How the random card generator works
Every time you open this page, CardSuffly shuffles a full 52-card deck: four suits – spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs – from ace to king. Cards are dealt from the top of the shuffled deck, just like at a real table, so you never see the same card twice until you reshuffle. The counter shows how many cards are left.
The shuffle uses the Fisher–Yates algorithm with your browser's cryptographic random number generator. Every one of the 52! (about 8 × 10⁶⁷) possible deck orders is equally likely, so every card has exactly the same 1 in 52 chance of coming up first.
Draw 1, 3 or 5 cards
Draw a single card to settle a decision, pick who goes first or practise a card trick. Deal three cards for quick games and memory exercises, or five for a poker hand.
Turn on “Put cards back after drawing” if you want every draw to come from a full deck – handy for probability experiments where each draw should be independent. Leave it off to work through the deck like a real dealer.
Ideas for using random playing cards
- Card games when there is no physical deck around
- Teaching probability: compare how often a heart comes up with the expected 1 in 4
- Magic practice: rehearse your reveals and patter
- Writing and drawing prompts: let the suit pick the theme
- Fair decisions: highest card wins
Want something more mystical? Try the free tarot card draw, or put the deck to use in solitaire or blackjack.
Frequently asked questions
Is the card draw really random?
Yes. CardSuffly shuffles with the Fisher–Yates algorithm and the Web Crypto random number generator built into your browser, which is designed to be unpredictable. No card is more likely than another.
Does the deck include jokers?
Only if you want them. By default it is a standard 52-card deck: 13 ranks in each of the four suits. Turn on “Include jokers” to add a red and a black joker.
What are the odds of drawing a specific card?
From a full deck, any specific card has a 1 in 52 chance (about 1.9%). The chance of drawing any ace is 4 in 52, or 1 in 13 (about 7.7%).
Do I need to sign up or install anything?
No. CardSuffly is free, works in any modern browser on phone, tablet or computer, and nothing you draw is saved or sent anywhere.