How Do You Incorporate A Shuffler? (2 Viewers)

[UniLover]

As titled, what's your approach to incorporate a shuffler?

My current game looks like this:

Hand ends, I already have a shuffled deck from the shuffler. So I grab it and pass it to the last hand's dealer to cut for the next hand's dealer.

Mean while, whoever's paying attention gathers cards for me to put in shuffler. Sometimes they're in a pile, sometimes neat in a deck, sometimes no one gathers it so I gather it as the next hand's being dealt.

Do you designate a person to gather cards?

 

[TheYeti]

We don't use a shuffler, but in my game the 4 players seated near the middle of the table (I have an 8' oval) are responsible for collecting the cards, just whoever gets to it first. I do at times have to yell over the conversations to tell them not to shirk their responsibility.

 

[joseywales]

I just began using a second deck and shuffler. First game was somewhat clumsy, but I have it down well now.

- I run an octagon table, so the shuffler is behind me on a stand I modified for it.
- Once a hand is complete, I collect cards, other players collect and push towards me, etc. LEAVING our aluminum cut card on the table
- I grab a fresh deck from the shuffler, and hand it to the cutter, who now has the cut card, the button, and cuts the deck, then passes to the dealer.
- As the deck is being cut, I toss the previous deck into the shuffler, let it shuffle and leave it there, until this hand is complete.

We tried two cut cards, but that was a pain. Much smoother with one cut card
The first game, others felt I was taking on too much and it seemed that way, but the second game was smooth and I prefer it to having guys shuffling, etc.
I can't state an accurate change in hands per hour yet. We've only done it twice and both sessions had various interruptions we don't normally incur. Last night was 20 hands per hour and that's at least 3 more than in the past, but I believe we'll do better.

No regerts

 

[TankingRowlet]

As game host, I usually sit in a designated seat that is able of collecting cards and putting them into shuffler or taking a complete deck and passing it after cut to the upcoming dealer.

Usually people are pretty good about clearing the pots and cards, so haven't had too much issue with it being a lot of work.

 

[SetToBean]

Designated dealer (me, usually, or someone else second table to help equalise HPH), sitting in centre of table, ShuffleTech on a wheeled storage drawer next to dealer (along with the drop box and chip tray if only doing one table).

Used to use the top-presenting/flush mount kit version but for a few months now I've been using the side-ejecting mode so it can run 3 decks which means no downtime at all when you only square up and insert the last hand's deck into the shuffler after dealing out the next hand/deck. You can reach the dream casino standard of 35* HPH this way when it's mostly regulars playing.

*edit: did a track at a very recent event and it was more like 25 HPH for me, but with a fair amount of tanking during that time. Getting that is still an achievement for home games.

 

[jamesjkim]

Box up cards from last hand - maybe a light wash as part of that. Load those into the shuffler and take out freshly shuffled deck. I exclusively cut and deal for my game. I have no problem if someone asks to cut though. Make sure the button is correct and deal.

 

[Jers28]

On the rare occasion we don’t have a designated dealer, I sit in the dealer position and collect the cards and place them in the right side of the Deckmate, grab the shuffled deck and cut the cards myself, then pass the now ready to deal deck to the button. It’s pretty rare we implement this, but works well when needed. It’s usually when we just play family games, fwiw.

 

[SixSeven]

The OP has a good question from my POV. It has been a hassle to corral the cards after each hand and get them into the shuffler (shuffle tech in a cart to my right) while the new deck is out being dealt. So much so that at a certain point, I abandoned the shuffler, and went back to shuffle behind. 2 issues - it take longer to get the cards collected than it does to take new deck out to hand to the button to cut and start dealing, so the cards are still being collected while the new deal is going out, blocking delivery of new deal. 2nd, I sit next to the shuffler, so if I want to get up and walk around, or go to the bathroom, there is no one to load/unload the shuffler. It is a little bit of a burden, which is why for a few games we went back to shuffle behind. But I have come to the conclusion that the shuffler is better for randomization, and convenience for the players (so they don't have to shuffler), so it's back in action. I have a player sit to the right of me and the shuffler to help load deck while the other deck is being dealt. Also certain cards are harder to corral, like FSX, compared to BA Pro, or Copag. The button gets the new deck and has the cut card to cut it. No need for cut behind because the deck is already shuffled. I still use two cut cards.

 

[joseywales]

The OP has a good question from my POV. It has been a hassle to corral the cards after each hand and get them into the shuffler (shuffle tech in a cart to my right) while the new deck is out being dealt. So much so that at a certain point, I abandoned the shuffler, and went back to shuffle behind. 2 issues - it take longer to get the cards collected than it does to take new deck out to hand to the button to cut and start dealing, so the cards are still being collected while the new deal is going out, blocking delivery of new deal. 2nd, I sit next to the shuffler, so if I want to get up and walk around, or go to the bathroom, there is no one to load/unload the shuffler. It is a little bit of a burden, which is why for a few games we went back to shuffle behind. But I have come to the conclusion that the shuffler is better for randomization, and convenience for the players (so they don't have to shuffler), so it's back in action. I have a player sit to the right of me and the shuffler to help load deck while the other deck is being dealt. Also certain cards are harder to corral, like FSX, compared to BA Pro, or Copag. The button gets the new deck and has the cut card to cut it. No need for cut behind because the deck is already shuffled. I still use two cut cards.

Not sure why you still have cards on the table, while the 2nd deck is being dealt.

Once the hand ends, winner grabs chips, at least 2 guys always seem to be shoving cads in my direction. I don't hand off the 2nd deck, until I have the dealt deck in my hand. I turn, grab the 2nd deck from the shuffler, hand it off to the cut man. While the cut man and dealer are doing their thing, I just drop the dealt deck into the shuffler.

I suggest dropping the second card card. It was very clumsy for us.

Once the hand if dead, the button and cut card go to the next dealer.

Honestly, if we stopped cutting, we'd probably pick up several hands per hour, so I'm tempted to start that. The concern is, I'm the only one handling the deck and since we've enlisted the shuffler, I've been winning

 

[LotsOfChips]

Do you designate a person to gather cards?

Dealer should gather the cards at the end of the deal. He already has the stub, burn cards and the flop/turn/river right there. Mucked cards should be pushed to the dealer by other players during the hand, if the cards are beyond the dealer's reach.

 

[SixSeven]

Not sure why you still have cards on the table, while the 2nd deck is being dealt.

I'm sitting next the shuffler, and it often finishes before the current hand is done. I'll take the deck out and pass it to the next button so they can be ready to cut it and deal. When the hand is done, they will start their deal while we collect the cards and put them into the shuffler. It takes 5 to 10 secs to corral the cards to get them butted up to put into shuffler. Also, taking the deck out before the current hand is done opens up the space for the next deck. Waiting till the current deck is corralled and about to put in shuffler slows down the game.

 

[joseywales]

I'm sitting next the shuffler, and it often finishes before the current hand is done. I'll take the deck out and pass it to the next button so they can be ready to cut it and deal. When the hand is done, they will start their deal while we collect the cards and put them into the shuffler. It takes 5 to 10 secs to corral the cards to get them butted up to put into shuffler. Also, taking the deck out before the current hand is done opens up the space for the next deck. Waiting till the current deck is corralled and about to put in shuffler slows down the game.

I figured it out, you have an oval table. I run an octagon, so that process would never work. I agree it’s faster, but it would be a mess at our table.

An octagon certainly “gathers” cards more quickly, but that probably doesn’t go as quickly as dealing while gathering. It also explain why I’m not getting a huge lift in hands per hour. Between chip and card gathering, there’s no way we could deal until the table is clear.