert your hands so the deck of cards is in front of your face. Usually you are shuffling down on a table. For this trick, the cards are just below your chin. The grip is the same, just make sure both thumbs are on the inside, meaning they are almost touching.

3. Keep pressure on your fingers. Remember that if you do not have adequate pressure on your index, middle, pinky and ring finger, the cards are going to go with gravity. As you release them, they will fly around the room.

4. Bend the cards slightly so that they will spring when you release your thumb.

5. Release each thumb and allow the cards to overlap and shuffle with each other. (Keep that pressure on the fingers.)

6. Perform a reverse dovetail to complete the drunken shuffle with your cards. When you shuffle cards, people make an arch or a dovetail to allow them to fall flat on top of each other. Because it's upside down, you'll be making a "U." Merely bend the cards in the palm of your hand and pull your hands apart slightly, allowing them to release and spring toward the tips of your fingers.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to work the cards a little before trying the Drunken Shuffle. Give them a few good normal shuffles to make sure they'll bend and arch with ease.