# I didn't have near enough frustration in my life, so I started to play Yathzee online

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-have-near-enough-frustration-in-my-life-so-i-started-to-play-yathzee-online/832924>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [April 23, 2019, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-have-near-enough-frustration-in-my-life-so-i-started-to-play-yathzee-online/832924 "2019-04-23T07:49:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-have-near-enough-frustration-in-my-life-so-i-started-to-play-yathzee-online/832924/21 "2019-04-28T12:00:14Z")

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> [@Skywatcher](#):
>
> How about generated numbers that are truly random, paired with an algorithm to ignore certain results? I’ve heard of such a thing happening in other games.

If that is possible then okay.

> [@septimus](#):
>
> Are _ **predictable** _ numbers ‘truly random’? 😕 I already mentioned the guy who beat a Keno system (or some such game) that derived from a software RNG.

> [@septimus](#):
>
> Nitpick: The period of the Mersenne Twister, perhaps the most popular PRNG in use today, is alleged to be about 10[sup]600[/sup] — that’s one septillion raised to the 25th power.

Nit-picking and technically speaking for 10[sup]600[/sup], no that is not truly random, but for all practical purposes it is.

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**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2019, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-have-near-enough-frustration-in-my-life-so-i-started-to-play-yathzee-online/832924/22 "2019-12-31T00:06:48Z")

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> [@Gatopescado](#):
>
> I did manage to score a 328 the other day (350 being the highest possible, in absence of the Yahtzee bonus for multiples).

375 is the highest, actually. You are slipping, Dopers! How is it nobody caught that and excoriated me?

Scored a 331 today. That was sweet!

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**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2019, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-have-near-enough-frustration-in-my-life-so-i-started-to-play-yathzee-online/832924/23 "2019-12-31T00:51:56Z")

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I play chess online at [chess.com](http://chess.com). Not that often, only about 80 games or so. I don’t think anyone I’ve played is cheating. The system is pretty sophisticated, and has mods.

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**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2019, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-have-near-enough-frustration-in-my-life-so-i-started-to-play-yathzee-online/832924/24 "2019-12-31T23:20:01Z")

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> [@enipla](#):
>
> I play chess online at [chess.com](http://chess.com). Not that often, only about 80 games or so. I don’t think anyone I’ve played is cheating. The system is pretty sophisticated, and has mods.

Mods, you say? Now, there’s an idea… (I’m _done_ with playing “board games without an actual board”, for many of the reasons listed here, as well as toxic people).

But if a game claimed “We have Doper Mods! There’s a tuba, a diva, a banhammer, a miller, and… sparkly boots!” … then I’d sign up.

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**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-have-near-enough-frustration-in-my-life-so-i-started-to-play-yathzee-online/832924/25 "2020-01-02T18:11:47Z")

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> [@Bullitt](#):
>
> RNG = random number generator. RNGs need a seed to start generating those ‘random’ numbers. Once seeded and the resulting random number is generated, the follow-on generated numbers after that are truly random.

Once seeded the follow on numbers are totally predictable. A classic technique for debugging games is to start all tests with the [same seed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random_seed) so you get the same sequence of “rolls” on every runthrough.

> [@](#):
>
> If the same random seed is deliberately shared, it becomes a secret key, so two or more systems using matching pseudorandom number algorithms and matching seeds can generate matching sequences of non-repeating numbers which can be used to synchronize remote systems, such as GPS satellites and receivers.

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