The Shuffle and Cut

1. In a player-dealt game, the pack must be shuffled and cut before the cards are dealt. The recommended method to protect the integ rity of the game is to have three people involved instead of only two. The dealer on the previous hand takes in the discards and squ ares up the deck prior to the shuffle. The player on the new dealer's left shuffles the cards and then slides the pack to the new de aler, who gets them cut by the player on his right.

2. The deck must be riffled a minimum of four times. The cut must leave a minimum of four cards in each portion.

3. The bottom of the deck should be protected so nobody can see the bottom card. This is done by using a cut-card. A joker can be us ed as a cut-card.

4. Any complaint about the shuffle, cut, or other preparation connected with dealing must be made before the player has looked at hi s hand or betting action has started.