C# Console BlackJack cs

Article
1/17/2024

Overview

This is a console game that I first wrote in VB 2013 and then re-wrote in C# 2013 as a learning exercise.

Anyone who has ever played cards before has probably played BlackJack.

Blackjack, also known as twenty-one, is the most widely played casino banking game in the world. Blackjack is a comparing card game between player and dealer, meaning that players compete against the dealer rather than other players. It is played (in this version) with a deck of 52 cards. The object of the game is to beat the dealer, which can be done in a number of ways:

Get 21 points on the player's first two cards (called a blackjack), without a dealer blackjack;
Reach a final score higher than the dealer without exceeding 21; or
Let the dealer draw additional cards until his or her hand exceeds 21.

The player is dealt an initial two-card hand and adds together the value of their cards. Face cards (kings, queens, and jacks) are counted as ten points. A player and the dealer can count his or her own ace as 1 point or 11 points. All other cards are counted as the numeric value shown on the card. After receiving their initial two cards, players have the option of getting a "hit" (twisting), which is taking an additional card, or sticking. In a given round, the player or the dealer wins by having a score of 21 or by having the highest score that is less than 21. Scoring higher than 21 (called "busting" or "going bust") results in a loss. A player may win by having any final score equal to or less than 21 if the dealer busts.

The Code

First some Variables and a Structure, at Module level, to hold the deck of cards, the values of the cards, and the game statistics.

There's also a Module level Random Object, which is used when shuffling the deck.

static string[] deck;
static Random r = new Random();
private struct  value
{
 public string  cardName;
 public int  cardValue;
 public value(string cn, int cv)
  {
 this.cardName = cn;
 this.cardValue = cv;
  }
} 
static List<value> values = new List<value>();
static int  gamesPlayed;
static int  youWon;
static int  dealerWon;
  
static decimal  balance = 100m;
static decimal  bet;
In Sub Main, the suits Arrays are loaded, and also the values List. then the game loop begins.
static void  Main(string[] args)
{ 
  string[] hearts = Enumerable.Range(2, 9).Select(x => x.ToString() + (Char)3).ToArray();
  hearts = hearts.Concat(new string[] {
 "J" + (Char)3,
 "Q" + (Char)3,
 "K" + (Char)3,
 "A" + (Char)3
  }).ToArray(); 
  string[] diamonds = Enumerable.Range(2, 9).Select(x => x.ToString() + (Char)4).ToArray();
  diamonds = diamonds.Concat(new string[] {
 "J" + (Char)4,
 "Q" + (Char)4,
 "K" + (Char)4,
 "A" + (Char)4
  }).ToArray(); 
  string[] clubs = Enumerable.Range(2, 9).Select(x => x.ToString() + (Char)5).ToArray();
  clubs = clubs.Concat(new string[] {
 "J" + (Char)5,
 "Q" + (Char)5,
 "K" + (Char)5,
 "A" + (Char)5
  }).ToArray();
 string[] spades = Enumerable.Range(2, 9).Select(x => x.ToString() + (Char)6).ToArray();
  spades = spades.Concat(new string[] {
 "J" + (Char)6,
 "Q" + (Char)6,
 "K" + (Char)6,
 "A" + (Char)6
  }).ToArray(); 
  values.Add(new value("2", 2));
  values.Add(new value("3", 3));
  values.Add(new value("4", 4));
  values.Add(new value("5", 5));
  values.Add(new value("6", 6));
  values.Add(new value("7", 7));
  values.Add(new value("8", 8));
  values.Add(new value("9", 9));
  values.Add(new value("10", 10));
  values.Add(new value("J", 10));
  values.Add(new value("Q", 10));
  values.Add(new value("K", 10));
  values.Add(new value("A", 11));
  
  string playAgain = null; 
  do
  {
  playAgain = balance > 0 ? playAHand() : "n"; 
 if (playAgain.ToLower() == "y")
  {
  deck = hearts.Concat(diamonds).Concat(clubs).Concat(spades).ToArray();
  shuffle(); 
 string[] dealersHand = deal(2);
 string[] playersHand = deal(2); 
 int dealerScore = dealersHand.Sum(c => values.First(v => val(c) > 0 ? val(c).ToString() == v.cardName : c.StartsWith(v.cardName)).cardValue);
 if (dealerScore == 22)
  dealerScore = 12;
 int playerScore = playersHand.Sum(c => values.First(v => val(c) > 0 ? val(c).ToString() == v.cardName : c.StartsWith(v.cardName)).cardValue);
 if (playerScore == 22)
  playerScore = 12; 
 showCards("Your hand: ", playersHand); 
 Console.WriteLine(); 
 if (playerScore == 21 & !(dealerScore == 21))
  {
 Console.WriteLine("BlackJack! You win.");
 Console.WriteLine();
  showCards("Dealer's hand: ", dealersHand);
  updateStats("user");
  }
 else if  (playerScore == 21 & dealerScore == 21)
  {
  showCards("Dealer's hand: ", dealersHand);
 Console.WriteLine("It's a draw. No one wins.");
  updateStats("draw");
  }
 else if  ((!(playerScore == 21) & !(dealerScore == 21)) || (!(playerScore == 21) & dealerScore == 21))
  {
  playGame("user", playerScore, dealerScore, playersHand, dealersHand);
  }
  }
 Console.WriteLine();
  } while  (playAgain.ToLower() == "y");
 Console.ReadLine();
}

