The short answer to the question of how to properly shuffle a deck of cards is: thoroughly. It is necessary to destroy the existing chain of cards, without leaving a single previous sequence. There are several methods. During official tournaments and in casinos, classic methods are usually used. When holding private games, you can surprise the audience with the most exotic tricks.

Basic methods

- Traditional. This method is simple and anyone can do it. The deck is in the left hand. The one on the right takes some of the cards and gives them to the left again, but in a different order. The so-called “rafting” allows you to shuffle cards well at home.

- Faro (Fan). A more complex method, it is often used by experienced dealers. Holding the cards suspended, they need to be divided into two approximately equal piles, connected by the edges like a gear, bent in an arc and quickly shuffled through one. Looks impressive, but takes practice and a strong deck.

- American version(aka Cut-In and Rifle). Shuffled in hands or on the table. The deck is bent up to 90 degrees and “slapped” into the other hand until about halfway. Then bend both parts, holding the edge with your thumb. They quickly “shoot” the card on each side to mix them up.

- strip. The deck is divided into blocks and then shuffled. There should be at least three parts; they are simply thrown on the table surface, one on top of the other, and so on at least 7-8 times.

- Chemmi. With a smooth movement, the dealer lays out the deck into two ribbon-shaped fans. After this, he simply mixes it, distributing it with his hands on the table in random order. After this it is collected into a pile.

- Indian style. The deck is divided into blocks and shuffled, as in the Strip version, but not on the table, but held in the hands.

Shuffle machine

Want to shuffle the cards so that everyone gasps? Learn to do this very quickly. But it is important to understand that there is always room for unconscious error and a loophole for cheaters.

For example, when shuffling in parts, the trickster can move the necessary cards down, and after shuffling, move them up again. There are dozens of such tricks.

To eliminate the human factor and mistrust, use a shuffle machine. This device will save you from worrying about how to shuffle cards correctly. Everything will be done perfectly and quickly. There are both inexpensive amateur models and professional-level options, usually they are built into the table.

Completion of the shuffle

Preparation of cards for the game is not limited to shuffling. The dealer must level the deck. In home games, his role is usually played by the person who sits to the left of the dealer.

To do this, take a cutting card; it is found in most poker sets. It is placed under the stack, this will prevent the bottom card from being accidentally “exposed”. The deck is sent to the “shoe” and handed over from there until only the cutting deck remains.

Almost every person in the world held a deck of cards in their hands. For some it is a simple playing instrument, for others it is used to predict fate, but for others it is a real job. Even for the simplest card game, shuffling is used to change the order of cards in the deck and add an element of randomness. People whose work involves cards, be it a dealer or a magician, know how to surprise the audience even before the show or game begins.

Their shuffling methods are fascinating, it seems like real magic. But there are methods of shuffling that cheaters use to deceive players, so if you know how to shuffle cards, you can protect yourself from being cheated.

Basic Shuffling Methods

It is impossible to enumerate all the mixing methods. Every day, experienced players, magicians and croupiers add to this list. Anyone can learn to shuffle a deck, but shuffling cards like a pro won't take a day of practice. We bring to your attention the most common methods of shuffling a deck.

Flipping

This method is the simplest and most common; it involves transferring cards from one hand to another. We take the deck with our left hand, and with our right hand we lift a small part of the cards and throw them into the deck. It is enough to do 7-8 repetitions.

Volt

This method of mixing is somewhat similar to juggling and looks very impressive. The method involves quickly shuffling cards in your hands, divided into several separate piles. Since shuffling cards using this method is not difficult, anyone can learn how to do it. First you need to divide the deck into 3 or 4 parts, holding the deck in your left hand with three fingers, with your index finger you need to lift a quarter of the cards and move them to the right. We fix our finger on the edge of the pushed cards and with our right finger push them to the left. It turns out that the stack of cards is wrapped between the palm trees and the cards are moved to the right hand. We repeat the same movements with the remaining parts. The movements are simple, but in order for the mixing to look spectacular, everything must be done quickly.

Fan

How to shuffle cards this way is clear from the name. You need to distribute the deck like a fan, divide it into two halves in two hands and pass one half of the deck between the other. In order for the cards to take on a random order, you need to do the fan several times.

