Riffle Stacking Correction Techniques

[JasonEngland]

I received an email at my personal email account asking about a technique for correcting a riffle stack that's too heavy in one or more areas.

I thought the question was an excellent one, and it's the type of thing I would have addressed on the 1-on-1 if we hadn't been running long already.

So, after discussing it with the guy that originally asked, I decided to share the question and some answers with the T11 readers.

Here's the full text of the email and my response:

"Hello Jason,

I had a question after watching your 1-on-1 about recovering in a certain circumstance. This applies to me because it has caused me to fumble during a trick where I stack selection to a named number, not as a demonstration, but as magic by using some magical gesture to put them there. All that aside, I was curious what to do if you stack heavy on a card that isn't the top card. For instance, if i want to place four cards on top of the second card from the top but i accidentally place five. I was trying to think of a way to apply your slip cut to this, but I didn't see a valid way without losing the other card you wish to stack. Any advice on this would be great, and thank you.

- Colin Robinson"


Jason replies:

"Colin,

This is a great question.

Here's one possible solution, though there may be others worth exploring.

Let's say you are trying to stack the Aces every 5th card. That means
putting 4 indifferent cards between each Ace, right?

Ok, so what do you do when you accidentally put 5 indifferent cards
between the 4th Ace (lowermost) and the 3rd Ace from the top?

Probably the best solution is to Zarrow shuffle under the top four
cards and hold a break as you square. The top four cards will be the
three Aces on top as well as an indifferent card under them. This
indifferent card is the one you're going to get rid of.

Cut again at the break and this time Zarrow shuffle only under the 3
Aces. This puts them back on top but loses the extra, unwanted
indifferent card down into the deck.

This same concept can be used to eliminate any number of extra cards
(as long as you know how many to eliminate) from any place other than
the top. If you're heavy on top, a slip cut is your best bet. If
you're heavy by more than 1 card on top, a Zarrow shuffle followed by
holding a break and cutting to the break is best.

It's too bad that it takes two extra shuffles to eliminate those extra
cards, but that's usually the most elegant solution to getting rid of
them.

I hope this helps!

Jason England"



In my reply to Colin, I alluded to "other" solutions to eliminating a heavy stack between two of the Aces. Here are a few other methods that could possibly be used to overcome this problem.

Let's say you've accidentally placed 5 cards between the 3rd and 4th Ace, just like in the example above. On the second shuffle, only place 3 cards between the 2nd and 3rd Aces. Then place the usual 4 between the 1st and 2nd Aces and finally the usual 4 on top of the 1st Ace. The Aces are now stacked like this: xxxxAxxxxAxxxAxxxxxA - rest of deck.

When dealing out the Aces, deal normally on the first and second rounds. Those Aces will fall at the 5th position. On the third round, deal a second to the 4th position. This causes the 3rd Ace to fall fifth, and it uses up the extra card between the 3rd and 4th Aces. The last Ace will now fall properly to the 5th position with no further adjustments.

Admittedly, this is an advanced correction technique. You have to be able to do a second deal on the fly with no interruptions in rhythm, but it's a great way of getting yourself out of a jam.

Another possibility with "dealing solutions" would be to go ahead and stack the rest of the cards normally, so that you wound up in this situation: xxxxAxxxxAxxxxAxxxxxA - rest of deck. Deal normally on the first 3 rounds and only deal a second to the 5th hand of the 4th round. This will correct the problem and it's very similar to the solution just mentioned, but now you're dealing that second when the most attention is focused (on the final Ace). It'll still work, but you may prefer the first method.

A third possibility, and one I've used before, is to deal a double card to one of the positions (usually the first) in that final round. Your starting position is the usual xxxxAxxxxAxxxxAxxxxxA - rest of deck.

Deal normally for the first 3 rounds. As you're displaying the 3rd Ace, get ready for a double deal. For those of you that deal push-off seconds, you shouldn't need much of a get ready. A small brief at the top or side of the deck should suffice. For those of you that don't do a push-off second, simply push over two cards (or pinky count) as you display the 3rd Ace. As you begin the 4th and final round, take the top two cards as one and immediately deal them to the hand at the first position. This hand now has one extra card, but your last Ace will fall cleanly.

This last method assumed that you were openly displaying the Aces as they were dealt (like in a gambling demonstration act). If the stacking was done secretly, or the Aces are not being revealed individually as they're dealt, you can still use this double-dealing method, but understand that it will take some more precision on your part as you shouldn't break your normal dealing rhythm when you go to take the double. If you're doing an open demonstration, that rhythm can be slowed with each reveal, giving you a split second to prepare for the double.

These "dealing solutions" will work for other positions, not just the final Ace, so be sure to experiment with them in different ways.

If you only want to stick to "shuffling solutions" to correct this problem, then here is another way that may appeal to some of you:

Again, the standard scenario: AAAxxxxxA - rest of deck. Instead of 5 indifferent cards between the 3rd and 4th Aces, you meant to only put in 4.

To correct, split the deck in half and Zarrow shuffle under the top three Aces. Hold a break as you square. With one of your thumb tips at the rear of the deck (side closest to you), pick up on the top card of the lower section. This is the "extra" card that you don't want. Resplit the deck for shuffling and shuffle your top 3 Aces back onto the top of the other half. Be careful not to disturb the 4th Ace and the now 4 cards on top of it.