The playAHand Function prompts the player, asking whether to continue.

private static  string playAHand()
{
 Console.WriteLine("Play a hand? (y/n)");
 string response = Console.ReadLine();
 if (response.ToLower() == "y")
  {
 Console.Clear();
 Console.WriteLine("Hands played: {0}", gamesPlayed);
 Console.WriteLine("You won: {0}, Dealer won: {1}", youWon, dealerWon);
 Console.WriteLine("Balance: {0:c2}", balance);
 if (balance == 0)
  {
 Console.WriteLine("Zero balance");
 return "n";
  }
  
  do
  {
 Console.WriteLine("How much would you like to bet?");
 if (decimal.TryParse(Console.ReadLine(), out  bet) && bet <= balance && bet > 0)
  {
 Console.WriteLine();
 Console.WriteLine("Bet: {0:c2}", bet);
 break;
  }
 else
  {
 Console.WriteLine();
 Console.WriteLine("Invalid bet");
  }
  } while  (true);
  }
  return response;
}
private static  string playAHand()
{
 Console.WriteLine("Play a hand? (y/n)");
 string response = Console.ReadLine();
 if (response.ToLower() == "y")
  {
 Console.Clear();
 Console.WriteLine("Hands played: {0}", gamesPlayed);
 Console.WriteLine("You won: {0}, Dealer won: {1}", youWon, dealerWon);
 Console.WriteLine("Balance: {0:c2}", balance);
 if (balance == 0)
  {
 Console.WriteLine("Zero balance");
 return "n";
  }
  
  do
  {
 Console.WriteLine("How much would you like to bet?");
 if (decimal.TryParse(Console.ReadLine(), out  bet) && bet <= balance && bet > 0)
  {
 Console.WriteLine();
 Console.WriteLine("Bet: {0:c2}", bet);
 break;
  }
 else
  {
 Console.WriteLine();
 Console.WriteLine("Invalid bet");
  }
  } while  (true);
  }
  return response;
}

The playGame subroutine is the core of the game. This sub handles Twisting, recursively calling itself as well as branching out to the showCards and updateStats methods.

private static  void playGame(string player, int score1, int score2, string[] hand1, string[] hand2)
  {
 string response = "";
 if (player == "user")
  {
 Console.WriteLine("Twist? (y/n)");
  response = Console.ReadLine();
 Console.WriteLine();
  }
 else
  {
  response = "y";
  } 
  if (response.ToLower() == "y")
  {
  hand1 = hand1.Concat(deal(1)).ToArray();
  
  if (player == "user")
  {
  showCards("Your hand: ", hand1);
 Console.WriteLine();
  } 
  score1 = hand1.Sum(c => values.First(v => val(c) > 0 ? val(c).ToString() == v.cardName : c.StartsWith(v.cardName)).cardValue); 
  if (player == "user")    {
  if (score1 > 21 & !(score1 - (hand1.Count(c => c.StartsWith("A")) * 10) <= 21))
  {
  showCards("Dealer's hand: ", player == "user" ? hand2 : hand1);
 Console.WriteLine();
  updateStats(winner(player, hand1, hand2));
  }
 else if  (score1 > 21 & (score1 - (hand1.Count(c => c.StartsWith("A")) * 10) <= 21))
  {
 int count = 0;
 while (count < hand1.Count(c => c.StartsWith("A")) & score1 > 21)
  {
  count += 1;
  score1 -= 10;
  }
 if (score1 < 21)
  {
  playGame("user", score1, score2, hand1, hand2);
  }
 else
  {
  showCards("Dealer's hand: ", hand2);
  updateStats(winner(player, hand1, hand2));
  }
  }
 else if  (score1 < 21)
  {
  playGame("user", score1, score2, hand1, hand2);
  }
 else if  (score1 == 21)
  {
  playGame("dealer", score2, score1, hand2, hand1);
  }
  }
 else
  {
 if (score1 < 17)
  {
  playGame("dealer", score1, score2, hand1, hand2);
  }
 else
  {
 if (score1 < 20)
  {
 if (r.Next(0, 4) == 1)
  {
  playGame("dealer", score1, score2, hand1, hand2);
  }
 else
  {
  showCards("Dealer's hand: ", hand1);
  updateStats(winner(player, hand1, hand2));
  }
  }
 else if  (score1 > 21 & (score1 - (hand1.Count(c => c.StartsWith("A")) * 10) <= 21))
  {
 int count = 0;
 while (count < hand1.Count(c => c.StartsWith("A")) & score1 > 21)
  {
  count += 1;
  score1 -= 10;
  }
 if (score1 < 21)
  {
  playGame("dealer", score1, score2, hand1, hand2);
  }
 else
  {
  showCards("Dealer's hand: ", hand1);
  updateStats(winner(player, hand1, hand2));
  }
  }
 else
  {
  showCards("Dealer's hand: ", hand1);
  updateStats(winner(player, hand1, hand2));
  }
  }
  }
  }
 else
  {
 if (score2 < 17)
  {
  playGame("dealer", score2, score1, hand2, hand1);
  }
 else
  {
 if (score2 < 20)
  {
 if (r.Next(0, 4) == 1)
  {
  playGame("dealer", score2, score1, hand2, hand1);
  }
 else
  {
  showCards("Dealer's hand: ", hand2);
  updateStats(winner(player, hand1, hand2));
  }
  }
 else
  {
  showCards("Dealer's hand: ", hand2);
  updateStats(winner(player, hand1, hand2));
  }
  }
  }
}

