shuffling

[nexyjo]

i remember a discussion about shuffling and the different ways that people use to mix up a deck. my boyfriend used to work in a casino, and happened to mention the "proper" names for the two different types of shuffling that i'm aware of, so i thought i'd pass along that info.

what i would consider "normal" shuffling, the way you typically see a regular deck of playing cards shuffled is called riffling - "to riffle", pronounced like the firearm. that's when you divide the deck in half, one half in each hand, and bend the corners, and let the cards slip past your thumbs, effectively piling back the two halves of the deck, in alternate order from each half. sheesh, that's a confusing description - i hope it's clear enough. anyway, there are several styles of doing this, but it's all the same as far as shuffling. i see this method as pretty hard on a deck - it bends the cards, weakening them to some degree, and i believe causes some wear and tear.

the other common shuffling method is called "lacing" - "to lace", pronounced exactly as you'd think, like the trimming on my night gown. in this method, i hold the deck in my left hand, and with my right, grab most of the deck, and let several cards fall out of my hand, placing them in the front of the cards still in my left hand. i keep doing this until all the cards are back in my left hand. in the past, i incorrectly refered to this as "hand over hand" shuffling.

i think lacing is much less hard on a deck - my robin wod deck is shuffled every day with this method, for about a year and a half, and shows virtually no signs of wear. it's the only way i shuffle a tarot deck.

so, which method do you use? or do you use another method, like spreading the cards on a table, mixing them around, and piling them back up? or all three? or something else all together?

luv and light,
nexy

[arizonagirl]

[quote]nexyjo (08 Aug, 2001 00:44):
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"lacing" - "to lace", pronounced exactly as you'd think, like the trimming on my night gown. in this method, i hold the deck in my left hand, and with my right, grab most of the deck, and let several cards fall out of my hand, placing them in the front of the cards still in my left hand. i keep doing this until all the cards are back in my left hand. in the past, i incorrectly refered to this as "hand over hand" shuffling.
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Do you do this over and over again, several times?

[.dc]

i'm definatly a riffler... =)

however, with my vertigo deck being of the oversized variety, i tend to shuffle my cards widthwise...rather from head to toe. and i cannot do the kewl bridge thing this way as they are too narrow to bridge.

i used to play solitare while watching tv. and i had a deck that more often than nought, i'd just riffle... something about how the cards sound while doing this. helps to focus and put me in a meditative state.

i've also used "the go fish variety" sometimes where you spread the cards on a table and mix them around as if you were gonna play go fish. this method works great for one card draws as the randomness and chance increases.

great question!

blessed be,
.dc

[Kiama]

I'm a lacer. Jeez, it sounds like a 'secret society' doesn't it? We'll all go around saying to each other on meeting: "So, are you a lacer, or a riffler?" He he.

I too find that lacing is easier on the cards. I'm quite annoyed with one of my friends who riffled my Robin Wood deck and has bent it forever more... Oh well, I suppose it gives the deck character.

Kiama

[Maan]

Wel i'm a lacer to.

And like you Kiama i really don't like it when people do that riffling thing with my cards.
I always hate the moment when you see the first sign of wear. After that i don't care.

Maan

[purplelady]

I'm definitely a riffler,and I gotta do the bridge thing too, if that's what that kewl thing is called.I think you're definitions are very good , nexyjo. I'll do the lace shuffle only if the cards are Way too big.

[Elphaba]

I'm a mixer. I can't 'riffle' a deck larger than playing cards without doing damage and I've never been able to master the 'lace' method. I just end up with large chunks of unshuffled cards. I put my cards on the floor and mix them around and around. Then I pick up small chunks and put them in piles on the table. When all of the cards are in small piles I stack them up , the order depending on where my hands reach. If I'm pressed for time I just fan out the deck and pick random cards without shuffling first.

[EveAnna]

I'm also a mixer, I find it hard to shuffle my cards hand to hand, I only have small hands , so I tend to put them all on the table or floor and give them a good mix around then get them into some kind of order

[MeeWah]

I'm a "lacer". I invariably fold, spindle or mutilate cards using any other method & I learned that is the best way to avoid damaging the cards. I think riffling is cool, but it's too hard on the cards & I'm too clumsy. I've had people damage my cards already--EEEK!! I also have small hands & some of the decks I use are too big for me to do otherwise without being a complete klutz.

[nexyjo]

[quote]arizonagirl (08 Aug, 2001 01:08):

nexyjo (08 Aug, 2001 00:44):
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"lacing" - "to lace", pronounced exactly as you'd think, like the trimming on my night gown. in this method, i hold the deck in my left hand, and with my right, grab most of the deck, and let several cards fall out of my hand, placing them in the front of the cards still in my left hand. i keep doing this until all the cards are back in my left hand. in the past, i incorrectly refered to this as "hand over hand" shuffling.
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Do you do this over and over again, several times?

yes. when i first get a deck, and it's in order, i'll "lace" for quite some time - even an hour. i also look at that first shuffling time as a time for bonding with the deck - kinda infusing it with my energy or aura. each time i use a deck, i'll try to lace at least 9 times - i seem to remember reading somewhere that shuffling a deck with 78 cards would require 9 shuffles before they once again are in random order. i usually loose count though - sheesh. i usually just end up lacing until i feel the cards are ready - interestingly enough, i usually get a pretty distinct feeling when i'm done shuffling, as if the deck says "ok, i'm ready".
love and light,
nexy