Aggressive shuffling, poor shuffling (1 Viewer)

[AutoDonk5000]

Hi!

Just getting started with a home game. To keep action moving and make new players comfortable, I was the designated dealer at the first game. In part because I was also playing I had other people shuffle the cards.

I'm using copags and desjns, I figure I'll always use nice plastic cards.

For aggressive actions I imagine will damage cards:
Bridges, bending the cards so they riffle like a machine gun, banging the deck on the corner of the table to straighten it out

Then for poor shuffling like to few riffles, picking cards up and shuffling, ECT.

My question is how do you deal with bad shuffling? Especially in a way that makes new players comfortable and keeps the atmosphere friendly. Because I wanted to take my brand new green and purple paisley deck of copags right out of my friends hands the other night. I didn't! But I wanted to

 

[Moxie Mike]

My question is how do you deal with bad shuffling? Especially in a way that makes new players comfortable and keeps the atmosphere friendly. Because I wanted to take my brand new green and purple paisley deck of copags right out of my friends hands the other night. I didn't! But I wanted to

I had a similar problem a while back. I kept finding cards with a crescent-shaped crease in the middle. I couldn't figure it out until I noticed a few people checking their hole cards with their card protector on them... which seemed to be causing the issue.

So I sent out a quick announcement framing it around the issue being the durability of the cards themselves. I'd suggest addressing everyone all at once, telling them that these cards are meant to be shuffled a certain way (casino riffle and strip) as to avoid damaging them.

 

[allforcharity]

Almost 100% of the damage I have seen happen to cards at the table can be reduced to these behaviours:

a) aggressive bending of the cards when peeking
- almost always happens when done with a capper on top of the cards while bending
- most often happens when cards are bent parallel to the long axis vs. the short axis

b) taking cards off the felt to shuffle on the rail and they fly everywhere, hitting felt, rail, chairs, and floor

I have never seen permanent marked damage to cards from bridge shuffling, minor unsustained bending, or rapping on the felt or other padded area of the table.

 

[Poker Zombie]

There are some great videos by "TruePokerDealer". Just send the link with your invite. Most new players want to learn, they just never knew. Mind you, not all will learn, but commenting "the overhand shuffle exposes cards" or "an extreme bridge may bend the cards" (I don't think plastic cards will bend from a bridge though). It's no different than pointing out that you should clean up a spill - it's about respect for the host, and friends will understand.

 

[upNdown]

Bridges, bending the cards so they riffle like a machine gun

I read that and I was about to tell you not to worry, nothing you do shuffling is likely to damage decent plastic cards.
Then I read this:

banging the deck on the corner of the table to straighten it out

and now I’m backing out of the room slowly.

 

[AutoDonk5000]

There are some great videos by "TruePokerDealer". Just send the link with your invite. Most new players want to learn, they just never knew. Mind you, not all will learn, but commenting "the overhand shuffle exposes cards" or "an extreme bridge may bend the cards" (I don't think plastic cards will bend from a bridge though). It's no different than pointing out that you should clean up a spill - it's about respect for the host, and friends will understand.

That's where I learned to shuffle and pitch!

Yeah I have a topper on top of a 96" folding table so there is some over hang. The loud riffle then the crack against the side of the table. I started just having the people on my left and right shuffle.

I had a similar problem a while back. I kept finding cards with a crescent-shaped crease in the middle. I couldn't figure it out until I noticed a few people checking their hole cards with their card protector on them... which seemed to be causing the issue.

So I sent out a quick announcement framing it around the issue being the durability of the cards themselves. I'd suggest addressing everyone all at once, telling them that these cards are meant to be shuffled a certain way (casino riffle and strip) as to avoid damaging

Thanks! Not a bad idea.

 

[Poker Zombie]

I read that and I was about to tell you not to worry, nothing you do shuffling is likely to damage decent plastic cards.
Then I read this:

and now I’m backing out of the room slowly.

I had one player that used an "aggressive" overhand shuffle. I never gave it much thought, but I found cards with nicks along the long edge (Copags). Nothing that I could see (and my eyes were much better back then), but I could feel it when I cleaned the deck at the end of the night. I chalked this up to "normal wear and tear". We eventually banned the player (for reasons unrelated to shuffling), and the nicks stopped.

 

[springbox]

My question is how do you deal with bad shuffling? Especially in a way that makes new players comfortable and keeps the atmosphere friendly. Because I wanted to take my brand new green and purple paisley deck of copags right out of my friends hands the other night. I didn't! But I wanted to

"Hey, can you be a little more gentle with the cards? They're not cheap and we'll need to swap them out if you mark or scratch them."

 

[merkong]

Dedicated dealer is the way to go. Consider it. Also, find your two or three shufflers. Let them know the magnitude of their assignment and how much the game appreciates it.

Dedicated. Dealer.

 

[AutoDonk5000]

You mean someone not playing? Then I'd have to take to pay them and I'm trying to keep it friendly.

I did designate myself as the dealer, but I was playing too and not accepting tips or raking.

I'm a decent dealer and a decent player but doing both at the same time was pretty tilting. Maybe that's why the bad shuffling was getting on my nerves so much.

 

[merkong]

We eventually banned the player (for reasons unrelated to shuffling), and the nicks stopped.

Banning players is an important, necessary, unfortunate, but required thing to do when warranted.

My banned list should table up in a “Winner Gets Another Chance in the Big Game” freeze out tourney.

 

[AutoDonk5000]

Dedicated dealer is the way to go. Consider it. Also, find your two or three shufflers. Let them know the magnitude of their assignment and how much the game appreciates it.

Dedicated. Dealer.

You mean someone not playing? Then I'd have to take to pay them and I'm trying to keep it friendly.

I did designate myself as the dealer, but I was playing too and not accepting tips or raking.

I'm a decent dealer and a decent player but doing both at the same time was pretty tilting. Maybe that's why the bad shuffling was getting on my nerves so much.

 

[merkong]

You mean someone not playing? Then I'd have to take to pay them and I'm trying to keep it friendly.

I did designate myself as the dealer, but I was playing too and not accepting tips or raking.

I'm a decent dealer and a decent player but doing both at the same time was pretty tilting. Maybe that's why the bad shuffling was getting on my nerves so much.

No, no… As owner of the game I deal. I sit center on one side and my Banker (son-in-law) sits opposite me. He takes the stub every 90 minutes or so for a few orbits. More often and for longer when I’m stuck lol

 

[merkong]

I did designate myself as the dealer, but I was playing too and not accepting tips or raking.

No, no tips and no rake. Spread food (check out my home games thread) and then tell them “tip or you’ll starve.” You’ll cover the food and a little more for all the hard work we put into our games as hosts.

It’ll all be in my ebook “Hosting 101 - So You Want to Host a Poker Game”

Ken (merkong) 500+ Sessions Spread
Owner/Operator/Founder:
*The Godfather Club MN (The Venue)
*The Executive Game, (The Current Game)
*Frogtown Card Club, St. Paul (Retired Venue)
*The Poker Family (Our Philosophy)

 

[merkong]

I'm a decent dealer and a decent player but doing both at the same time was pretty tilting. Maybe that's why the bad shuffling was getting on my nerves so much

Tell me about it. A member of my crew will pitch mixed games but otherwise it’s me with breaks. This week though ironically I’m having another member of my inner circle pitch with the Banker providing relief. I’ve thrown 99% of the hands in that 123 sessions and 100% of the previous 400 sessions at my previous game.

Nobody knows the struggle do they?

It’s still the way to go especially as the owner of the game.

km

 

[tabletalker7]

My question is how do you deal with bad shuffling?

Shuffle Tech. Problem solved.