Blackjack 1
1
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Step 1: learning the rules of Blackjack
Watch the first video:
Now# 9adc7517d8f32f866e01f725f503836bd8a405723d0e054f35bc2b020a5488aa Elan 1.8.1 guest default_profile valid
main
let game be new Game(1000)
call game.addPlayer(new HumanPlayer("Player A", 1000))
variable anotherRound set to true
while anotherRound
call playOneRound(game)
call game.setMessage("Points updated. Do you want to play another round? (press y or n)")
call clearKeyBuffer()
call display(game)
let k be waitForKey().lowerCase()
if k is 'y' then
call game.setMessage("")
else
set anotherRound to false
end if
end while
end main
procedure playOneRound(game as Game)
call game.newRound()
call display(game)
let dealer be game.dealer
each player in game.players
call player.startTurn()
call display(game)
while player.status is Status.active
call player.nextAction(dealer.faceCard)
call display(game)
end while
end each
call dealer.play()
call display(game)
while dealer.status is Status.active
call dealer.nextAction(dealer.faceCard)
call display(game)
end while
call game.updatePoints()
end procedure
procedure display(game as Game)
let html be "<style>{styleSheet}</style>{htmlForGame(game)}"
call displayHtml(html)
call pause(1500)
end procedure
procedure updatePoints(dealer as Dealer, player as Player, playerOutcome as Outcome)
if playerOutcome is Outcome.winDouble then
call player.changePointsBy(2)
call dealer.changePointsBy(-2)
else if playerOutcome is Outcome.win then
call player.changePointsBy(1)
call dealer.changePointsBy(-1)
else if playerOutcome is Outcome.lose then
call player.changePointsBy(-1)
call dealer.changePointsBy(1)
end if
end procedure
function determinePlayerOutcome(dealer as Dealer, player as Player) returns Outcome
# These 'let' definitions are just to make the logic that follows them simpler to read
let d be dealer.status
let dTotal be dealer.handTotal
let p be player.status
let pTotal be player.handTotal
let bust be Status.bust
let bj be Status.blackjack
let win be Outcome.win
let winDouble be Outcome.winDouble
let lose be Outcome.lose
let draw be Outcome.draw
variable playerOutcome set to draw
if p is bust then
set playerOutcome to lose
else if (p is bj) and (d isnt bj) then
set playerOutcome to winDouble
else if d is bust then
set playerOutcome to win
else if (d is bj) and (p is bj) then
set playerOutcome to draw
else if p is bj then
set playerOutcome to winDouble
else if d is bj then
set playerOutcome to lose
else if pTotal > dTotal then
set playerOutcome to win
else if pTotal < dTotal then
set playerOutcome to lose
else
# strictly, this 'else' clause is redundant - as the variable was initialised to 'draw' - but added for clarity
set playerOutcome to draw
end if
return playerOutcome
end function
test determinePlayerOutcome
let dbj be new Dealer(0) with status set to Status.blackjack
let d21 be new Dealer(0) with status set to Status.standing, handTotal set to 21
let d17 be new Dealer(0) with status set to Status.standing, handTotal set to 17
let dbu be new Dealer(0) with status set to Status.bust
let pbj be new HumanPlayer("", 0) with status set to Status.blackjack
let p21 be new HumanPlayer("", 0) with status set to Status.standing, handTotal set to 21
let p17 be new HumanPlayer("", 0) with status set to Status.standing, handTotal set to 17
let pbu be new HumanPlayer("", 0) with status set to Status.bust
assert determinePlayerOutcome(dbj, pbj) is Outcome.draw
assert determinePlayerOutcome(dbj, p21) is Outcome.lose
assert determinePlayerOutcome(dbj, pbu) is Outcome.lose
assert determinePlayerOutcome(d21, pbj) is Outcome.winDouble
assert determinePlayerOutcome(d21, p21) is Outcome.draw
assert determinePlayerOutcome(d21, p17) is Outcome.lose
assert determinePlayerOutcome(d21, pbu) is Outcome.lose
assert determinePlayerOutcome(dbu, pbj) is Outcome.winDouble
assert determinePlayerOutcome(dbu, p17) is Outcome.win
assert determinePlayerOutcome(dbu, pbu) is Outcome.lose
end test
function dealCard(random as Float) returns Card
let number be (random*52).floor()
let rank be rankValue.keys()[(number/4).floor()]
let suit be number mod 4
return new Card() with rank set to rank, suit set to intAsSuit(suit)
end function
test dealCard
let c1 be dealCard(0)
assert c1.rank is "2"
assert c1.suit is Suit.clubs
let c2 be dealCard(0.9999999)
assert c2.rank is "A"
assert c2.suit is Suit.spades