The winner Function compares the scores and writes output to the Console.

private static  string winner(string player, string[] hand1, string[] hand2)
{
 int score1 = hand1.Sum(c => values.First(v => val(c) > 0 ? val(c).ToString() == v.cardName
:c.StartsWith(v.cardName)).cardValue); 
  int count = 0;
 while (count < hand1.Count(c => c.StartsWith("A")) & score1 > 21)
  {
  count += 1;
  score1 -= 10;
  }
 int score2 = hand2.Sum(c => values.First(v => val(c) > 0 ? val(c).ToString() == v.cardName : c.StartsWith(v.cardName)).cardValue); 
  count = 0;
 while (count < hand2.Count(c => c.StartsWith("A")) & score2 > 21)
  {
  count += 1;
  score2 -= 10;
  } 
  if (player == "user")
  {
 if (score1 <= 21 && score2 <= 21)
  {
 if (score1 > score2)
  {
 Console.WriteLine("You win.");
 return "user";
  }
 else if  (score2 > score1)
  {
 Console.WriteLine("Dealer wins.");
 return "dealer";
  }
 else
  {
 //draw
 Console.WriteLine("No one wins.");
 return "draw";
  }
  }
 else
  {
 if (score1 > 21)
  {
 Console.WriteLine("You bust. Dealer wins.");
 return "dealer";  
  }
 else
  {
 //score2 > 21
 Console.WriteLine("Dealer bust. You win.");
 return "user";
  }
  }
  }
 else
  {
 //dealer
 if (score1 <= 21 && score2 <= 21)
  {
 if (score2 > score1)
  {
 Console.WriteLine("You win.");
 return "user";
  }
 else if  (score1 > score2)
  {
 Console.WriteLine("Dealer wins.");
 return "dealer";
  }
 else
  {
 //draw
 Console.WriteLine("No one wins.");
 return "draw";
  }
  }
 else
  {
 if (score2 > 21)
  {
 Console.WriteLine("You bust. Dealer wins.");
 return "dealer";  
  }
 else
  {
 //score1 > 21
 Console.WriteLine("Dealer bust. You win.");
 return "user";
  }
  }
  }
}

The shuffle method, randomly shuffles the deck.

private static  void shuffle()
{
  deck = deck.OrderBy(x => r.NextDouble()).ToArray();
}

The deal Function takes the specified number of cards from the deck and returns them as a String Array...

private static  string[] deal(int count)
{
 string[] a = deck.Take(count).ToArray();
  deck = deck.Except(a).ToArray();
 return a;
}

The updateStats method updates the balance and statistics Variables in preparation for the next hand.

private static  void updateStats(string winner)
{
  gamesPlayed += 1;
  youWon += winner == "user" ? 1 : 0;
  dealerWon += winner == "dealer" ? 1 : 0;
  balance += winner == "user" ? bet : winner == "dealer" ? -bet : 0;
}

The showCards method writes the contents of a hand to the Console, using appropriate symbols and coloring.

private static  void showCards(string label, string[] cards)
{
 Console.Write(label);
 char[] reds = { (Char)3, (Char)4 };
 for (int x = 0; x <= cards.GetUpperBound(0); x++)
  {
 Console.ForegroundColor = reds.Any(s => cards[x].Contains(s)) ? ConsoleColor.Red : ConsoleColor.Gray;
 Console.Write(cards[x] + " ");
  } 
  int cardSum = cards.Sum(c => values.First(v => val(c) > 0 ? val(c).ToString() == v.cardName : c.StartsWithv.cardName)).cardValue); 
  int count = 0;
 while (count < cards.Count(c => c.StartsWith("A")) & cardSum > 21)
  {
  count += 1;
  cardSum -= 10;
  } 
  Console.ForegroundColor = ConsoleColor.White; 
  Console.Write("({0})", cardSum);
 Console.WriteLine();
}

Finally the val Function which is used when identifying card values.

private static int val(string c)
{
 string faceValue = c.Replace(((Char)3).ToString(), "").Replace(((Char)4).ToString(), "").Replace(((Char)5).ToString(), "").Replace(((Char)6).ToString(), "");
 int value;
 Int32.TryParse(faceValue, out  value);
 return value;
}

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C# Console BlackJack cs

Overview

The Code

See also

Additional resources

Share via

C# Console BlackJack cs

Overview

The Code

See also

Articles related to game programming

Additional resources