How does the random-number generator work on PokerStars.com?
P.S. Copy-and-paste jobs from PokerStars.com (or .net) are unhelpful, just so you know.
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M$2 Answers
generation very seriously. The key is that most programmatic random
generators (PRNG) need to be seeded with a true random number and then they will produce a predictable series of numbers in a pseudorandom
pattern.
Pokerstars.net uses a combination of player mouse motion and a commercial random number from Intel to produce a 249 bit random seed for their algorithm. To deal the cards they need at most 5 bits of randomness because they need to generate a number between and 52. Research has shown that you need a seed bigger than the degree of randomness you want to generate.
To deal the cards they take a pile of 52 cards and randomly select which
card to move to the other pile. When all the cards are moved to the
other pile the cards are shuffled. With true random number generation
only one shuffle is required. What there programmatic random number
generator is producing is a series of number 1-52, then 1-51 and so on
until all the cards have been moved to the other pile. One other
important factor they take into account is discarding numbers that
because of the bitwise nature the random number generation exceed the
remaining number of cards in the pile. This gets rid of another source
of predictably. Then they are deemed shuffled and the game can commence.
Pokerstar's methodology and algorithms have been verified and tested by
two independent agencies.
The more troubling issue which they raise is collusion between players,
much harder to detect and prevent.
If you need any clarification or expansion please let me know.
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M$
PRNG: pseudo-random number generator (not programmatic)
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M$
Based on what they say on their site and the following email from them they do not do continuous shuffle. "PokerStars Support wrote: Hello Dover, The deck is shuffled before the hand, and it is not reshuffled continuosly during the course of the hand. Feel free to tell anyone in doubt of the integrity and security of our games, that they are free to contact us if they have any questions. As I am sure you are aware, we also have a standing offer to all our players to send them copies of all the real money hands they have ever played on our site. They can review these hands or run them through programs such as PokerTracker or PokerOffice. If they do this, I am sure sure they will find what we already knew (since we analyze all hands dealt daily); our shuffle is completely random. Regards, Matt PokerStars Support Team" http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081020121720AABhJmC
Ahh - I'm much closer to understanding at least the basics now. Thanks! One question for anyone who might know: does Stars employ a continuous shuffle? That is - are the remaining cards in the deck shuffled even after the software has dealt hole cards, community cards, et cetera? I read, somewhere, that this is the case, but I can't recall where I read it and, so, don't really know if the source is a good one or not.