which shuffling procedure is best?

[Poker Jack]

Hi there,

I know this is discussed a lot, but here I go anyway:

1)
As a dealer, do you:
a) wash/scramble the deck after EVERY hand?
b) wash/scramble when introducing a new deck only
c) wash/scramble every X hands

2)
Do you do:
a) shuffle-shuffle-box-shuffle
b) shuffle-shuffle-box-shuffle-shuffle
c) shuffle-box-shuffle-shuffle
d) 7xshuffle without boxing

I know all of these methods are out there, but is there a most common/most reasonable?

I think washing the deck each hand is kinda overdoing it; but then again, what if you happen to deal almost the same flop twice? you all know that players start becoming suspicious and asking for a scramble in such a case, or vice versa, they start complaining about how long it takes if you actually DO the scramble and they start worriying about hands per hour...

Also, I've seen washing the deck each hand is done a lot on TV (WSOP, HSP, PAD) - but is it common procedure in casino cash games? Then again, they (WSOP, HSP, PAD) don't really have the problem of 20min. blind levels, or small stakes grinders who want their 80 hands per hour, or else they play online...

The dealers of HSP and the like don't seem very fast, rather relaxed and reasonable... don't know.

At my local casino, all the dealer does is, shuffle-shuffle-box-shuffle; and sometimes I find myself wondering if that's a sufficient way to randomize the deck...

So, what is the best procedure which honors both sufficiency and speed? Any ideas?

[Martini]

1)
* Attempt to randomize the muck as much as possible when collecting cards
* Put the stub on top of the muck then take the top half of the stub and put it on the bottom of the muck

2)
* Put cards in the shuffler
* Push button

[Squiggly]

1)
* Attempt to randomize the muck as much as possible when collecting cards
* Put the stub on top of the muck then take the top half of the stub and put it on the bottom of the muck

2)
* Put cards in the shuffler
* Push button

Show off... 

[72]

yeah,  I scoop up the cards, 1x riffle, put them in the shuffler.

hand shuffled cash game, i wash every hand for about 2 seconds, but my hands move very fast.

hand shuffled tournament, no wash, we scoop up the cards and shuffle

we do it: riffle, riffle, strip, riffle, riffle.

[William]

When collecting and boxing the cards I drop the deck next to the muck. Intermingle the two, take the top card and use it to scoop up the cards, then I box them.

I then riffle, riffle, riffle, strip, riffle, cut (takes about 15 seconds).
Did it three times with new decks without washing, and the results were completely random.
I will wash new decks though.

[Nerre]

As far as I remember from The Professional Poker Dealers Handbook:

Washing is kind of part of the procedure to collect the muck, the board cards and the stub.

When awarding the pot you normally have the board cards, the burns and the winning hand left on the table. Turn the winning hand and board cards back side up (leaving them in the middle of the table) and push the muck pile (with the remaining stub on top) out to the middle of the table and wash the cards for a second or two.

Then riffle-riffle-box-riffle-release-cut.

Also when mucking hands the cards should be pulled into the muck pile randomly (not put on the top or the bottom). I think that could count as part of the shuffling. It's all about making sure neither a player nor the dealer can keep track of a single card.

[72]

As far as I remember from The Professional Poker Dealers Handbook:

Washing is kind of part of the procedure to collect the muck, the board cards and the stub.

When awarding the pot you normally have the board cards, the burns and the winning hand left on the table. Turn the winning hand and board cards back side up (leaving them in the middle of the table) and push the muck pile (with the remaining stub on top) out to the middle of the table and wash the cards for a second or two.

Then riffle-riffle-box-riffle-release-cut.

Also when mucking hands the cards should be pulled into the muck pile randomly (not put on the top or the bottom). I think that could count as part of the shuffling. It's all about making sure neither a player nor the dealer can keep track of a single card.

And keep your hand on the muck! protect it!

[Nerre]

I think I said that in another topic, to rest your spare hand (the one not holding the deck) on the muck whenever possible:-)

Burns protected by the pot, muck protected by dealer, hands protected by players, board cards not protected but clearly visible to all so they are identifiable.

I think HPT needs a section about dealer procedures... Then we can posts link to that instead! :-)