Shuffle in parts

This method of shuffling is mainly used by sharpers who need to fold the cards in a special order. The essence of the method is to move the necessary cards to the bottom of the deck, and shuffle the rest of the deck without affecting the necessary ones. At the end of the shuffle, the sharper carefully moves the set aside cards to the top of the deck.

Swallow's tail

As in the fan, the deck of cards is divided in half and one half is passed into the other, but the cheater needs to cover one half with his right hand and describe the movements to the right side. Separating part of the deck, he again moves this part to the top. Everything happens quickly, it seems that the cards are shuffled, but in fact everything remains in place.

Foro

This is a more complex type of card shuffling and can be compared to tricks. This method requires a new deck; this trick will not work with the old one. The idea of the number is that the cards should fit into one another almost by weight, flowing from hand to hand, as if like a waterfall. Experienced dealers advise how to learn how to shuffle cards this way: holding the deck in your left hand, drag half of the cards with your right hand, then align the halves and place them vertically one on top of the other. We gradually remove our hands, and the cards smoothly move apart.

Knowing the principle of how to shuffle cards beautifully, and having enough time to practice, you can independently learn this craft in order to surprise your family with unusual shows.

Beautiful and effective shuffling of cards allows you to surprise the audience even before the start of the illusion show or game. Any trick will become even more exciting if you perform unusual actions with cards. Do you want to become a successful illusionist? Be sure to figure out how to shuffle cards beautifully.

Faro – spectacular and interesting

To perform the shuffle you will need new cards. When done correctly it will some kind of inset of pictures and their beautiful transition from one hand to another .

Faro looks like a waterfall. Achieving this effect is not difficult

Like a waterfall, the cards should shimmer, creating an exciting picture. How to do something so complicated? As easy as pie!

You will need:

Take the deck in your left hand.
Hold exactly half the deck with your right hand.
The two parts of the pack should be properly aligned and placed vertically, placing one on top of the other, applying light pressure.
Loosen your grip a little, after which the cards will begin to separate.

After painstaking training, you can achieve perfection. Careful preparation will help you shuffle the deck quickly and creatively, creating unusual waterfall. The main thing to remember is that the quality of the feint depends on the number of repetitions and your efforts.

Flipping

Flipping is a fairly simple method of mixing. At the moment of execution of the flourish all fingers are used . The stack should be well fixed. Stirring by flipping looks extraordinary. This way it is possible to mix the stack not only before the start of the trick, but also before the ordinary ones.

You need to use all your fingers to scroll

Do you want to learn a new method? Repeat each step:

Break the packet in half using your right thumb.
Effectively flip through both parts so that the cards lie on top of each other. Pictures from both packs should flash alternately.
Bend the packet into a “C” shape and loosen your fingers. This simple movement will allow the cards to easily enter the new pile.

To successfully execute a flourish It's better to take a new pack. Cards in good condition are easily amenable to various tricks. Old cards are not flexible enough to shuffle nicely and easily.

Beautiful volt

Volts is a special shuffling method based on the high-speed movement of individual stacks of a deck in the hands. Volt looks from the outside like juggling. It looks very good, but it is quite easy to learn.

Volt is similar to juggling, but much easier to implement

What do we have to do:

The stack here will need to be divided into three approximately equal parts .
Hold the pack in your left hand with three fingers by the parts that are shorter - the thumb on the outer edge, the middle and index fingers on the inner.
Next, with your index finger, you lift a third of the cards and move them to the side.
The index finger with your left is fixed on the outer edge of this half; you place the same finger with your right on the inner edge and move it in the opposite direction from the handle.
The stack spins on two fingers, rotates 180 degrees and falls into the right handle.
Further from what's left you bend over with your index finger, holding it with your thumb .
Place your right thumb on the outside and rotate the half on the two thumbs in the same way.
And then place your right index finger next to your left thumb and twist the last part on two fingers in the same way.

The most important thing in Volta is speed of movement. Of course, you won't be able to do this right away. You will most likely have to spend more than one day to make the trick look beautiful, although it all depends on your efforts.

