How to Shuffle Cards

Knowing the proper way to shuffle will see you through card games and tricks galore.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Card Tables
• Chairs
• Playing Cards
• Chairs

1. Separate the deck of playing cards into two roughly even stacks.

2. Hold one stack in each hand, placing your thumb underneath the stack and your next three fingers on top.

3. 

   Position the two stacks at a slight angle and close to each other so that your thumbs are nearly touching.

4. 

   Lift the insides of both stacks with your thumbs while pushing down on the outsides with your fingers.

5. 

   Move your thumbs slowly out from their positions under the stacks, alternately releasing one card at a time.

6. Mix the two stacks in this fashion.

7. 

   Form a single deck by pushing the shuffled cards into a uniform pile.

Tips & Warnings

• Go slowly. Learning how to shuffle takes practice. Once you learn, you'll develop speed quickly.
• Practice step 5 with each hand separately. This is the trickiest step.
• New decks may be firm and difficult to shuffle. Make them more flexible by gently bending them with your hands. Be careful not to bend or crease individual cards.

[robertlee777]

on 7/11/2009 In order to avoid any tricks, it is important not only shuffling the cards, but to cut as well

[briangarvin]

on 2/4/2009 Shuffling Cards this way definitely takes a lot of practice, but I noticed I was able to Shuffle Cards just like it is displayed in the article above after just a few hours of practice. I personally believe this is a simple skill just about anyone can learn if they are just willing to practice at it a bit.

on 7/2/2006 Eight perfect riffle shuffles (perfect meaning the cards alternate left, right, left etc. and must be equal packets) will result in the deck returning to the starting order.

on 3/21/2006 Hold the deck in the right hand (if you're right handed), then hold the cards like you would in a normal riffle shuffle; index finger on back of the deck, nail touching, thumb at the bottom of the deck and middle, ring finger and pinky on the top.

Step one: Place your left hand under the deck with middle ring and pinky touching, index out to the side and thumb near the bottom.

Step two): Start to riffle cards onto the left fingers until you've reached about half way, stop here and hold the cards up in the right hand and the others resting on the left.

Step three: Put your thumb on the bottom of the bottom half and pull down to separate decks.

Step four: Quickly switch the thumb for the index finger and put your thumb on the top of the deck (you should now have both hands ready for regular riffle shuffle).

With practice this can be performed followed by a riffle shuffle, followed by a riffle (to align all the cards) and then repeated for a really neat looking shuffle.

on 2/12/2007 Mathematics shows that at least seven shuffles are needed to randomize the cards. More shuffles than that do not affect the randomness.