[Spaceman Spiff]

Just wondering what else is out there. This is somewhat related to the other thread about things you don't like when you visit other games. At one game I go to, they insist on "shuffling ahead". There are two decks running. While one hand is being played, the next dealer is shufflin the cards that he's going to deal. He passes to his right for a cut and then deals when it's time. I've tried to convince them that this is nuts. Anyone who is good enough to stack a deck is going to be good enough to uncut it back to where he set it.

We "shuffle behind" at my game. Basically, when the hand ends, the guy who dealt shuffles that deck. He also cuts the second deck that the guy on his right shuffled from the last hand. The guy to his left then deals the second deck. Using this method you've had three people handle the deck, a shuffler, a cutter, and a dealer. It's the best way that I can think of to help prevent any deck stacking.

[SpaceMonkey]

Originally Posted by Spaceman Spiff

We "shuffle behind" at my game. Basically, when the hand ends, the guy who dealt shuffles that deck. He also cuts the second deck that the guy on his right shuffled from the last hand. The guy to his left then deals the second deck. Using this method you've had three people handle the deck, a shuffler, a cutter, and a dealer. It's the best way that I can think of to help prevent any deck stacking.

That's what we do. Shuffle behind. Only difference is that we cut to the right (of the person who shuffled).

[R Deckard]

The person who does all the dealing at my game is the person I trust the most: me! Actually, this is not because of a trust issue but more for a gameplay issue--most of the players at my game are newbs and don't really know how to shuffle or deal, at least not as quickly as I can. Since I enjoy dealing and running the game, I still have fun even when losing.

Recently, the other veteran player in my game has offered to shuffle one deck while I deal the other. When the hand is over, I do a quick scramble of the old deck, square it up and exchange it for the new deck, which I then cut (or riffle and box a couple times then cut) onto the cut card and begin dealing. No muss, no fuss, no confusion.

I have observed people carefully scrutinizing my shuffling and dealing, so I know that I have come under suspicion. One guy, who wasn't used to seeing cards shuffled the "casino" way (thumb-on-the-corners riffle with deck flat on the table) actually tried it himself to see if I was doing it that way to peek at the cards! Fortunately I was dealing myself crap all night and so the suspicions subsided.

The only problem with doing all the dealing is that when I have a winning session (which is rare) I feel like I am under suspicion again.

Regardless of who and how they are shuffled, I would recommend that at least these two rules be followed by the shuffler:

1. The deck must be scrambled first before riffling.
2. The deck must be riffled at least five times, and boxed twice during the shuffle.

[boondocker96]

Any tips on how to 'casino shuffle'? I bridge my decks but tend to expose cards and want to cut down on that.
plus its a cooler more professional technique.

[R Deckard]

Originally Posted by boondocker96

Any tips on how to 'casino shuffle'? I bridge my decks but tend to expose cards and want to cut down on that.
plus its a cooler more professional technique.

Bridging, IMO, is only necessary when using paper cards to counteract the up-curve that shuffling causes. But I know you do not use paper cards!

So here we go, shuffling, R Deckard-style (I'm left-handed, so adjust if you're one of the unwashed masses of dexters):

1. After the scramble, start out with the deck in front of you like this:
   
   
2. Split the deck into two equal piles and place them on the table at about right angles to each other, corners touching:
   
   
3. With thumbs about an inch or so from the corners, index fingers on the backs, and the rest of you digits along the opposite side, bend the sides and corners up while simultaneously "scooting-in" the two piles a bit closer to each other:
   
   
4. Begin riffling, i.e. slowly running your thumbs up the sides of the cards, allowing alternate cards from each pile to fall onto each other:
   
   
5. When done, you should have both piles evenly (more or less, too perfect is actually no good!) interleaved at the corners:
   
   
6. Slide the two piles together and square up the deck:
   
   
7. After another riffle shuffle like this, you are ready to "box" the cards, aka "strip shuffle" or "running cuts". This is a critical part of shuffling, since it breaks up the "algorithm" of a perfect riffle shuffle (which can produce the same sequence of cards in eight iterations). Pick the whole deck straight up, grab a block (about a fifth) of the top of the cards in your other hand, and pull the rest of the deck away:
   
   
8. Place the block straight down on the table, bring the deck back over them, grab another block of cards from the deck, pull the rest of the deck away, and place that block on top of the previous block. Repeat until the whole deck is down:
   
   (here's a decent description of this technique with a video)
   
9. Riffle twice more, box once more, riffle one more time. Then slide the cut card in front of the deck, while simultaneously grabbing the top half of the deck, place the top half onto the cut card, and complete the cut:
   
   
10. You are now ready to deal your bad beats!

[boondocker96]

R Deckard YOU ARE THE MAN!...Its so great to see these forums working at such a high level.
I ask for the info,
and recieve a detailed tutorial, with pics no less. (and a video)
Thanks again!

[R Deckard]

jojo, Ten. . . smelling another article here. . . yes, no?

here, chippy, chippy.

[Wooderson]

Deck, you should fluff that up with some text and get another 1000 chips for it. Great info I didn't know.

[Spaceman Spiff]

That's sweet, Deck. It's too bad you did the procedure wrong-handed or I think it really could be an article.

This definitely should be an article or a FAQ or something. I was never for sure what boxing the cards meant, but I see that it's what i thought it was. I need to work on my riffle now.

[whitepotatoe]

Just for clarification, a "boxed card" is a card that is face up because it got flipped over during the shuffling process. If it comes out after the deal it is treated as a blank piece of paper. (Of course everyone at the table gets to see it) If it comes out during the deal you would follow the regular procedures as to whether its a misdeal or not.

R Deckard might be able to add to or clarify this because he seems like the dealing pro.

So if someone says "Ugh, this dealer has boxed cards every deal" Don't say "Well, isn't he supposed to do that?"