let c3 be dealCard(0.5)
assert c3.rank is "8"
assert c3.suit is Suit.hearts
let c4 be dealCard(0.24)
assert c4.rank is "5"
assert c4.suit is Suit.clubs
end test
function intAsSuit(n as Int) returns Suit
variable suit set to Suit.clubs
if n is 1 then
set suit to Suit.diamonds
else if n is 2 then
set suit to Suit.hearts
else if n is 3 then
set suit to Suit.spades
end if
return suit
end function
test intAsSuit
assert intAsSuit(0) is Suit.clubs
assert intAsSuit(1) is Suit.diamonds
assert intAsSuit(2) is Suit.hearts
assert intAsSuit(3) is Suit.spades
end test
function htmlForGame(game as Game) returns String
variable html set to "<div class='game'>"
set html to html + htmlForPlayer(game.dealer)
each player in game.players
set html to html + htmlForPlayer(player)
end each
set html to html + "<div class='message'>{game.message}</div>"
return html + "</div>"
end function
test htmlForGame
let c1 be new Card() with rank set to "3", suit set to Suit.clubs, faceDown set to false
let c2 be new Card() with rank set to "K", suit set to Suit.spades, faceDown set to true
let p be new HumanPlayer("fred", 10) with cards set to [c1, c2]
let players be (empty List<of Player>).withAppend(p)
let g2 be new Game(1) with players set to players
assert htmlForGame(g2) is "<div class='game'><div class='player'><div class='details'>Dealer - 1 points </div><div class='hand'></div></div><div class='player'><div class='details'>fred - 10 points - hand total: 0</div><div class='hand'><div class='card black'><div class='u'>3</div><div class='v'>♣</div><div class='a'>♣</div><div class='b'>♣</div><div class='c'>♣</div></div><div class='card reversed'></div></div></div><div class='message'></div></div>"
end test
function htmlForPlayer(player as Player) returns String
variable html set to "<div class='player'>"
set html to html + "<div class='details'>{player.name} - {player.points} points {player.getMessage()}</div>"
set html to html + "<div class='hand'>"
each card in player.cards
let suit be card.suit
let rank be card.rank
set html to html + htmlForCard(card)
end each
return html + "</div></div>"
end function
test htmlForPlayer
let c1 be new Card() with rank set to "3", suit set to Suit.clubs, faceDown set to false
let c2 be new Card() with rank set to "K", suit set to Suit.spades, faceDown set to true
let p be new HumanPlayer("charlie", 10) with cards set to [c1, c2]
assert htmlForPlayer(p) is "<div class='player'><div class='details'>charlie - 10 points - hand total: 0</div><div class='hand'><div class='card black'><div class='u'>3</div><div class='v'>♣</div><div class='a'>♣</div><div class='b'>♣</div><div class='c'>♣</div></div><div class='card reversed'></div></div></div>"
end test
function htmlForCard(card as Card) returns String
variable html set to ""
if card.faceDown then
set html to "<div class='card reversed'>"
else
let rank be card.rank
let suit be card.suit
let colour be colours[suit]
let symbol be symbols[suit]
set html to "<div class='card {colour}'>"
let u be htmlForSpot("u", rank)
let v be htmlForSpot("v", symbol)
variable grid set to ""
each location in gridByRank[rank]
if location is "royal" then
set grid to grid + htmlForSpot(location, rank)
else
set grid to grid + htmlForSpot(location, symbol)
end if
end each
set html to html + "{u}{v}{grid}"
end if
return html + "</div>"
end function
test htmlForCard
let c1 be new Card() with rank set to "3", suit set to Suit.clubs, faceDown set to false
assert htmlForCard(c1) is "<div class='card black'><div class='u'>3</div><div class='v'>♣</div><div class='a'>♣</div><div class='b'>♣</div><div class='c'>♣</div></div>"
let c2 be new Card() with rank set to "K", suit set to Suit.spades, faceDown set to true
assert htmlForCard(c2) is "<div class='card reversed'></div>"
end test
function htmlForSpot(id as String, content as String) returns String
return "<div class='{id}'>{content}</div>"
end function
test htmlForSpot
assert htmlForSpot("c", "♥") is "<div class='c'>♥</div>"
assert htmlForSpot("u", "10") is "<div class='u'>10</div>"
end test
class Game
constructor(dealerStartPoints as Int)
set property.dealer to new Dealer(dealerStartPoints)
end constructor
property dealer as Dealer
property players as List<of Player>
property message as String
procedure newRound()
call property.dealer.newHand()
each player in property.players
call player.newHand()
end each
end procedure
procedure updatePoints()
