Learning how to shuffle cards is one of the essential skills to know if you’d like to impress anyone around a green table.

Once you’ve decided that you’d like to learn how to shuffle, the first thing you’ll notice is that there are several different ways to do it. Shuffling isn’t just shuffling – and there are correct ways, fancy ways, and devious ways to do it.

The first shuffle that blew my mind was a quick overhand shuffle I saw during a late-night card game I walked by. It was the fastest thing I’d ever seen done with a deck.

What was yours?

Here’s why you should learn (even as an online bridge player) – plus 6 essential shuffles for card mastery.

Why Shuffle?

Shuffling is one of the single best ways to build hand dexterity. More than this, it retains hand dexterity – and keeping your hands moving can reduce the symptoms that are associated with conditions like arthritis.

Since I’ve learned how to shuffle, the basic things that arthritis make difficult have become a little easier. Developing new skills (and eventually muscle memory) can be a huge help.

The Basic Cut First – YouTube: How to Cut the Deck One-Handed

The one-handed cut is a good start for any new shuffler.

The art of the one-handed cut is learning how to slice the deck exactly in half. This might take a few tries (and counting the results), but you’ll get there sooner than you think.

Then, try it with your non-dominant hand.

The Blackjack Shuffle – YouTube: Shuffling in Blackjack – What You Need to Know

The blackjack shuffle is pretty identifiable. It’s often seen in movies and TV shows as the default way of card shuffling – when it’s not the overhand shuffle.

It requires cutting the deck in two, then fanning one part into another. Flair is optional, but preferred.

The Overhand Shuffle – YouTube: Overhand Shuffle Tutorial

Imagine a deck of cards playing leapfrog.  That’s the overhand shuffle in a nutshell.

The more you practice, the better you’ll get at not throwing cards all over the room. It’s likely still going to happen a few times anyway.

The Dynamo Cut – YouTube: How to Do the Dynamo Cut

The Dynamo Cut is named for the famed magician who made it popular again – although you might also encounter the same shuffle referred to as the Sybil cut.

It’s a worthy way of cutting the cards, and it feels like the natural choice once you’ve mastered the overhand shuffle.

The Faro Shuffle – YouTube: How to Do the Faro Shuffle

Like to step things up to slightly more advanced, fancier forms of shuffling?

Meet the Faro shuffle, also referred to as the dovetail shuffle.

It’s certainly worth learning, but also has the ability to inspire nightmares about it.

Good luck!

The Zarrow Shuffle – YouTube: The Zarrow Shuffle – False Shuffle

There are also several ways to complete a false-shuffle. A false shuffle is any one where the order of the cards are meant to be rigged instead of random.

It’s a good idea to see how these are done, just in case you ever happen to see it.

It’s named after Herb Zarrow, and there’s still some footage on YouTube about Zarrow on the Zarrow Shuffle.