Is a shuffle tech worth it for my game. (5 Viewers)

Should I get a shuffle tech ?

  • Yes because they're cool

    Votes: 24 22.2%

  • yes because it will speed up the game

    Votes: 51 47.2%

  • No because people should learn to shuffle/deal

    Votes: 17 15.7%

  • No because not worth the money

    Votes: 24 22.2%

  • I should delete my account before this gets to exspensive

    Votes: 19 17.6%
  • Total voters
    108
yoke386

yoke386

Pair
Joined
Mar 2, 2023
Messages
238
Reaction score
361
Location
Massachusetts
I host a monthly single table Cash game 25¢/50¢. Coming into the winter months it feels like interest in attending is up, and I'm not working as hard to make sure I get a full game. This last week we played 9 handed, and I didn't send invites out to the "b" list like I was over the summer. The folks at my game are mostly co-workers, and I would say this game would be considered social for about half the players, with the other half more interested in the actual poker (I fall in this portion). I haven't kept an accurate count, but I would say that the numbers of hands being played per hour are low. Is it low due to talking between hands, reminding someone the actions on them or slow shuffling. There's no way Im going to be able to implement two decks with the crew I have right now, which is why Im thinking Shuffle Tech should be the next investment.

So my question is do you think a shuffle tech would solve the slow play problems and generate more hands being played without having to force action on slow shufflers? Im not really interested on what my return on investment will be, as building a table, getting chips and hosting are all done because I generally enjoy it. I would love to hear feed back from folks that have shuffle techs, any testaments or warnings about getting one, or anyone that shares the same desire to add one to their home game.
 
You could do a test to see if it really is slow shuffling. For 1 hour, use two decks and have one person that is adept do all the shuffling, and hand the deck to the person on the button to deal. Shuffle the other deck to keep it up to speed.
Count the hands played and compare to an hour of self-dealt hands.
It may very well be socializing and slow play causing the issue.

But shuffle techs are cool, so get one regardless. :ROFL: :ROFLMAO:
 
I play mostly same stakes and have been using the shuffle tech for over a year. I handle the operation but the deal rotates. Played short handed recently so didnt break out the shuffle tech and EVERYONE was disappointed. Pro tip I picked up from PCF: Strictly enforce the actual dealer to pick up the all the cards after the hand and give you a neat deck. This procedure cuts down the time and effort in the shuffle tech operation and makes your night much more enjoyable!
 
doublebooyah85 said:
Add a poll. I would say YES. We really enjoy ours.

However, having a dedicated dealer is just as important. Will you be responsible putting the cards in and out of the shuffler, sit mid position, then pass the deck to the new dealer when it’s time?
Click to expand...
Took your advice and added a poll !

First time doing that lol !
 
swana said:
I play mostly same stakes and have been using the shuffle tech for over a year. I handle the operation but the deal rotates. Played short handed recently so didnt break out the shuffle tech and EVERYONE was disappointed. Pro tip I picked up from PCF: Strictly enforce the actual dealer to pick up the all the cards after the hand and give you a neat deck. This procedure cuts down the time and effort in the shuffle tech operation and makes your night much more enjoyable!
Click to expand...
I can imagine this being how I would operate if/when I do get one. I can't help nerding out for this stuff LoL. None of my players are on this forum, and think a cheap amazon shuffler is goon enough... NO WAY LOL
 
doublebooyah85 said:
However, having a dedicated dealer is just as important.
Click to expand...
I'd say that it's not quite as essential as having a dedicated shuffle tech person. While I had mine, we'd still rotate dealing but one person was responsible for putting the collected deck in and handing out the shuffled deck.
 
I'm the dedicated dealer usually (with a shuffletech) and with two decks there isn't really any downtime, except for when I mis-deal. Running a dedicated dealer from a central position on the table, who also informs players that action is on them, speeds up the game a lot.
 
I've had this problem with my house for as long as I can remember, last year I decided to do something about it. Its my view, so I spend thousands of dollars buying new windows, and I did all the work, revamped the whole front of my house, and I got them all installed. I sanded them down and painted them a wonderful bright white. The thing is that old oak tree is still blocking my fucking view!

I run a monthly .25/.5 game, I have a shuffler and a dealer. There is a guy that comes to my games, a co-worker, and he still slows the game down. The shuffler will help, run two decks and have the dealer pass the used deck to you. I would consider if you don't have a dedicated dealer to check out the posts of the standalone shuffle cabinets.
 
I think before making this type of investment, one needs to really analyze why the game is slow.

In particular, whether shuffling is really the main culprit, or if it is just the most obvious contributor to delay among many others.

