How to Shuffle Cards: Riffle, Overhand and Hindu Shuffle

A good shuffle keeps a card game fair, and a smooth one looks great too. Here are the four shuffles worth learning, from the easiest to the classic casino-style riffle. We also cover the famous maths result that says how many shuffles you actually need.

1. The overhand shuffle (easiest)

1. Hold the deck long side down in your right hand (or left, if you're left-handed).
2. With your left thumb, pull small packets off the top into your left hand.
3. Keep going until the whole deck has moved across.
4. Repeat several times.

It's easy and gentle on the cards, but it mixes them slowly. You need many overhand shuffles to get a well-mixed deck.

2. The Hindu shuffle (common in South Asia)

1. Hold the deck face down in your right hand from above: fingers on one long edge, thumb on the other.
2. With your left thumb and fingers, pull small packets off the top and let them drop into your left palm.
3. Continue until the deck is used up.

It's the shuffle you'll see at most card tables in Bangladesh and India. It's quick and doesn't bend the cards.

3. The riffle shuffle (the casino classic)

1. Cut the deck into two roughly equal halves.
2. Hold one half in each hand, short edges facing each other, corners almost touching.
3. Bend the cards up slightly with your thumbs and let them fall alternately, so they interleave.
4. Push the halves together.

The bridge finish

After the riffle, arch the cards upwards with your thumbs while holding the ends, then let them cascade back into a neat deck. It looks great, but take care with old cards.

4. The wash (for when you want to be really sure)

Spread the cards face down on the table and swirl them around with both hands for about a minute, then gather them up. It's slow, but excellent for new decks.

How many shuffles does it take?

Mathematicians Dave Bayer and Persi Diaconis showed in 1992 that a 52-card deck needs about seven riffle shuffles to be properly random. Fewer than five leaves noticeable patterns (Wikipedia: Shuffling). Overhand shuffles are much weaker, so if that's your shuffle, do lots of them.

A fair routine: riffle 3–4 times, do one overhand or Hindu shuffle, riffle 3 more times, then let the player on your right cut the deck.

Shuffling etiquette

• Keep the cards low and face down so no one sees the bottom card.
• Always offer the cut before dealing.
• Deal in the right direction. Many South Asian games, like 29 and Hazari, deal and play counter-clockwise.

Or let your phone shuffle

Card apps use a random number generator, so every deal is well mixed with no sore thumbs. Card Adda shuffles and deals 16 card games for you, offline and free.

FAQ

How many times should you shuffle a deck of cards?

About seven riffle shuffles make a 52-card deck properly random. With overhand shuffles you need many more.

What is the Hindu shuffle?

A shuffle where you pull small packets from the top of the deck into your other hand. It's very common in South Asia.

Does riffle shuffling damage cards?

Bending cards too much can crease them. Keep the bend gentle, and use the table riffle for older decks.

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