Random Number Generator

[Robert Marsella]

I overheard someone talking about using random number generator software on there computer and gaining an advantage with it for on line NLTH.
Does anyone know what is or what it suppossedly does
thanks

[AaronBrown]

Excel comes with a random number generator (a bad one), as do most programming languages. With some work, they allow you to simulate hundreds of thousands of poker hands, to test various strategies. You can get the same benefit much more easily with free software like Poker Stove or TwoDimes.net.

[SpaceAce]

[ QUOTE ]
I overheard someone talking about using random number generator software on there computer and gaining an advantage with it for on line NLTH.
Does anyone know what is or what it suppossedly does
thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

"Random" numbers on computers are actualy "pseudorandom" numbers. Standard computer random number generation requires something called a "seed". A seed can be thought of as a kick-start for the random number generator. If you fail to seed a random number generator or always give it the same seed, it will always generate the same series of random numbers. So, one possible way to benefit from using a random number generator in online play would be to seed your random number generator with the same seed the site used for theirs. In a practical sense, this is completely useless because even if you figure out what seed they are using, they may be applying additional mathematical formulae to the generated numbers before using them.

Anyone who thinks he is gaining an edge in online gaming by generating random numbers on his computer is almost certainly fooling himself.

SpaceAce