diff --git a/dealer.lua b/dealer.lua
index 9b3e642..843b687 100644
--- a/dealer.lua
+++ b/dealer.lua
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ function deal(ruleset)
    if (card and accepts(lst[#lst-1],card)) return pop(lst)
   end
 
-  local function find_home(odds,card,source,exclude) 
+  local function find_home(card,allow_too_tall) 
    assert(card!=0)
    local acceptors={}
    local start_points={}
@@ -57,31 +57,9 @@ function deal(ruleset)
 
   local original_pops=#pops
   while #pops>0 do
-   local w=deli(pops)
-   assert(w!=0)
-   local exclude
-
-   -- unblock aux slot if this is not arcana
-   if w <= ruleset.n_suits then 
-    local c=pop(slots[0])
-    assert(c!=0)
-    if (c and not find_home(1.0,c,nil,0)) return 
-    exclude = 0
-   end
-
+   local w=pop(pops)
    local card=pop(wells[w])
-   assert(card!=0)
-   if (not find_home(1.0,card,nil,exclude)) return 
-
-   local n_moves=48
-   for i=1,n_moves do
-    local src=flr(rnd()*(#slots+1))
-    local card=pop_accepted_card(slots[src])
-    if card then
-     local odds=0.0
-     if (not find_home(odds,card,src,nil)) return
-    end
-   end
+   find_home(card,true)
   end
 
   -- fix any stacks that are too tall
@@ -89,14 +67,27 @@ function deal(ruleset)
   for i=0,#slots do
    while #slots[i]>max_height[i] do
     local card=pop(slots[i])
-    if (not find_home(0.0,card,nil,nil)) return
+    if (not find_home(card,false)) return
    end
   end
 
   -- get rid of auxiliary slot
   slots[0]=nil
+  local shuffles=1
+  local actual_shuffles=1
+  for s=1,#slots do
+   local extra_shuf=shuffles+1
+   while (ruleset.deck.instantly_accepted[pek(slots[s])]) do
+    shuf(slots[s])
+    shuffles=extra_shuf
+    actual_shuffles+=1
+    if (actual_shuffles>=5) return nil
+   end
+  end
+  for i=shuffles,2 do
+   shuf(rnd(slots))
+  end
   for s=1,#slots do
-   if (ruleset.deck.instantly_accepted[pek(slots[s])]) return
    assert(#slots[s]==tower_height)
   end
 
diff --git a/simulator/src/smart_dealer.rs b/simulator/src/smart_dealer.rs
index be8d5cf..45cbad8 100644
--- a/simulator/src/smart_dealer.rs
+++ b/simulator/src/smart_dealer.rs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ impl Deal {
         while let Some((w, n)) = pops.pop() {
             for _ in 0..n {
                 let card = wells[w].pop().expect("card must be present");
-                Self::find_home(setup, rng, card, None, None, &mut slots, &max_height, true);
+                Self::find_home(setup, rng, card, &mut slots, &max_height, true);
             }
         }
 
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ impl Deal {
         for i in 0..slots.len() {
             while slots[i].len() > max_height[i] {
                 let card = slots[i].pop().expect("must be a card");
-                Self::find_home(setup, rng, card, None, None, &mut slots, &max_height, false);
+                Self::find_home(setup, rng, card, &mut slots, &max_height, false);
             }
         }
 
@@ -127,28 +127,21 @@ impl Deal {
         rle
     }
 
-    fn find_home(setup: &Setup, rng: &mut impl Rng, card: Card, source: Option<usize>, exclude: Option<usize>, slots: &mut [Vec<Card>], max_height: &[usize], allow_too_tall: bool) {
+    fn find_home(setup: &Setup, rng: &mut impl Rng, card: Card, slots: &mut [Vec<Card>], max_height: &[usize], allow_too_tall: bool) {
         // if a card is sitting on an acceptor, it could have been moved there
         // from somewhere else
         let mut acceptors = vec![];
 
         for s in 0..slots.len() {
-            if Some(s) == exclude {
-                // don't place it here, ever
-            } else if false { // slots[s].len() == max_height[s] - 1 && setup.deck.instantly_accepted.contains(&card) {
-                // can't place an instantly accepted card at the bottom of a slot
-            } else {
-                if allow_too_tall && accepts(setup, slots[s].last().cloned(), card) {
-                    acceptors.push(s);
-                } else if slots[s].len() < max_height[s] {
-                    acceptors.push(s);
-                }
+            if (allow_too_tall && accepts(setup, slots[s].last().cloned(), card)) || 
+            slots[s].len() < max_height[s] {
+                acceptors.push(s);
             }
         }
 
         let acceptor = acceptors.choose(rng).cloned();
 
-        if let Some(a) = acceptor.or(source) {
+        if let Some(a) = acceptor {
             slots[a].push(card);
         } else {
             panic!("should never happen")