It is worth noting that if the two previous methods mix the cards really well, then the volt is more likely aimed at making an impression on others. You are unlikely to be able to mix the deck well this way.

All three are protozoa shuffle methods. There really are a lot of effective ways to mix cards. Train your fingers, develop dexterity, and then any method will become within your control.

Video tutorials will help you learn how to shuffle cards beautifully:

Maybe you are not going to devote yourself to the work of a casino dealer, but you will find time to play cards with your family and friends or tell them fortunes. The image of a professional card player is created automatically when others observe the art of shuffling cards. We will give you tips on how to shuffle cards effectively.

The deck of cards must be thoroughly shuffled before starting a game or other action. So that all ranks and suits are evenly distributed in it. To learn the technique of shuffling cards, you need to hold the deck in your hands more often; subconsciously your hand gets used to its weight, size, and texture. You need to shuffle the cards calmly, slowly, without unnecessary fuss.

Easy way

Strip. The deck is on the table with the wide side facing you. With the thumb and ring finger of your left hand, take the deck by the end, the index finger is on top of the back of the cards. Raise the deck a little above the table. With the thumb and ring fingers of your left hand, grab about a third of the deck. Move your left hand with the rest of the deck to the side. Place the cards in your right hand on the table and repeat the procedure with the cards in your left hand until they are all on the table.

Effective method

Riffle. The deck is on the table in front of you. Divide it approximately equally. Place the resulting stacks at an angle to each other. The index fingers rest on the shirt, the remaining fingers hold the ends of the deck. Pressing the deck with your index finger, bend the edges of the decks upward with your thumb. Combine the corners of the decks until they touch lightly and release your thumbs. The cards will be stacked one on one in turn. Using the interlocking corners of the decks, combine the two parts into a single deck.

Spectacular way

Simple card volt

Place the deck in the palm of one hand, face down. The wide side of the deck rests on the ring and middle fingers. The little finger and index finger fix the deck at the ends. The thumb is free and slightly away from the deck.

Use your thumb to separate the deck (in the corner closest to you) in the middle area, so that the lower half rests on your palm, and the corner of the upper half is held by your thumb. Next, using your index finger as a fulcrum, with your thumb, holding the angle, you begin to turn away from you. As the top of the deck moves, use your little and ring fingers to hold the remaining cards. When the top half scrolls over the bottom, do the following. Use your little and ring fingers to press down on the rest of the deck (it will rest on your palm at an angle). Lower the top of the deck onto your palm and cover it with the other half of the cards.

Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering

This section is devoted to the simplest technical techniques, without which you cannot practice card tricks. These techniques have been used for several centuries and are basic elements in card magic. Some other sections discuss these techniques in more detail.

How to shuffle cards. Every person who has ever played cards knows perfectly well what shuffling is and how to shuffle cards. Therefore, in this section I will provide a description of the most popular and widespread card shuffling.

Take the deck in your left hand so that the long edge of the deck lies at the base of the fingers of your left hand. The left thumb is on the back of the top card, and the tips of the other fingers are on the left side of the bottom card of the deck. Next, take the deck with your right hand, lift it up, while the thumb of your left hand pulls some of the cards off the deck, leaving this part in your hand. After this, make several movements up and down with your right hand, lowering and raising the cards and the palm of your left hand, on top of the cards that are already in your left hand. Each time the cards are placed in the palm of the left hand, the left thumb pulls one or more cards from the right hand. This process continues until there are no cards left in the right hand. Then the shuffle is repeated. During the shuffling process, you should not look at the cards. The speed of the shuffle should be average, the tempo of the shuffle should be uniform. Practice shuffling until shuffling becomes a habit.

Control of the top card. This technique allows you to leave the top card on top of the deck after shuffling. To do this, take the deck and start shuffling in the usual way, while paying attention to the fact that the thumb on your left hand pulls only one top card from the beginning of the shuffle. After this, continue shuffling the cards without stopping until the deck runs out. As a result of these actions, the top card will move to the bottom of the deck. Then shuffle the cards again so that the last card in your right hand remains alone, and you casually throw it onto the top of the deck. So, as a result of two shuffles, the top card remained on the top of the deck. When using this technique, it is necessary not to focus the attention of the audience on the shuffle, but to use a psychological technique. The shuffling should proceed as if by itself and there should not be the slightest emphasis on shuffling the cards.

