Get comfortable with a deck

A relaxed dealing grip

Rest a face-down deck across the fingers of your non-dominant hand. Let the thumb lie along one long edge, the index curl gently at the outer short edge, and the other three fingers support the opposite long edge. Keep the palm soft. Your goal is control with little pressure, not a locked clamp.

An overhand grip

For lifting a squared deck, take its short ends between your thumb at the near end and middle/ring fingers at the far end. Keep the fingers from covering the whole deck. Adjust for hand size; comfort matters more than copying a photograph.

A five-minute drill

Deal ten cards singly and quietly. Square them. Set the deck down. Pick it up and repeat while saying an opening sentence. If your shoulders rise or the deck bows, reduce pressure.

Common trouble

Small hands may prefer a smaller deck. Slippery new cards need patient practice. Do not lick your fingers or force a painful grip. Take a break if your hands become tense.