love2eattacos described exactly what I did but in an easier to understand format. It seems that smooth99 is confusing the random numbers with the numbers assigned to the shuffled deck. The random number is only used to select which card is selected to be first, second , third, etc. in the shuffled order. Once a card is selected as first, no other card can be first. The next random number selects the second card. This continues until the entire deck is shuffled.
So to clarify the randomness or not, would you be seeing the same cards appearing in the same order coming out on the flop, turn, river, regardless of who may have folded or how long between seeing them?
In other words is the deck set and remains set for the entire game or does the randomness cause it to change with each card that is being delt?
So you fold your 7 2 off and 3 7’s come up on the flop for quads. Did you really fold quads or it just did not matter?
@Wyner
The deck is shuffled before any cards are dealt. Dealer then deals the deck as normal, one card at a time, off the top of the deck. The individual card position within the deck does not change throughout the hand being played. Any action taken by the players has no effect on the deck and does not influence the flop, turn or river.
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I wonder if Replay Poker ever considered to update their PRNG.
I wonder if these are viable options:
- Xorshift (fast and lightweight)
- PCG (Permuted Congruential Generator) (better statistical properties)
- ChaCha20 (cryptographically secure)
Online poker sites can update their pseudo-random number generator (PRNG) algorithms. PRNGs are used to shuffle and deal cards in online poker games, ensuring fairness and unpredictability. However, not all PRNGs are created equal—some are more secure and reliable than others.
Legitimate poker sites often undergo regular audits by independent testing agencies to verify the fairness of their PRNGs. For example, Party Poker uses a PRNG and has an external lab audit its fairness every month. Some sites, like PokerStars, opt for true random number generators (TRNGs), which rely on physical processes rather than algorithms to generate randomness.
If a poker site updates its PRNG, it typically does so to improve security, enhance randomness, or comply with regulatory standards.
ChaCha20 is not a pseudo-random number generator (PRNG)—it’s a stream cipher used for encryption. However, it does have properties similar to a PRNG because it generates a keystream that looks random, which is then used to encrypt data.
That said, ChaCha20 can be adapted to function as a cryptographic PRNG by using it in a specific mode, such as ChaCha20-based CSPRNG (cryptographically secure pseudorandom number generator). This adaptation makes it useful for generating random numbers securely.
Xorshift PRNGs are known for being fast and efficient, making them popular for applications where speed is crucial. However, basic Xorshift generators do not pass all statistical randomness tests, so they are often combined with additional non-linear functions to improve their quality.
PCG (Permuted Congruential Generator) is a family of pseudo-random number generators (PRNGs) designed to be fast, space-efficient, and statistically strong. It was created by Melissa O’Neill and is known for producing high-quality random numbers while being difficult to predict.
PCG PRNGs use a linear congruential generator (LCG) as their core but apply additional transformations to improve randomness and distribution. Compared to traditional PRNGs like Mersenne Twister, PCG offers better statistical properties and is more resistant to prediction attacks.