Again, this is a two-shuffle correction procedure, and it's very similar to the one that I originally sent to Colin. It is different enough though that I thought I'd mention it.

There are other solutions that depend highly on the particular situation and setting. Be sure to explore things like lapping the extra card at an opportune moment, palming off the extra card as you hand the deck out to a spectator to deal the final round, using a double-lift to reveal the final Ace in its "proper" position before using a clean-up technique like the K-M move, and many others.

I won't claim that lapping, palming and double-lifts are the most elegant ways to cover your stacking mistakes, but they could work just fine depending on the circumstances.

Hope this inspires you guys to come up with some interesting solutions on your own, as well as helps get a few of you out of a jam or two.

Jason England

 

[CaseyRudd]

Wow Jason, thanks for the post! I've been having problems like this with riffle stacking, so this truly helped a LOT! Always nice to hear from the experts.

Just a note, on the scenario where you describe xxxxAxxxxAxxxxAxxxxxA, couldn't you just do a second deal on the 4th round?

-Casey

 

[JasonEngland]

Casey,

Yes, and that possibility is mentioned in the original post above. You just overlooked it (it's a large post, I know).

Jason

 

[CaseyRudd]

Casey,

Yes, and that possibility is mentioned in the original post above. You just overlooked it (it's a large post, I know).

Jason

I can handle big posts, I'm a big boy! . I probably overlooked it because Chrome has a lag on scrolling through. It must have skipped over it. Once again, a great post and I appreciate it a ton.

-Casey

 

[NJillusionist3]

Hey Jason,

Thanks again for being so kind about my original question and posting the rest of these. I do a second pretty well so both shuffling and dealing solutions can work equally well for me. Thank you for taking the time to type up all this for us, it really shows how the staff on this site is really committed.

Colin Robinson

 

[tokyoUW]

Another great post and reason on why this area of card handling requires years of practice. Not only do you you need the knowledge of various ways to recover, but you need the the ability to do them on the fly, w/o breaking rhythm, and w/o hesitation.

 

[S.G]

And this is why you are awesome Jason! Was wondering the same thing even though I do not have your 1-on-1. Need some money before I can get that but it is definitely on the list!

 

[Clock]

This actually a very interesting topic; very much like a puzzle. It's fun coming up with all the different ways this could be accomplished (even if the ideas do cross over to fantasy land). Here's an idea to add to the bag; A legitimate riffle: box, shuffle, box.

(I won't talk "left hand/right hand" as everyone is different)

Assuming the scenario Jason established of 4 aces on top for a 5 handed game (4 x cards between each ace). You accidentally put 5 cards on the first shuffle and you are in this situation.

AAAxxxxxA

Stack 4 x cards between the next ace (normal amount) on the second shuffle. Don't square up yet. Now we have...

AAAxxxxAxxxxx

Pick up a break as you square underneath the ace with the parenthesis around it.

AAAxxxx(A)xxxxx

Square up holding a break. Cut at the break but regain the break after the cut (to reiterate: you basically moved that small slug to the bottom and picked up the break again).

This part is hard to explain so stay with me. While holding that break with thumb (don't let go), your other thumb will riffle up the back to the half way point of the deck. Break for a shuffle at THIS point (still holding that other break) but simultaneously do a slip cut as you break for the shuffle (slip 1 card off the top to the other half). You should be left with the two halves ready to be shuffled, but you are still holding the original break.

The hard work is over.

Shuffle above the break. Begin the shuffle, and you can now let go of that break. Continue a legitimate riffle. Lay a bed of cards on top from the half that didn't originally have that break.

As you square, you should easily be able to pick up another break on the bottom of the deck again (that original slug/break).

Cut at the break.

So if you did it right... the action should be box,riffle,box. I was able to hit a few with nice rhythm earlier. To sum it all up, it's essentially a slip cut of that extra x card followed by and immediate shuffle burying it.

(If you made it through that all that gibberish... bravo!)

Best,

Grant

 

[JasonEngland]

Now we have...

AAAxxxxAxxxxx

Pick up a break as you square underneath the ace with the parenthesis around it.

AAAxxxx(A)xxxxx

This should read like this:

Now we have....

AAxxxxAxxxxxA - rest of deck

Pick up a break as you square underneath the ace with the parenthesis around it.

AAxxxx(A)xxxxxA - rest of deck

I added the "rest of deck" part, but Grant mis-typed his setup formula. It's a nice solution though, which is surprising, considering Grant is a moron.

Jason

PS: Before I get attacked for calling Grant a moron, you really need to meet him. Then you'll know.
PPS: Actually we're good friends. And he's a moron.

 

[Clock]

Dr. Butternuts,

You're right; I am a moron. I can't deny it. But you have to admit... I can initiate some sick tumbling action!

Thanks for correcting the mistakes. I have recently been playing around with a slip cut into an immediate riffle to give the illusion of continuously burying of the top of the deck. It may have potential.

-Butternuts Jr.

 

[UnknownMagician93]

I have recently been playing around with a slip cut into an immediate riffle to give the illusion of continuously burying of the top of the deck. It may have potential.

Post it now Carden you sexy beast