How to Shuffle a Deck of Cards and Keep it in Order

Shuffling cards is a way to prove to people around you that you have randomized the order. So it's a perfect time not to randomize the order. Read on to learn how to shuffle a deck of cards and keep it in order.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A deck of cards
• A moderate amount of dexterity

1. Understand death by 1,000 cuts. Cutting the deck randomizes the top card, so most observers think repeated cutting will randomize a deck. Not so--1,000 cuts may randomize the top card, but the rest of the cards will stay in the same order relative to that top card.

2. Be fast. Slowly cutting a deck once or twice doesn't look random. Hold the deck in one hand, remove the bottom half with the other hand and quickly slide it on top. Repeat this many times, as swiftly as possible without fumbling.

3. If you want to mix it up, throw in a fake bridge shuffle. Take half the deck in each hand, bend up the short side of each half with a thumb, and let them fall one by one to make a shuffling sound--only don't shuffle them together.

4. Alternating between Steps 2 and 3 will give the appearance of a randomized deck shuffled multiple ways, but will be in the same order as when you began, with only the starting card randomized.

5. If you want the top card not to change either, simply leave the bottom card of the deck sticking out a bit before you start "shuffling." This will make it easy to spot, and you can then re-cut the deck to return it to the bottom and leave everything in perfect order.

Tips & Warnings

• The best way not to be caught is not to look at what you're doing.
• Cheating in cards is illegal where money is bet on the game.