Okay, maybe I'm out of line, and my colleagues in the computer world may scoff at this (for several reasons---though not likely the ones you'd expect); but, I believe the solution to this problem is programmers who aren't lazy: Instead of relying on conventional Random Number Generation (RNG) technology to pick the cards, psudo-randomly from an virtually ordered deck, with a little more computational overhead, a realistic simulation of a disordered deck of cards could be substituted that would mimic all of the real dealer procedures down to the alternation of cards in the riffle-strip-riffle-riffle-cut sequence... This would use the RNG for different purposes at different times to simulate the real disorder of cards in play that happens at a B&M poker table (initial wash; dealing single cards to fill each hand in the standard order; where folded hands' cards end up in the muck; the consistency of the dealer's riffle, strip, and cut; etc.). I've written such a procedure for Monte-Carlo simulations of Blackjack in the past, and as long as care is taken to accurately duplicate the card-handling of real-life, I can see no reason for Pattern Mapping to persist because of the infinitely greater standard deviation introduced by dealing from the top of a virtually disordered deck (which I suspect is unheard of in the industry at this time due to conventional programming practices that have too much emphasis on Rapid Application Development and careless reliance on the fallacy that RNG is "good
enough"---especially for a game of poker, where the proprietor's money is not at risk! The perception [by a cardroom's clientele] of propriety is paramount if you wish to retain your customers---a well known fact in the B&M casino industry---its time has come for online gaming!
BTW, if there are any online gambling executives reading this, I would be happy to discuss this issue in greater detail as a consultant ;-) You can reach me at
c.zar@rogers.com I have an extensive track-record in web-application development and database support which includes having play-tested and criticised the Blackjack game offered by
Blackplanet.com at the invitation of the CTO for CommunityConnect.com, Mike Montero.