How to Shuffle Cards
A good shuffle keeps the game fair. Here are the two main ways to do it.
Overhand shuffle
- Hold the deck in one hand, edges up.
- With the other hand, lift a block from the back and drop small packets back in front.
- Repeat several times.
Easy for beginners, but it mixes slowly: you need many overhand shuffles to mix a deck properly.
Riffle shuffle
- Split the deck into two halves.
- Hold them side by side and release the corners with your thumbs so the cards interleave.
- Push the halves together, or bend them into a "bridge" and let them fall.
How many times?
A well-known mathematical study found that about seven riffle shuffles mix a 52-card deck well. Fewer leaves patterns behind.
Finish with a cut
The player beside the dealer cuts the deck. In Kerala games, the dealer often deals from the cut point.
Online
Cheettukali's trick games use a random shuffle by computer. In 28, 29 and Thuruppu 40, you can even choose a "table-style" shuffle that leaves some long suits together, like a real hand-shuffled deck.
FAQ
How many times should you shuffle cards?
About seven riffle shuffles mix a deck well.