Bottom card control. This technique allows you to leave the bottom card at the bottom of the deck after shuffling. To do this, take the deck and start shuffling in the usual way, with the thumb of your left hand pulling off some of the cards on top of the deck and at the same time the middle and ring fingers of your left hand pulling off the bottom card. The remaining cards are shuffled as usual. As a result of using this technique, the bottom card remains in its place.

Control of the top and bottom cards. This technique allows you to leave the top and bottom cards of the deck in their places after shuffling. To do this, take the deck and start shuffling in the usual way, with your left hand pulling off the top and bottom cards at the same time, and continue shuffling the deck in the usual way. Then line up the cards in the deck and repeat the shuffle again, also pulling off the top and bottom cards at the beginning of the shuffle. Next, continue shuffling until there is one card left in your right hand, which is thrown to the top of the deck. As a result of using this technique, the bottom and top cards will remain in their places. This technique can be used to keep two bottom cards and one top card in their places.

This technique allows you to leave the top of the deck in its place after shuffling. This is done as follows. To do this, take the deck and before shuffling, pull off the top part of the deck, which you want to leave in place, then pull off just one card using the "ledge" technique, which is described below. Then continue shuffling the remaining deck as usual.

After the shuffle is completed, the card that will protrude will mark the place where the former top cards of the deck lie. Then with your right hand, lift the deck from your left hand, with the thumb of your right hand pressing forward on the protruding card, at the same time pushing it into the deck so that a small gap is formed in this place. With the thumb of your right hand, hold this slot and begin shuffling the cards until you reach this slot, after which all the cards that remain in your right hand are thrown to the top of the deck. As a result of using this technique, the initial top part of the deck will remain in place.

Chas (jogging). This term means a special shuffle of cards that is used as an auxiliary one. When using this shuffle, the cards are drawn strictly one at a time. To do this, take the deck, and starting the shuffle, press the thumb of your left hand to the back of the deck, your right hand lifts the deck, and the thumb of your left hand pulls off only the top card. After this, the deck is lowered and the left thumb again pulls off only the top card. The shuffling of cards continues in this manner until the entire deck is gone. Typically, this method of shuffling is used to draw two or three cards one at a time, in rare cases 6 cards, and there is no need to shuffle the entire deck, pulling only one card at a time, because such a shuffle looks unnatural and only arouses suspicion among the audience. This shuffle is very useful to use so that your fingers acquire the necessary sensitivity and lightness, which is needed in almost all shuffles. To use this shuffle you need cards in very good condition.

Projection (injog). This technique allows you to keep a certain place in the deck under control. To do this, take the deck, start shuffling and during the shuffle the right hand moves slightly towards the body, the thumb of the left hand pulls one card so that it protrudes slightly from the inner edge of the deck.

The right hand then moves forward to its starting position and continues the shuffle as usual. The result of this is that one card will protrude from the inside edge of the deck. Next, the shuffle continues in the usual way, and the cards must be shuffled somewhat unevenly, with a shift back and forth in order to disguise the protruding card. While performing this technique, you cannot look at the cards; it is necessary for the little finger on your left hand to feel the situation and determine that the card that is protruding has taken the correct position. During long training sessions, you can leave the card protruding just a few millimeters without losing control of it.

Shooting. This technique is used after shuffling to prevent card fraud. The meaning of the technique is quite simple, you need to swap the top and bottom of the deck. To do this, you need to remove any top part of the deck and place it under the bottom of the deck.

This technique is used to create the appearance of shooting. To do this, you need to divide the deck into two parts, as in a real shooting, but the upper part must be returned back to the top. To do this, you need to use a psychological technique, you need to divert the viewer’s attention to something unimportant. Shooting is done openly, with your fingertips in a position that is convenient for observation, emphasizing the fact that you are not hiding anything.