each player in property.players
let playerOutcome be determinePlayerOutcome(property.dealer, player)
call global.updatePoints(property.dealer, player, playerOutcome)
end each
end procedure
procedure addPlayer(player as Player)
call property.players.append(player)
end procedure
procedure setMessage(message as String)
set property.message to message
end procedure
end class
class Card
property suit as Suit
property rank as String
property faceDown as Boolean
procedure turnFaceUp()
set property.faceDown to false
end procedure
procedure turnFaceDown()
set property.faceDown to true
end procedure
end class
abstract class Player
property name as String
property points as Int
property cards as List<of Card>
property handTotal as Int
property softAce as Boolean
property status as Status
property hasTurn as Boolean
procedure startTurn()
if property.status is Status.active then
set property.hasTurn to true
end if
end procedure
procedure evaluateStatus(newCard as Card)
if (cardCount() is 2) and (property.handTotal is 21) then
set property.status to Status.blackjack
else if (property.handTotal > 21) and (property.softAce) then
set property.handTotal to property.handTotal - 10
set property.softAce to false
else if property.handTotal > 21 then
set property.status to Status.bust
else if property.handTotal is 21 then
set property.status to Status.standing
end if
if property.status isnt Status.active then
set property.hasTurn to false
end if
end procedure
procedure stand()
set property.status to Status.standing
set property.hasTurn to false
end procedure
procedure draw()
let newCard be dealCard(random())
call property.cards.append(newCard)
if newCard.rank is "A" then
call addAce()
else
set property.handTotal to property.handTotal + rankValue[newCard.rank]
end if
call evaluateStatus(newCard)
end procedure
procedure addAce()
if property.softAce then
set property.handTotal to property.handTotal + 1
else
set property.handTotal to property.handTotal + 11
set property.softAce to true
end if
end procedure
function cardCount() returns Int
return property.cards.length()
end function
procedure changePointsBy(amount as Int)
set property.points to property.points + amount
end procedure
abstract procedure newHand()
procedure newHandHelper()
set property.hasTurn to false
set property.softAce to false
set property.cards to empty List<of Card>
set property.handTotal to 0
set property.status to Status.active
call draw()
call draw()
end procedure
abstract function getMessage() returns String
function statusAsString() returns String
variable msg set to ""
let status be property.status
if property.hasTurn then
set msg to msg + " - PLAYING"
else if status is Status.standing then
set msg to msg + " - STANDING"
else if status is Status.blackjack then
set msg to msg + " - BLACKJACK"
else if status is Status.bust then
set msg to msg + " - BUST"
end if
return msg
end function
abstract procedure nextAction(dealerFaceCard as Card)
end class
class Dealer inherits Player
constructor(startingPoints as Int)
set property.name to "Dealer"
set property.points to startingPoints
end constructor
property faceCard as Card
property hasPlayed as Boolean
procedure play()
call startTurn()
let hiddenCard be property.cards[1]
call hiddenCard.turnFaceUp()
set property.hasPlayed to true
end procedure
procedure newHand()
set property.hasPlayed to false
call newHandHelper()
set property.faceCard to property.cards[0]
let hiddenCard be property.cards[1]
call hiddenCard.turnFaceDown()
end procedure
procedure nextAction(faceCard as Card)
if property.handTotal < 17 then
call draw()
else
call stand()
end if
end procedure
function getMessage() returns String
variable msg set to ""
if property.hasPlayed then
set msg to statusAsString() + " - hand total: {property.handTotal}"
end if
return msg
end function
end class
class HumanPlayer inherits Player
constructor(name as String, startingPoints as Int)
set property.name to name
set property.points to startingPoints
end constructor
procedure newHand()
call newHandHelper()
end procedure
procedure nextAction(dealerFaceCard as Card)
variable key set to ""
call clearKeyBuffer()
while key is ""
set key to waitForKey()
if key is "d" then
call draw()
else if key is "s" then
call stand()
else
set key to ""
end if
end while
end procedure
function getMessage() returns String
variable msg set to statusAsString() + "- hand total: {property.handTotal}"
