Q&A for How to Shuffle a Deck of Playing Cards

The overhand shuffle is the simplest type of shuffling, and can be learned quite easily, whereas rifle shuffling looks the coolest but is the toughest to learn.

It actually "breaks" the cards, which means makes them looser and easier to shuffle.

Yes. Some people have difficulty with other methods of shuffling, so if you take time and smear the cards very thoroughly, they will be well shuffled. However, it's helpful to learn other methods too, because sometimes there may not be space to smear the cards.

Yes, there are many different ways to shuffle a deck. The ways listed in this article are just the most common and easiest to learn. There are other shuffles that are harder, but more effective. The more difficult ones take longer, and are mainly used for intense card games such as poker.

When you finish "riffling" the cards together, try to make a arch with them. Then, slowly move your hands apart (like magnets with the poles facing each other), and the cards should cascade. The slower you move your hands apart, the better the cascade will look.

No, there is no limit on the number of times you can shuffle.

Riffling is the hardest way to shuffle cards. It looks the coolest to the majority of people, though.

Shuffling cards is done to ensure that each card has an equal amount of being drawn, and that the game doesn't go down in a similar way to the one played before. Basically, the deck is shuffled to ensure fair play.

Faro shuffling works just as good as riffle shuffling, since it is the most precise shuffle there is. It does also look very professional and does not bend the cards just as much as a riffle shuffle would.

Yes, it makes no difference for the shuffling. If the deck is already bent the other way, it might be a little harder to do.