Part I: Card Game Cheating · SLEIGHT-OF-HAND TECHNIQUES
Stacking the Deck / Riffle Stacking
How it works
Stacking the deck (also called “riffle stacking”) is the technique of placing cards into a predetermined, favorable order through what appears to be a normal riffle shuffle. The cheater uses precise control during the shuffling process to interleave specific cards in a predetermined sequence. This allows the cheater to set up winning hands for themselves or confederates. The technique requires exceptional skill - the cheater must control the exact position of multiple cards through a seemingly random shuffle. Combined with false cutting, a skilled stacker can deal winning hands at will.
Where it appears
Poker, Blackjack, any card game
On the record
Riffle stacking is considered one of the highest levels of card manipulation. Edward Marlo published extensive works on riffle shuffle systems. Professional gamblers who can effectively stack decks are extremely rare.
Detection & preventionADVISORY
The paid halfHow a monitoring room catches stacking the deck / riffle stacking, and what stops it recurring, written for the desk, not the reader.
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Published as a detection reference for surveillance, compliance and gaming-operations professionals. Thresholds and tuning are set by the property. Nothing here is instruction: the method is described so it can be recognised.