CVShuffle Video Editor
This is where a shuffle is defined. The method is quite unusual and may not be to everyone’s liking. A command interface may be added later. The shuffle is defined by performing the shuffle yourself with the mouse. There are a few reasons for this:
Ø It is easy to make a mistake in shuffle definition. This method allows the creation of an animation that will allow you to verify that your understanding of the shuffle is the same as the computer’s understanding.
Ø When you receive a shuffle from someone else, the animation will ensure that you do not misunderstand a shorthand description and that the shorthand description does not miss anything.
Ø The animation can be used to manually track cards through the shuffle.
Ø The method provides a learning experience to those less experienced.
The Screen
Ø The Table - The table starts with two piles of cards. The left pile are the un-played cards left in the shoe. The center pile contains the cards from the discard tray. The table is used to define steps and to watch the animations.
Ø Steps - At the bottom right you will see the list of steps. You can scroll the list and click on ay step and the table display will change to shoe the position of the cards at that step.
Ø VCR Controls - At the bottom left you will see the controls. These are described below.
VCR Controls
Note: A great deal of variability can exist in a shuffle because the penetration will vary and each step can contain built-in variability. Few people can shuffle exactly. During all animations in the Editor, exact values are used without any variability. However, during the play of the game, the shuffle is animated with variability and can look a bit different each time.
Ø << - Rewind to the beginning state. The card stacks will be displayed in their original state.
Ø < - Go back one step. No animation occurs, the cards appear as they would in the previous step.
Ø > - Go forward one step. This is animated.
Ø >> - Go to the last step. This is immediate, not animated. Once at the last step, you can add steps or erase steps. You cannot add steps to the middle.
Ø Erase - Erase the current step. You cannot erase a step in the middle.
Ø Play - Animate the shuffle starting at the current step.
Ø Halt – Ctrl-Z will halt the animation at the end of a step.
Adding Steps
A shuffle consists of steps each of which manipulates one or two piles of cards. It is suggested that you examine a standard shuffle before creating your own. Steps are added one or two at a time as follows:
Ø Simple Grab - A Grab is simply the dealer grabbing a pile or portion of a pile of cards. Sometimes the dealer will just drop the cards on another part of the table thus creating another pile. To do this, move the cursor over the pile with your mouse. You will see a blue box containing a number. If you have set the Grab Defaults to Number of cards, the box will show the number of cards above the cursor. If you have set the Defaults to Percentage, the box will show the percentage of the pile that is above the cursor. Click the mouse to pick up a portion of the pile and move it to another part of the table. Release the mouse and it will be dropped on that location creating a new pile. You will see a new step added to the shuffle steps list indicating the number of cards or percentage grabbed. If you make an error, simply click Erase and try again. Note: You can also combine a grab with another operation. That is described in steps below.
Ø Move - A Move is simply moving a pile from one location to another. This has no effect on the card order. It is used to move a pile into the center to be riffled with another pile. If you wish to grab the entire pile, move the cursor down to the bottom until the blue box says ALL. Click to pick up the pile and move it to another part of the table. Release the mouse and it will be dropped on that location.
Ø Top - This is the simplest method of combining two piles. One pile is placed on top of another. To perform a Top, first pick up an entire pile or a portion of a pile with the mouse as described above and drag it to the top of the other pile. You should see a blue box that says TOP. If you don’t, move the cursor up and down until you see the word. When you see it, release the mouse and the piles will become one pile and a new step added. If you picked up the entire pile, a MOVE step will be added. If you picked up a part of a pile, a GRAB step and a TOP step will be added. Click < then > and you will see an animation of the Top step.
Ø Bottom - This is the same as a Top except that the grabbed pile will be placed under the second pile. To perform this operation, drag the first pile to the bottom of the second pile. A blue box will again appear. Move the cursor up and down until it says BOTTOM. Drop the pile and the Bottom operation will take place. One or two steps will be added depending on whether you grabbed an entire or portion of a pile. Click on < then > and you will see the second pile lifted and the first slid under it.
Ø Plug - Plugs commonly occur at the start of a shuffle. The dealer picks up a pile or portion of a pile and plugs it inside of another pile. This is performed in much the same manner as a Top or Bottom. Only you will drag the first pile into the middle of the second pile. Again, you will see a blue box. This time it will contain a number. The number depends on the setting on the defaults page. It will be either the number of cards from the top of the pile or the percentage of the pile. Drag the first pile up and down until you see the number that you want. Release the mouse button and the first pile will be inserted. One or two steps will be added depending on whether you grabbed an entire or portion of a pile. Click on < then > and you will see the second pile split and the first pile slid into the correct spot, as would occur in a casino. You will also be given the opportunity to perform a Multi-Plug, described below.
Ø Multi-Plug - When you perform a Plug operation, a screen pops up and gives you the opportunity to perform a multi-plug. This is quite common at the beginning of a shuffle. You can perform up to four plug operations. Set the number of plugs desired and that many rows will appear. For each plug, you must set the number of cards or percent of the from pile to be used. The Defaults page controls whether you are using numbers or percents. If there is more than one plug, the total must add to the number of cards or 100%. If you leave the Grab column blank for the last plug, it will be calculated. Set the card number or percentage of the to pile in which to insert each plug. A zero indicates placing a plug on the top and a huge number indicates the bottom.
Ø Riffle - A standard shuffling of two piles. This is performed in much the same manner. Only this time you will drag the first pile to just above the bottom of the second pile. Move the cursor up and down until you see RIFFLE and release the pile.
Ø Strip - Stripping a pile of cards is the process of picking up a pile and stripping small bunches of cards from the top and or bottom to build a new pile. To Strip a pile of cards, right-click on it a select the type of stripping operation desired. A pile to be stripped should always be on one side of the table and is restacked in the center of the table. So, make certain there is room in the center. If you wish to strip a portion of a pile, grab the desired portion and move it to another location, then Strip it.
Ø Riffle & Restack - You could perform a R&R with combinations of Grabs, Riffles and Tops. But it would many steps. A simpler method is to right-click on the stack and select Riffle & Restack. You will be asked how many Grabs are to be made. Hit OK and the operation will proceed. Later, you can edit several parameters for the R&R on the Fine-tuning page, including number of grabs and the variability of riffs, split and grabs.
Ø Stepladder - You could also perform a Stepladder with combinations of Grabs, Riffles and Tops. A simpler method is to right-click on the stack and select Stepladder. You will be asked how many Grabs are to be made and if the first grab is to be taken from the stack of cards taken from the top or the bottom . Hit OK and the operation will proceed. Later, you can edit several parameters on the Fine-tuning page, including top/bottom, number of grabs and the variability of riffs, split and grabs.
Shuffle Completion
At the end of a shuffle definition, there can only be one pile. You can leave the screen without completing the shuffle; but will not be allowed to use it. If you wish to fine tune the steps, return to the main screen and click on each step to examine and/or modify any steps.
