Do you just shuffle or riffle-shuffle?

[Decan]

Hi!

A little poll (now that I learned how to do that!) 🙂

Honestly I didn't riffle my cards so far, I was used to just shuffle them and to cut, that's all. But since I also need to have reversed cards for the few decks that I use I found that to riffle my cards could be a solution!

Therefore lately I began to riffle them, then I shuffle and cut them (generally in 3 paquets).

You know everything. This could evolve of course!

To riffle the cards is something pleasant to do!

Edited February 21, 2020 by Decan

[Rupicapra]

my option would be: other/it depends

 

For me it depends on the cardstock (I don't riffle too stiff ones cause I worry it might damage them), the size (bigger decks are too big for me to riffle) and how precious the decks are to me (same again, I worry that riffling damages the cardstock). Also, the way I riffle keeps the cards upright as well. 

So I tend not to riffle shuffle a lot of decks,  instead of riffle shuffling I either make a big card pile swirly pit on the table that I gently stir, or just deal them into several piles and then stack the piles. 

[Decan]

I added an option @Rupicapra

[Flaxen]

I don’t riffle shuffle at all - just hand-over-hand. It’s the way I learnt to shuffle as a child and I’ve never been able to riffle shuffle.  I’d also worry about damaging my cards as I’m so inept at it. 

[Decan]

Interesting!

I think the cardstock is something to consider if we want to riffle, if too thin or too thick I'm afraid this can damage a deck indeed. Otherwise, I don't know, it needs a little experience (I exercise myself with a cheap deck).

Actually I had this idea because lately I had some irrelevant spreads, and thought that this could come from how I shuffle my cards (maybe I don't shuffle enough).

Edited February 19, 2020 by Decan

[gregory]

It depends. On the card stock, on the card SIZE, on whether I have a table to hand - I don't know about others, but I can't riffle on my knee - on the other hand I am rubbish at hand over hand. With very big decks I have been known to swirl them around on a table. With very fragile decks (One in Ten, I am looking at you....) I shuffle ANOTHER deck and then pick out the card I hit.

 

Decan - I am assured by someone who knows her stuff that 7 shuffles absolutely randomises the cards. Apparently it has been mathematically proved.

[Rupicapra]

9 minutes ago, gregory said:

 

Decan - I am assured by someone who knows her stuff that 7 shuffles absolutely randomises the cards.

Seven riffle shuffles. Our something crazy like 10.000 overhand shuffles I think... 

[Decan]

@gregory I take note about the 7 shuffles, thanks; actually I have to shuffle more my cards I think (in general).

[gregory]

12 minutes ago, Rupicapra said:

Seven riffle shuffles. Our something crazy like 10.000 overhand shuffles I think... 

 

OK i KNEW I didn't like overhand !

[AJ-ish/Sharyn]

I thought riffle IS shuffle? I do all ways depending on size. 

I'd say predominantly from the sides though, rather the ends. 

I never order my decks after that first time when I get them, so they are always shuffled in a sense, but each use gets two shuffles, take a 1/3 and move it to the back, then shuffle again. 

then fan and draw at random, never off the top like poker. 

[katrinka]

I always riffle if the deck allows that. Most do. But I have a few that are uncoated or oversized, so then I have to improvise. Nothing beats riffling, though.

[53rdspirit]

Hand-over-hand. I've damaged cards with the riffle/shuffle. 😬

[Guest]

I always riffle providing the cards do not prohibit it. Since January, I have solely utilised ( for tarot readings) an old Waddingtons 1JJ and the 1890 facsimile of the grand Etteilla.

 

Both riffle well — and for the Etteilla makes life far easier — but the 1JJ is rather old and does not riffle as easily. Providing it’s done correctly, rifling shouldn’t damage cards. I riffle my piquet cards from 1880. 
 

 

Edited February 19, 2020 by Guest

[Decan]

Hmm, interesting! I think I will riffle regularly but with much caution and depending on the cardstock, it would be too bad to damage a deck.

And likely from the ends (what I do) because if I riffle from the sides I'm afraid that I could damage my cards (not large enough generally).

[Guest]

What I do @Decan is to turn the cards. I riffle three times (top, side and then bottom) before cutting the cards. 

[Decan]

Okay! Well, there will be some exercises ahead for me on my cheap deck because if I think it's more or less correct with the ends (top or bottom), with the side it could be a bit more difficult.