I find in low-stakes games, the biggest problem is people not ******* paying attention:
  • Not noticing that the action is on them
  • Not knowing what the last bet size was
  • Discussing the hand they lost two orbits ago instead of acting
  • Continuing a conversation instead of acting
  • Tanking unnecessarily over small pots / routine decisions
  • Getting up from the table when they are first to act, then getting mad if they get mucked after 30 seconds
  • Being way too drunk / high to play, but still playing
  • Talking about sports bets instead of acting (big one lately)
  • The guy who does not look at his cards until 15 seconds after the action reaches him
  • Not pushing the pile of cards and/or chips sitting right in front of you to the next dealer/winner at the end of a hand
  • etc. etc.
Yeah, it’s a social game. No, it’s not a casino.

But when this kind of stuff happens on almost every street of almost every hand, it really adds up. Games slow to a crawl.

Delays from shuffling are more noticeable than most delays, I guess, so we fixate on them. But I tend to doubt that is the main reason most home games are slow.

I’d observe another few games more closely, and try to correct some of these behaviors if they are happening, before buying an expensive and finicky machine.

I’d also take at least a couple stabs at introducing two decks.
 
Last edited:
Imo the Shuffletech is worth it for most home games. Cheaper, more reliable & way safer than a Deckmate2 but that's a different debate...

Taghkanic said:
I think before making this type of investment, one needs to really analyze why the game is slow.

In particular, whether shuffling really the main culprit, or if it is just one of many contributors to delay.

I find in low-stakes games, the biggest problem is *** people not paying attention:
  • Not noticing that the action is on them
  • Not knowing what the last bet size was
  • Discussing the hand they lost two orbits ago instead of acting
  • Continuing a conversation instead of acting
  • Tanking unnecessarily over small pots / routine decisions
  • Getting up from the table when they are first to act, then getting mad if they get mucked after 30 seconds
  • Being way too drunk / high to play, but still playing
  • Talking about sports bets instead of acting (big one lately)
  • Not pushing the pile of cards and/or chips sitting right in front of you to the next dealer/winner at the end of a hand
  • Etc. etc.
Yeah, it’s a social game. No, it’s not a casino.

But when this kind of stuff happens on almost every street of almost every hand, it really adds up. Games slow to a crawl.

Delays from shuffling are more noticeable than most delays, I guess, so we fixate on them. But I tend to doubt that is the main reason most home games are slow.

I’d observe another few games more closely, and try to correct some of these behaviors if they are happening, before buying an expensive and finicky machine.

I’d also take at least a couple stabs at introducing two decks.
Click to expand...

Pace of play is what we're really talking about.

A dedicated dealer combined with a shuffletech is exactly what speeds this type of game up the most. The whole game runs more efficiently. Slow players will adapt to having cards consistently sooner & having the action on them. Having to deal with dealing, moving decks & shuffling slows down the focus of some players...even more w/ drunk people not to mention the cards are probably not shuffled very well. Games that are already fast w/ players who know how to shuffle w/ 2 decks & act when it's their turn the shuffletech will NOT speed their game up that much.

Pros:
*Cards get a good random shuffle
*Streamlines the whole game
*Less time in-between hands
*Don't see the bottom of deck when poor dealers are using poor technique
*Ends the shuffle infront/behind debate
*Player experience is improved especially w/dedicated dealer as they can just play poker AND there is quarterback running the table knowing who the action is on etc etc
*Games are even more social with less distractions

Cons:
*Price
*Forces the closest player to feed the machine/ or become dedicated dealer
*Noise although not 1 player I've talked to said it was too loud.
*It jams from time to time (typically once/session but > :30 inconvenience
*uses Poker Sized cards (NOT a con in my book lol)**
*likes certain card manufacturers more than others (thick & stiff>flexible)**
*If it breaks you have to send it back & you will miss it way more than you think you will

I've become the dedicated dealer at my game. The pros way out number the cons so my experience is more enjoyable. Really the only con is that people forget I'm a player too & sometimes forget the action is to me & not to the next player to my left.

**waiting for response & out of context quote from @RocAFella1 lol
 
TheRealTeddyKGB said:
Pace of play is what we're really talking about.

A dedicated dealer combined with a shuffletech is exactly what speeds this type of game up the most.
Click to expand...

I think it can help, but only if the host and/or the dealer also keep making both subtle and (as needed) overt nudges to the players to pay attention. For some of the worst offenders, I could see how relieving them of both dealing and shuffling duties could allow them to become even *less* attentive...

I also tend to wonder about how many 25¢/50¢ games are going to invest in either. (Sounds like in this case money is not an issue.)

FWIW I have a dealer in my game now, no shuffletech. The dealer alone does really move things along much more smoothly, if only somewhat more quickly. My regs had gotten pretty good about the two-deck/shuffle behind routine.

The added smoothness comes less from the speed of the deal, as from fewer sloppy or botched deals; only a few amateurs seem to be able to consistently pitch cards from (say) the 2 seat to the 8 seat without cards having to be pushed by another player. There’s also less confusion and arguments over side pots and chopped pots, more regular reminders of where the action is, and more of a sense of finality to each hand plus an urgency to get to the next.

