There’s nothing cooler than poker chip tricks. You’ve seen the pro poker players do the classic knuckle roll or the chip shuffle, and now you want to try it yourself. Follow our simple tips below to learn how to do chip tricks like a poker pro and wow your friends at your next casino night.
The shuffle
The shuffle is the easiest trick to learn, and is a good starter trick to learn before graduating onto more advanced chip tricks. As it involves stacking the chips onto the poker table, rather than balancing them in your hand, it’s a simple enough trick to start with.
How to do the shuffle:
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Arrange a neat stack of about ten chips.
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Split them into two separate piles.
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Push the piles of chips next to each other so that they are touching.
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Hold both piles in one hand, with your thumb at the bottom left and your little finger at the bottom right (if you’re right handed).
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Hold them tightly together and use your middle finger to gently lift up the second chip from the bottom from the gap in the middle of the two piles.
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Slide your fingers up and let the two stacks slot into each other.
Credit: Flickr
The thumb flip
This chip trick is a classic and can be seen in plenty of films, most recently displayed by the villainous Le Chiffre in Casino Royale. It’s just as easy as the shuffle, although it does require a little more dexterity. Once you’ve nailed 3-4 chips, try increasing the speed and number of poker chips to really test yourself!
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Pick up a tidy stack of around 3-4 poker chips and hold them between your first three fingers on one side, with your thumb resting on them from the other side.
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Roll the first chip on the outside of the pile upwards.
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Next, flip it over and into the inside of the stack.
The chip twirl
A slick variation on the thumb flip, this chip trick looks cool, but demands a little more deftness with your fingers. Put the practice in though, because it’s worth it when you master it....
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Take three chips and hold them between your thumb and forefinger.
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Let the middle chip slide out below and hold it with your middle finger.
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Using your ring finger, roll it out and hold it between your thumb and little finger.
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Using your ring finger again, flip it round and push it back into the stack.
Credit: Wikimedia
The knuckle roll
Perhaps the most popular poker chip trick and seen in films such as The Prestige and Tombstone, the knuckle roll is one that’ll require a little bit more practice. But it’s worth it, as it’s a poker chip trick that’ll definitely impress your friends (and maybe put them off their game a little too).
1) Take one chip and pinch it between your thumb and forefinger, just below the knuckle.
2) Slide it on top of your finger and let it naturally roll over.
3) Pinch it between your first and middle finger as it rolls over to prevent it slipping.
4) Repeat the process to roll the chip across your other fingers.
5) Finally, catch it with your thumb to do it all again.
The chip bounce
This one is a little harder than the rest, and ultimately comes down to practice. In a nutshell, it involves bouncing one chip off the table felt and onto a stack of chips.
It all comes down to the angle you bounce it at and the surface of the table. Felt is perfect for this, and you might not get the same result from a wooden table. Experiment with different angles and speeds — it might take a while, but when it looks that cool, it’s worth it.
Now you’ve learned the basics, all you can do now is practice. Spend some time to perfect these poker chip tricks, and you’ll be all set to show off to your friends on your next poker night. But before you do, you need to make sure your game is up to scratch. Head to your favourite top online casino now to up your poker game!