This course of action disarms the audience. Now you are removing the bottom of the deck instead of the top, but in order for the viewer to believe that the top of the deck has been removed, you must use the index finger of your right hand, which slides along the back of the top card in such a way as to pull the top of the deck with you. Next, the right hand places the removed part of the deck on the table and returns to the left hand, then takes the remaining part of the deck and places it on top of the first part. This created the impression of visibility of the shooting.

Key card. This technique is used in the trick of finding a card. The key card helps the magician find the card that the spectator will choose. The idea of this finding is very simple, if you know one of the cards in the deck, then by placing the card chosen by the spectator next to this card, you can always easily find an unknown card next to your card. Your known card is called a key card because it serves as a key to finding the card the spectator has chosen. Let's consider this technique in more detail. You take a deck, memorize the card that is on the bottom of the deck, then ask the viewer to choose any card, the viewer chooses it, remembers it and puts it on top of the deck, after which the deck is removed. As a result of shooting, the spectator's card will be under the card that was at the bottom of the deck. Now you need to look through the deck and pull out the card that is under your card. This is the easiest way to find a map. You don't have to use it, you just need to know it. But this method must be used. You look at the bottom card in the deck, shuffle the cards, and keep it at the bottom with the shuffle. Without looking at the deck, remove the lower part by sliding your index finger along the upper part. After this, you invite the spectator to place the selected card on top of the cards remaining in his left hand. As soon as the spectator places his card, you cover his card with the cards from your right hand. In this way the key card will lie on top of the spectator's card, and the spectator will have the impression that you have raised the deck in the middle to return the card, and that you are completely unaware of the cards that lie next to his card. I would like to draw attention to how to handle a deck in which the key card lies next to the spectator’s card. Of course, this deck can be removed any number of times and the key card and the selected card will not be separated. Even if one shot splits the deck by accident, a subsequent shot will combine them again. Shuffling is a different matter. During the shuffling process, the key card and the spectator's card may become separated. But in order for the cards not to separate, it is necessary to shuffle like this. Let's say that the key card and the spectator's card lie somewhere in the middle of the deck. You shuffle one third of the deck in the usual way, then discard the rest of the deck. Next, you draw about two-thirds of the deck and shuffle the remaining third of the deck on top of it. This double shuffle is quite convincing, although the middle part of the deck is not shuffled at all so the key card and the spectator's card cannot separate. If we assume that the magician lets the spectator shuffle the card, then the probability of these cards being separated is quite small and therefore the magicians let the spectator shuffle the deck.

Making a key card. To make a key card, take two identical picture cards. For one of the cards, cut off the white border around the card, and glue the middle part to the second similar card on the side of the picture. In this case, when removing cards, the key card should always be at the bottom of the deck. If the part remaining after cutting is glued on the side of the speck, then when removed it should be at the top of the deck. At a quick glance, the made card is no different from other cards, but it can be very easily found in the deck:

if you look at the deck from the side;
if you flip through cards, you can clearly hear a click;
if you feel the cards on one side.

The big advantage of this key card is that when shuffling, the key card and the card chosen by the spectator are not separated! Therefore, calmly place the chosen card by the spectator under the key card and shuffle in a cut-in manner so that the cards jump into each other. You can shuffle in this way as much as you like - the pair will not separate.

Shuffling exercises. All the shuffles discussed above are best trained with this exercise.

Take a deck of cards and turn the top card of the deck face up.
Next, shuffle the deck down and then back up.
Continue shuffling the deck, leaving the upturned card at the bottom, and then shuffle the deck back to the top.
Then turn over the bottom card and shuffle, leaving the top and bottom cards in their places.
By shuffling the deck, move the top card to the second place from the bottom of the deck, and then move the card back to the top of the deck. Be sure to check yourself.
After shuffling the cards in the above ways, start a new shuffle by pulling about one third of the deck with your left thumb, then shuffle 9 cards in one rhythm, counting to yourself 1-2-3 1-2-3 1-2-3 , draw the tenth card using the ledge and discard the rest of the deck. Then, with your right hand, lift the deck and push the protruding card back with your thumb to create a gap underneath the upside down card. After this, pull all the cards to the slot with your left thumb, then shuffle 10 cards again and discard the rest of the deck. The deck should return to the starting point position