if property.hasTurn then
set msg to msg + " - press 'd' to draw, 's' to stand"
end if
return msg
end function
end class
enum Action stand, draw
enum Outcome undecided, lose, draw, win, winDouble
enum Status active, standing, blackjack, bust
enum Suit clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades
constant symbols set to {Suit.clubs:"♣", Suit.diamonds:"♦", Suit.hearts:"♥", Suit.spades:"♠"}
constant rankValue set to {"2":2, "3":3, "4":4, "5":5, "6":6, "7":7, "8":8, "9":9, "10":10, "J":10, "Q":10, "K":10, "A":11}
constant gridByRank set to {"A":{"royal"}, "2":{"b", "c"}, "3":{"a", "b", "c"}, "4":{"d", "e", "f", "g"}, "5":{"a", "d", "e", "f", "g"}, "6":{"d", "e", "f", "g", "h", "i"}, "7":{"d", "e", "f", "g", "h", "i", "l"}, "8":{"d", "e", "f", "g", "h", "i", "l", "m"}, "9":{"a", "d", "e", "f", "g", "n", "o", "p", "r"}, "10":{"d", "e", "f", "g", "n", "o", "p", "r", "s", "t"}, "J":{"royal"}, "Q":{"royal"}, "K":{"royal"}}
constant colours set to {Suit.clubs:"black", Suit.diamonds:"red", Suit.hearts:"red", Suit.spades:"black"}
constant styleSheet set to ':root {\n background-color: darkgreen;\n padding-left: 5px;\n}\n\n.game {\n padding: 5px;\n}\n\n.message, .details {\n color: white;\n font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\n}\n\n.hand {\n margin-top: 5px;\n height: 150px;\n padding-bottom: 10px;\n }\n \n.card {\n position: relative;\n float: left;\n background-color: white;\n width: 95px;\n height:140px;\n margin-right:10px;\n padding: 5px;\n border-radius: 5px;\n font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; \n}\n.royal,.a,.b,.c,.d,.e,.f,.g,.h,.i,.j,.k,.l,.m,.n,.o,.p,.q,.r,.s,.t,.u,.v,.w,.x,.y,.z {position: absolute; text-align:center;}\n\n/* Standard spots */ \n .a,.b,.c,.d,.e,.f,.g,.h,.i,.l,.m,.n,.o,.p,.r,.s,.t {font-size: 30px;}\n\n /* columns */\n .d,.n,.h,.p,.f {left: 18px }\n .a,.b,.c,.l,.m,.s,.t {left: 43px;}\n .e,.o,.i,.r,.g {left: 68px}\n\n /* rows */\n .d,.b,.e {top: 0px}\n .s {top: 20px;}\n .l {top: 28px;}\n .n,.o {top: 37px;}\n .h,.a,.i {top: 57px}\n .p,.r {top: 75px;}\n .m {top: 86px;}\n .t {top: 93px;}\n .f,.c,.g {top: 114px;}\n\n/* royals */\n .royal {\n position: absolute;\n z-index: 1;\n width: 95px;\n height: 140px;\n line-height: 140px;\n font-size: 100px;\n }\n\n/* corner summary */\n .u {font-size: 15px; width: 15px; text-align: center; left: 0px; top: 2px;}\n .v {font-size: 20px; width: 15px; text-align: center; left: 0px; top: 12px;}\n\n/* suit colors */\n .red {color: red}\n .black {color: black}\n\n/* back */\n .card.reversed { background-color: rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.607);}'
and immediately use file > auto save the
code to your local file storage: because you will be making changes and want to ensure that your changes are saved.
When you run the program, the display tab will be shown in place of this worksheet, you can flip between them by clicking on the tab headings.
So, run the program now, either:
- using the mouse, by clicking on the run button at the top of the screen, or
- using the keyboard, by pressing Ctrl+r
Make sure that you have grasped the following points:
- Most cards have a obvious numeric value. The Royal cards - Jack, Queen, King - each have the value 10. An Ace is special: it can be valued at 11, or at 1. An Ace valued at 11 is known as a 'soft Ace'. If a dealt card takes the hand total over 21 then a soft Ace is automatically devalued to 1.
- The aim is to get the value of your hand as close to 21 as you can - but if drawing a card causes the total to go over 21 then (unless you have a 'soft Ace') you will be 'BUST' and your turn is over.
- If the first two cards of any player total exactly 21 - which would require one Ace, and one Royal or 10 card - then you have 'BLACKJACK' - the best hand possible - so no further action is needed from you.
- When all hands have finished playing, the outcome is determined, points swapped as follows:
- If a player is BUST then 1 point is passed from them to the dealer even the dealer is also BUST.
- If a player has BLACKJACK then they gain 2 points from the dealer unless the dealer also has BLACKJACK, in which case it is a draw.
- else, if the player is STANDING and the dealer has BLACKJACK the dealer gains one point from the player.
- else, if the player is STANDING and their hand total is greater than the dealer's, the player gains one point from the dealer.
