Masterful card shuffling is one of the most basic things we expect from a poker dealer, whether experienced or not. As you all probably know card shuffling is a procedure used to randomize a deck of poker cards to secure an element of chance during play. The card shuffling factor is as important as any other factor in the game. Without it, poker loses much of its excitement. Unfortunately, since it takes quite a long period of time to become good in card shuffling, truly proficient poker card shufflers are quite rare.

In this particular article we would like to discuss various card shuffling techniques:

Riffle shuffle

One of the most common shuffling methods is called the 'riffle.' When using the 'riffle' technique the dealer holds roughly half of the card deck in each hand with his thumbs inward. Then, he releases the cards by the thumbs so they can land on the table interleaved. To put the cards back into place, some dealers place both stacks flat on the poker table making sure that their rear corners are touching. It is then customary to lift the back edges with the thumbs while pushing the stacks together. After shuffling, the cards must become a uniform pile.

Hindu shuffle

Widely known as 'Kattar,' this card shuffling method originated from India. The Hindu shuffle is rather easy to perform. The deck is held by the end with the thumb and middle finger of the left hand. Some dealers place their index finger on top for further support. The right hand comes underneath the deck. The thumb, middle and ring finger touch the side of the deck. The index finger remains in front. The right hand draws off a packet of cards from the bottom of the deck. The removed cards land on the palm of the right hand. This packet is then put on top of the first half. The procedure is repeated until the entire deck is located in the right hand.

Weave & Faro shuffles

The Weave shuffle is perfect for card dealer beginners. This is because this card shuffling method is both effective and easy to perform. Weaving is the procedure of intertwining two halves of a card deck. When the deck is split into two equal stacks it's called a Faro shuffle. The two stacks are crossed and slammed into each other in order to align them. They are then pushed together by the short sides and bent. When the pressure is released, the cards interweave.

Pile shuffle

Pile shuffling involves splitting the deck into several piles. The piles are then placed one on top of the other. This guarantees that cards that were next to each other are now completely separated. Since Pile shuffling does not provide perfect card randomization, it is not widely used by land-based casinos and poker rooms. To improve the randomization, poker dealers sometimes split the piles in a different order after each game.

Throughout poker's history, card shuffling methods preoccupied poker players from all over the world. For instance, Irish satirist, author and political pamphleteer Jonathan Swift was quoted as saying, "I must complain the cards are ill shuffled till I have a good hand."