The Proper Shuffle (1 Viewer)

[TexRex]

Good info! I will start asking our dealers to wash the deck at the beginning of each new level, which for us is every 20 minutes. We have 2 dealers per table.

When I shuffle, here's what I do.

• Riffle
• Cut -- Pull some out of the middle and put them on either the top or bottom; sometimes do this twice, usually at least once for a shuffle. At least once per shuffle I do a multiple cut.
• Repeat 5 times.
• Cut cards
• Deal

Our dealers have a little more time since shuffling happens while another hand is in play. Also, some dealers pass the cards to players for them to shuffle. That doesn't get as consistently good shuffles, but dealers don't have to do all the shuffling.

 

[Gobbs]

A good dealer maintains a "messy" muck pile (inserting discarded cards into the muck, not placing them on top). Then, when gathering the cards for the next hand (tabled cards, discarded cards, muck pile, and community cards) gathers them into a messy pile, essentially giving them a 2-second or so mini-wash. If you do that after every hand, the standard riffle, riffle, box, riffle, cut (or riffle, box, riffle, riffle, cut) is plenty sufficient when using proper techniques. Having said that, I do like to give the cards a few-second wash every time the button passes me, just to be safe.

 

[planetary]

Dr. Diaconis's research was mentioned up-thread. For those looking for an overview of his findings, I refer you to his appearance on the excellent Numberphile YouTube channel.

 

[Gobbs]

Dr. Diaconis's research was mentioned up-thread. For those looking for an overview of his findings, I refer you to his appearance on the excellent Numberphile YouTube channel.

So, it takes 7 riffles to randomize cards, but 8 perfect out-shuffles will restore the cards to the original order??? I believe his math is flawed and dependent on how well, poorly, or consistently the dealer riffles. It also doesn't consider the varying types of shuffles. He just says you can't riffle less than seven times, but doesn't consider a mini-wash, riffle, box, riffle, riffle (cut). If he says he can randomly guess 4.5 cards out of 52 in a random deck, but 8-10 in a "non-random deck" that's not been shuffled his pre-requisite 7 times, I'll give him an over/under of guessing 7.5 out of 52 cards for $100 per used deck after a standard mini-wash, riffle, box, riffle, riffle, cut. (Remember, when the dealer drops the stub onto the messy muck after gathering the discarded cards and community cards, the other players haven't even seen half of the deck that is about to be re-shuffled and has very little clue about the order of most of the cards they did see. After one riffle, you've already mixed the seen and unseen cards.)

 

[WedgeRock]

(Remember, when the dealer drops the stub onto the messy muck after gathering the discarded cards and community cards, the other players haven't even seen half of the deck that is about to be re-shuffled and has very little clue about the order of most of the cards they did see. After one riffle, you've already mixed the seen and unseen cards.)

Remember also that you have nowhere near a half deck left as a stub in double board Omaga high...

 

[Poker Zombie]

Remember also that you have nowhere near a half deck left as a stub in double board Omaga high...

What's a stub? Asking for a Drawmaha dealer-friend.

 

[WedgeRock]

What's a stub? Asking for a Drawmaha dealer-friend.

Checking with my 7-handed SOHE dealer friend. Hold please.

 

[Gobbs]

Remember also that you have nowhere near a half deck left as a stub in double board Omaga high...

...but the dealer should be dropping that little stub on a messy muck pile that's already been mixed. So, same effect.