We use a big flat dealer button, which sits in front of that player with the deck on top of it waiting for them to shuffle it. The dealer then takes the amateurly-shuffled deck and gives it a few more cuts and shuffles for good measure.

I think a dealer also tends to wield a certain authority over the table that otherwise can be missing. Even when the dealer is someone everyone knows well (sometimes as a friend outside of poker), players tend to defer to him/her and not want to get in their way.

So, bottom line, if I had to pick I would go for a dedicated dealer first, shuffling gizmo second.
 
I totally agree that a dedicated dealer is best, but that also detracts from you if you are a dealer/player. But dealer + shuffler = max hands played for sure.
 
Taghkanic said:
I think it can help, but only if the host and/or the dealer also keep making both subtle and (as needed) overt nudges to the players to pay attention. For some of the worst offenders, I could see how relieving them of both dealing and shuffling duties could allow them to become even *less* attentive...

I also tend to wonder about how many 25¢/50¢ games are going to invest in either. (Sounds like in this case money is not an issue.)

FWIW I have a dealer in my game now, no shuffletech. The dealer alone does really move things along much more smoothly, if only somewhat more quickly. My regs had gotten pretty good about the two-deck/shuffle behind routine.

The added smoothness comes less from the speed of the deal, as from fewer sloppy or botched deals; only a few amateurs seem to be able to consistently pitch cards from (say) the 2 seat to the 8 seat without cards having to be pushed by another player. There’s also less confusion and arguments over side pots and chopped pots, more regular reminders of where the action is, and more of a sense of finality to each hand plus an urgency to get to the next.

We use a big flat dealer button, which sits in front of that player with the deck on top of it waiting for them to shuffle it. The dealer then takes the amateurly-shuffled deck and gives it a few more cuts and shuffles for good measure.

I think a dealer also tends to wield a certain authority over the table that otherwise can be missing. Even when the dealer is someone everyone knows well (sometimes as a friend outside of poker), players tend to defer to him/her and not want to get in their way.

So, bottom line, if I had to pick I would go for a dedicated dealer first, shuffling gizmo second.
Click to expand...
That's why my 1st statement was Dedicated Dealer combined w/shuffletech.

I've hosted for 20+years. .25/.50 the majority. Over the last couple years with me as dealer w/ shuffletech the game is faster. All the old slow distracted players have gotten way faster in all parts of their game. Played w/o the shuffletech & they fell right back into their old habits.

As far as my experience goes IT'S WAY BETTER!! Having to spoonfeed people how to shuffle, deal etc sucks way more.

My point is dedicated dealer helps but combining the 2 helps moAr!!! ****If I had to shuffle too my playing experience would be significantly lower****

Try one for a couple sessions then play one without. You'll probably agree with me after that.

#BestGizmoEver
 
Last edited:
TheRealTeddyKGB said:
*uses Poker Sized cards (NOT a con in my book lol)**
Click to expand...
Poker Sized cards are required, otherwise it will 'box' your bridge cards. Boxing is where the card flips over and is faceup.

Poker Sized cards are only a contra IF you have invested heavily into bridge sized cards, OR if you have to shuffle them all night, it can be hard on your hands.
 
shuffledeck vs deckmate (casino) -- the only difference is cost correct? if money was no object > deckmate is the best to go but costs 7500 - 10k?
 
l33tf0b said:
shuffledeck vs deckmate (casino) -- the only difference is cost correct? if money was no object > deckmate is the best to go but costs 7500 - 10k?
Click to expand...
no lol completely different unit.

I love my shuffle tech but that’s comparing a honda civic to Audi a8
 
doublebooyah85 said:
no lol completely different unit.

I love my shuffle tech but that’s comparing a honda civic to Audi a8
Click to expand...
hhahha booyah!! i know it's basically home games vs casino --- just wasn't sure about the longevity of each one and maintenance. i always hear prongs vs rollers that eff up over time
 

Create an account or login to comment

You must be a member in order to leave a comment

Create account

Create an account and join our community. It's easy!

Register

Log in

Already have an account? Log in here.

Similar threads

T
  • Locked
Cancelled Used shuffle tech st1000 wanted
Replies
0
Views
137
TheFlyingDrunkman
T
Hotus777
  • Locked
Trade Racks for Used/New Shuffle Tech
Replies
9
Views
580
davethesave
davethesave
BNads86
For Sale Shuffle Stack Pack
Replies
10
Views
636
ChipFinderSK
ChipFinderSK
S
Is Shuffler for home game worth it?
Replies
1
Views
123
jamesjkim
jamesjkim
Taghkanic
Bringing a newbie into my game
2
Replies
36
Views
1K
drdr
D
Back
Top Bottom