But I will see that.

Otherwise I'm sure that way the deck is completely randomized (and quickly!)

[geoxena]

I've never really been certain of what riffling is.  I always thought I am shuffling, but maybe I am riffling???  I have very limited bandwidth, so I don't watch YouTube.

 

I know I shuffle well enough, but I'm not obsessive about it. I figure that whenever I stop shuffling and feel ready to proceed with the reading, the cards are in the places they're meant to be.  All these elaborate shuffles and cuts and superstitions aren't necessary for me.

Edited February 19, 2020 by geoxena

[gregory]

Riffle shuffling is when you put two piles on the table and fwap them into each other. GREAT sound !

[Cobweb]

I can't riffle - I've never got the hang of it (and always worry about hurting the cards....).   I shuffle hand over hand until I'm ready, then cut into three piles and pick the one that feels right (or ask whoever I'm reading for to pick their pile, if I'm reading for someone else in person).     But I always, always shuffle at the end of a reading too.   I don't like to put the cards away if the reading is still clinging to them.  I guess I probably end up at the superstitious end of the spectrum, but it works for me.   🙂 

[katrinka]

6 hours ago, gregory said:

Riffle shuffling is when you put two piles on the table and fwap them into each other. GREAT sound !

Or you can just hold them in your hands and do it. 
 

It works for anything coated, up to about a standard RWS size. But you would need very large hands to riffle anything much larger than that.

I'm very happy to see all the linen stock available these days. It riffles beautifully. 

3 hours ago, Cobweb said:

I can't riffle - I've never got the hang of it (and always worry about hurting the cards....). 

As long as the cards slide easily and they can bend without creasing, it's fine. 
You're bending them backwards, but you bend them forward when you bridge, so your deck stays nice and flat. 

 

3 hours ago, Cobweb said:

But I always, always shuffle at the end of a reading too.   I don't like to put the cards away if the reading is still clinging to them.  I guess I probably end up at the superstitious end of the spectrum, but it works for me

LOL, I do that too. Just one shuffle to say it's over. Like washing a dish, lol. 

[geoxena]

7 hours ago, gregory said:

Riffle shuffling is when you put two piles on the table and fwap them into each other. GREAT sound !

 

9 minutes ago, katrinka said:

Or you can just hold them in your hands and do it. 

Oh, okay, I suspected that was riffling but wasn't sure.  I do that every time.  It's how I was taught when playing card games as a little kid - we just called it shuffling.  I never heard the term riffle until I joined Aeclectic a few years before it closed.  So, yeah, I riffle, but I don't bend the cards backward as far as the guy in that video does.  None of my decks have been ruined by it.  😕

 

 

.

Edited February 20, 2020 by geoxena
typos

[xTheHermitx]

I riffle, after doing a thing where I split the deck into 6 piles. I riffle each pile together, and then riffle the whole thing.

 

This actually came from playing Magic: The Gathering, and not wanting to damage or bend the cards due to their collectability.

 

We call it the "Westerville Shuffle" after our friends from Westerville  OH who did it that way...

[Lady Butterfly]

Yeah, I only over-hand shuffle. I worry for my cards with riffle shuffles.

 

When I feel they need an extra mixing, I deal them out into six piles clockwise, then shuffle each pile, then shuffle the piles opposite eachother together. And then shuffle them all back together.

[Symph]

Well first I turn on the fog machine.  Then I unbutton my shirt a bit, then I start sweating a lot, and then I get really pumped, split the deck in half and shake the cards until they are shuffled.  Oh yes, I believe I have some video of the last time I shuffled let me see if I can find it.....   why here it is.....

If you ask me, that's the only way to shuffle....  😎

[Decan]

Nice that this topic generates interest. It is really basic but very important too!

Actually what I called "just shuffle" is "overhand suffle" (it's the way I learned to shuffle a deck of cards when I was a child, so for me it is just shuffle).

It is this:

 

To suffle-riffle is another way to shuffle, and it's to shuffle too of course! There is a side a bit "casino" which can be appealing.

Otherwise yes, there are torsions so it needs experience and caution.

It is this (there are a few variations apparently):

 

Okay, what we all want (I think) is that our precious decks don't become like that 😄

 

Edited February 20, 2020 by Decan