In a faro shuffle, each pair of opposite cards shouldn't be pressing into each other, but instead need to be ALIGNED SLIGHTLY ABOVE AND BELOW EACH OTHER. Or think about how two sides of a ZIP weave together.
Start your practice right there! In particular, take a close look at, and think about, HOW two jigsaw puzzle pieces fit together - you wouldn't push two round ends into each other and expect the pieces to fit together. That's the 'feel' or 'knack' you've heard people mention. The SECRET to perfecting a faro shuffle isn't holding the deck in a particular way, but finding your way to a position where you can feel what the two halves want to do, are 'trying' to do. that they use or prefer, but show me two different people faro'ing perfectly well and you'll see two different techniques, grips, etc. If you start in the right position, there is no resistance.Īnyone can teach you the specific grips, finger positions etc. once you learn to get the weave started properly. You'll sometimes hear that once you learn it you'll wonder what all the fuss was about, and that's because it works almost automatically.
It seems to me that almost every tip, trick, grip, hold or knack you'll hear about the faro shuffle is geared towards the same basic outcome - getting the weave started properly.
