Fair Random Algorithm

The Fair Random algorithm prioritizes social interaction and variety. It is the default algorithm for new leagues and is ideal for recreational or drop-in sessions where the main goal is simply to have fun and meet different people.

How it Works

The algorithm keeps a detailed history of who has played in the same game as whom.

When generating the next game, it calculates a "social penalty" for every possible combination of players. It strongly penalizes putting players who have already been on the same court together again, while also trying to balance the waiting time of each player.

Key Concept: Minimizing Repeats

Instead of ranking players by skill, Fair Random scores courts by how "fresh" the matchups are. A court with 4 players who have never been on the same court today gets a perfect score.

Related Settings

Two settings in Game Settings directly influence how Fair Random operates. "Max Tolerable Player Ratio from Same Game" (0 to 1) controls how many players from the same recently finished game can be placed together again — a lower value forces more diversity. "Group Games within Time Difference" clusters games that finish close together so the algorithm treats all their players as a single pool, giving it more combinations to maximize roster variety. See the Game Settings page for full details.

When to Use

Social drop-in sessions where skill balance is less important than networking. Leagues where you want to explicitly avoid cliques or static groups.