- else, if the player is STANDING and their hand total is the same as the dealer's, it is a draw.
- else, if the player's total is less than the dealer's, the dealer gains one point from the player.
- This program uses deck of multiple packs of cards: so there is a small chance that the same card may appear on screen more than once.
After playing 10 rounds, how many points did you, and the dealer, end up with?
If you have not already exited the program, click stop.
Notes
Total hints used: /Step 2: start to explore the code
Watch the next video:
How many instructions are there in total within the Blackjack program (just find the largest instruction number)?
The initial keyword in an instruction defines the type of instruction. Find and list here at least five initial keywords not mentioned explicitly in the video:
Notes
Total hints used: /Step 3: the different elements within instructions
Watch the next video:
List below the different colours that you can see being used within the code (they are all shown within the first 15 instructions):
What is the significance of the colour dark-blue, and black?
Notes
Total hints used: /Step 4: comments
Watch the next video:
Scrolling through the code, find two comments, not including the one at the top showing the Elan version, and write down the instruction number immediately below each comment:
Notes
Total hints used: /Step 5: identifiers
Watch the next video:
Find five identifiers used in the program - not including any that were mentioned in the video - and list them here:
Notes
Total hints used: /Step 6: literals
Watch the next video:
Find an example of a literal number, and a literal string - not including any specifically mentioned in the video - and note their instruction numbers below:
Notes
Total hints used: /Step 7: methods
Watch the next video:
Find five method names - not including any specifically mentioned in the video - and write them here:
Notes
Total hints used: /Step 8: types
Which of the types mentioned in the video are defined within the standard Elan language (if necessary, watch the video again)?
Notes
Total hints used: /Step 9: adding a new instruction
Watch the next video:
Your first task is to turn the program into a two-player game (not counting the dealer, played by the computer):
- Near the top of
main call game .addPlayer procedureName ? new HumanPlayer ("Player A ",1000 )arguments ? 0 call - Into the two editable fields type in the same code that you see in the instruction immediately above it,
except that instead of
" , writePlayer A "" . Note that:Player B "- your text will initially be black, but it will be coloured once you leave the field
- a drop-down list will offer you some 'auto-completion' options, which can save typing and errors. You can select an option with the mouse or with the cursor ↑↓ keys and Enter.
- You might see a message appear on the right, but you can ignore it for now, unless it is coloured red (you will also then see the word invalid or error appear) in which case you should Backspace to correct the mistake.
- When you have completed the new instruction, run the program, and take responsibility for both Player A and Player B (or, if you are pairing with another person, control one each).
When does the dealer play, now ?
Notes
Total hints used: /Step 10: modifying an existing instruction
- Go back to the instruction that creates Player A and above itinsert a
let - In the first field enter
name1 inputString ("Enter name for first player ")What message do you see within the code editor?
And what do you observe in the 'status panel' - at the top of the screen, just to the right of the code editor?
Then revert the field back toname2 - Select the instruction below this - in other words the one that you added previously - and Tab to the second
field. Edit the contents, replacing the literal string
" withPlayer A "name2 - Run the program. When asked, type in your own first name, finishing with the Enter key.
Has the name you entered made a difference?
There is an unwanted 'side effect' on the screen - what is it?
- To fix the unwanted side effect, insert the following new instruction immediatelyafter the second player is created and added to the game:
call clearPrintedText procedureName ? arguments ? 0 - Now change the program so that it asks the user to enter a name for the second player, this time using
the identifier
name2 - Run the program again, and confirm that you can now name both players.
What would happen if you define the second identifier as name2, but in the next line you were to write name1? (If you need to check, run the program)
And what if the the second identifier was still name2 but you used name3 in the following instruction? This time, can you even run the program to try it?
Notes
Total hints used: /Congratulations! You have completed this worksheet
You have learned:
- How to load, run, and stop a program
- How to recognise the different kinds of instructions that make up a program, including compound instructions, which contain other instructions.
- How to navigate around the program, selecting different instructions in order to draw attention to them and as a prelude to modifying them.
- How to insert new instructions, delete instructions, and to undo changes when they didn't do what you wanted.
In the next worksheet - Blackjack 2 - you'll start to do some real programming, by defining and implementing the logic for a fully-automated Blackjack player - and then in the Blackjack 3 worksheet, pitting different automated players against each other for thousands of games, and using the outcome to refine the strategies.
In the meantime, if you have time, we recommend that you watch the following additional videos - that offer further techniques for navigating and editing instructions. Practice the techniques shown in each video, either while it is running, or immediately afterwards.
All the techniques for navigating and modifying instructions may be looked up in the Help tab. For example: show in Help