blackjack python code

Guri Bee

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17-10-2024

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Building Your Own Blackjack Game in Python: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ever wanted to create your own casino-style game? In this article, we'll guide you through building a basic Blackjack game using Python. We'll draw inspiration from code snippets found on GitHub, adding explanations and practical examples to help you understand the process.

The Building Blocks of Blackjack

Blackjack is a game of strategy and chance, where the goal is to get as close to 21 as possible without going over. Here's a breakdown of the core elements we'll need to implement:

1. Deck of Cards: We'll start by creating a deck of 52 cards using Python lists.

2. Players: We'll need a player and a dealer, each with a hand to hold their cards.

3. Dealing: We'll implement a system to deal cards randomly to players and the dealer.

4. Game Logic: We'll define the rules for hitting (taking another card), standing (ending your turn), and checking for busting (going over 21).

5. Scoring: We'll implement a way to calculate the value of each hand.

6. Displaying Results: We'll output game progress and the final winner.

Python Code Example: A Simple Blackjack Game

Let's start with a basic implementation based on code from this GitHub repository.

import random

suits = ('Hearts', 'Diamonds', 'Clubs', 'Spades')
ranks = ('Two', 'Three', 'Four', 'Five', 'Six', 'Seven', 'Eight', 'Nine', 'Ten', 'Jack', 'Queen', 'King', 'Ace')
values = {'Two': 2, 'Three': 3, 'Four': 4, 'Five': 5, 'Six': 6, 'Seven': 7, 'Eight': 8, 'Nine': 9, 'Ten': 10, 'Jack': 10, 'Queen': 10, 'King': 10, 'Ace': 11}

class Card:
  def __init__(self, suit, rank):
    self.suit = suit
    self.rank = rank
    self.value = values[rank]

  def __str__(self):
    return self.rank + ' of ' + self.suit

class Deck:
  def __init__(self):
    self.cards = []
    for suit in suits:
      for rank in ranks:
        self.cards.append(Card(suit, rank))

  def shuffle(self):
    random.shuffle(self.cards)

  def deal(self):
    return self.cards.pop()

class Hand:
  def __init__(self):
    self.cards = []
    self.value = 0

  def add_card(self, card):
    self.cards.append(card)
    self.value += card.value

  def adjust_for_ace(self):
    if self.value > 21 and any(card.rank == 'Ace' for card in self.cards):
      for card in self.cards:
        if card.rank == 'Ace' and card.value == 11:
          card.value = 1
          self.value -= 10

  def __str__(self):
    cards_string = ', '.join(str(card) for card in self.cards)
    return f'Hand: {cards_string} Value: {self.value}'

# Game setup
deck = Deck()
deck.shuffle()

player_hand = Hand()
dealer_hand = Hand()

# Initial deal
player_hand.add_card(deck.deal())
player_hand.add_card(deck.deal())
dealer_hand.add_card(deck.deal())
dealer_hand.add_card(deck.deal())

# Display initial hands
print(f'Dealer: {dealer_hand.cards[0]}')
print(f'Player: {player_hand}')

# Player's turn
while player_hand.value < 21:
  hit_or_stand = input('Hit or stand? ')
  if hit_or_stand.lower() == 'hit':
    player_hand.add_card(deck.deal())
    print(f'Player: {player_hand}')
  else:
    break

player_hand.adjust_for_ace()

# Dealer's turn
print(f'Dealer: {dealer_hand}')
while dealer_hand.value < 17:
  dealer_hand.add_card(deck.deal())
  print(f'Dealer: {dealer_hand}')

dealer_hand.adjust_for_ace()

# Determine winner
if player_hand.value > 21:
  print('Player busts! Dealer wins.')
elif dealer_hand.value > 21:
  print('Dealer busts! Player wins.')
elif player_hand.value > dealer_hand.value:
  print('Player wins!')
elif dealer_hand.value > player_hand.value:
  print('Dealer wins!')
else:
  print('Push! It\'s a tie.')

Explanation and Enhancements

• Card and Deck: The Card class represents an individual card, while Deck manages the deck of cards, shuffling and dealing them.
• Hand: The Hand class keeps track of a player's or dealer's cards and calculates their value.
• Game Flow: The code deals two cards to the player and the dealer, displays initial hands, and prompts the player to hit or stand.
• Dealer Logic: The dealer automatically takes cards until their value is 17 or higher.
• Ace Adjustment: The adjust_for_ace() method handles the special case of Ace, allowing it to be 1 or 11 depending on the hand's value.

Adding Features:

• Betting: Incorporate a betting system where players wager chips.
• Multiple Players: Allow multiple players to participate in the game.
• GUI: Create a graphical user interface using libraries like Pygame or Tkinter for a more interactive experience.
• Advanced Rules: Implement additional Blackjack rules like splitting pairs or doubling down.

Conclusion: Building Your Blackjack Journey

This article provided a foundational understanding of how to build a basic Blackjack game in Python, using readily available code from GitHub and incorporating explanations for improved comprehension. By building on this foundation, you can experiment with more complex game mechanics and features.

Remember, coding is an iterative process. Don't be afraid to experiment and learn from your mistakes. The journey to creating a full-fledged Blackjack game can be a rewarding one!