What does it mean to shuffle a library?

To shuffle a library means to randomize the cards so that no player knows the order of the cards in that library. This is an important part of the game, as it ensures fairness and unpredictability in gameplay. A well-shuffled library prevents players from gaining an advantage based on knowing the specific arrangement of cards, which could influence their decisions and strategies.

In the context of the game, the act of shuffling can involve various methods of randomizing the cards, such as cutting the deck, riffle shuffling, or using a shuffling machine, as long as the outcome is a random order. The core principle is that after shuffling, the card order should be unknown to all players.

The options that describe rearranging cards in a specific order, removing all cards from the library, or counting the cards do not capture the essence of shuffling. Rearranging cards in a specific order would negate the randomizing effect, while removing cards or counting them does not involve mixing them up at all. Therefore, understanding the concept of shuffling as a means to achieve randomness is crucial to maintaining the integrity of the game.