Objective

This project will give you practice using ArrayList, and programs that use the MVC (Model-View-Controller) model of interaction.

In case you have not already noticed, this is an Open assignment.  You must read the Open/Closed policy before working on this project.  The policy can be found at policy. 

Project Clarifications

Any clarifications or corrections associated with this project will be available at: clarifications.html

Overview

For this project you will write a class named Blackjack that implements the game logic associated with a blackjack card game. The Blackjack class implements the BlackjackEngine Java interface whose definition you can find in the project's javadoc documentation. 

Grading:

• Tests (75 %)

  • Public JUnit tests  (40 %)

  • Release JUnit tests (25 %)

  • Secret JUnit tests (10 %)

• Student Tests (10 %)

• Style (15 %)

For this project:

• Even if you are not planning to work on the project for a while make sure that:

  • You can compile a simple class using the provided code distribution.  If you have problems compiling a simple class see your TA immediately.

  • Submit your project using the "Submit Project" option in Eclipse and verify your submission has been received in the submit server.  It is important that you submit your project using the "Submit Project" option rather than uploading a jar file to the submit server.  If you are having problems with this submission process, contact your TA or instructor immediately.

• You must debug your code using the Eclipse debugger and should not use "System.out.println" as a debug tool.  The TA in office hours will require you to use the debugger to show any problems you are experiencing.

Code Distribution:

The project's code distribution is available by checking out the project named p1. The code distribution provides you with the following:

• A package called blackjackGUI - This package implements the game's Graphical User Interface.  You don't have to modify or add anything to this package.  We have provided the source code in case you are interested to see how it works.  In this package you will find a class named PlayBlackjack which is the class you will execute if you want to play the game through the GUI.
• A package named blackjack - In this package you will find the shell for a class named Blackjack that implements the blackjack game logic.  This is the class you need to implement for this project.  In the blackjack package you will also find the following support classes: Card, CardSuit, and CardValue.  You will use these classes during the implementation of the the Blackjack class; you should not modify these classes.
• PublicTests.java - This class represents the set of JUnit public tests. The expected results for each test can be found in the text files with a "pub" prefix.  This class can be found in the tests package.
• A package named tests - Includes the public tests (PublicTests.java) and a shell for a class (StudentTests.java) that you must complete with your own tests.

Blackjack Rules

If you have been to Vegas then you are familiar with the rules to play blackjack (also known as 21).  However, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, therefore the rules for blackjack in this project are different.  If you want to familiarize yourself with the game, check the online blackjack game available at: http://javaboutique.internet.com/BlackJack/index.html.  Note that the rules we will use are not exactly the same ones used in this online game.

In our blackjack version we have a dealer (person who shuffles and distribute cards) and only one player.  The game's objective is for the player to beat the dealer by generating a hand of cards whose value is higher than the dealer's hand without exceeding a total value of 21.  The game starts by the dealer shuffling cards (one or more decks) and dealing two cards to the player and herself/himself (the actual order is described in the project's javadoc documentation).  One of the dealer's cards will be face down.  At this point the player will ask for cards until he/she understand it can beat the dealer with the current hand and as long the cards' total value does not exceed 21.  If the hand of cards does not exceed 21, and the player stops requesting cards (what is refer to as "stand"), then the dealer will flip the card that was face down, and proceed to deal cards to himself/herself as long as the cards' value is less than 16 and does not exceed 21.   If a value greater than 21 is generated the player wins.  Otherwise whoever (player or dealer) has the hand with the highest value will win the game. 

The following provides additional information about the game:

• The term "bust" refers to the scenario where the player or dealer cards' value exceeds 21.
• The term "blackjack" refers to the scenario where in a hand of cards we have an Ace("1") along with a "10", Jack, Queen, or King. 
• In our blackjack version the player cannot split a hand of cards.  If you don't know what splitting is disregard this comment.
• The value of cards "2" through "10" correspond to the numeric value associated with the card face value.
• "1" (Ace) could be worth either 1 or 11.
• The Jack ("J"),  Queen("Q"),  and King("K") are worth 10 points each.
• The card's suit (i.e., "SPADES", "DIAMONDS", "HEARTS", "CLUBS") has no bearing on a card's value.

Requirements

Project Requirements

• The state of the game is defined by the values: BlackjackEngine.DEALER_WON, BlackjackEngine.PLAYER_WON, and BlackjackEngine.GAME_IN_PROGRESS.
• Your program should handle more than one deck of cards.
• When creating a deck of cards, load the suits in the following order: SPADES, DIAMONDS, HEARTS and CLUBS.  At the same time, each suit should be loaded starting with the ACE, followed by cards with a face value of "2" through "10", followed by the "JACK", "QUEEN", and "KING". 
• When creating more than one deck of cards, you must load one deck at a time using the order specified above.  After all the cards have been loaded, then you can proceed to shuffle them. For instance, a game with 2 decks of cards is initially created as: Spade Ace, Spade 2, Spade 3,... Spade Jack, Spade Queen, Spade King, Diamond Ace ... Diamond King, Heart Ace ... Heart King, Club Ace ... Club King, Spade Ace ... Spade King, ... Club King
• You must use ArrayList objects to represent the player and dealer's cards, and the deck.
• You must use the shuffle method of the java.util.Collections class to perform the data shuffling.  You must use the shuffle method that takes a list followed by a Random object.  Notice that the list parameter is defined as List<?>.  You can ignore that definition.  The method will work with ArrayList objects.
• A player has an account with an initial value of 200 chips.
• The default initial bet is 5 chips.
• When a new game is dealt the bet amount is deducted from the account.
• When a player wins he receives twice the bet amount.
• When a player draws he receives the original bet amount.
• Immediately after checking out the code distribution, make sure you can submit your project, even if you have not implemented the project.  Do not wait until the day the project is due to submit your project for the first time.
• Verify that your project passes the submit server tests (https://submit.cs.umd.edu/)
• You must provide your own tests in the file StudentTests.java provided with the code distribution.
• Keep in mind that for this project you have three release tokens in the submit server.
• Do not define any supporting classes.

Testing Requirements (please read carefully)

You must provide your own tests in the file StudentTests.java provided with the code distribution. The submit server provides information regarding methods that are not covered by public or student's tests;  Please look at this information while developing your tests. Notice that even though a public test may exist for a method, the test may not test the method for all the possible arguments it can accept.  Therefore, add tests for methods even if they are already tested in a public test. 

We encourage you to thoroughly test your code with your own tests.  This will allow you to pass the release tests sooner plus will help you develop your testing skills (after all, there is no submit server in the real world :)).

If you define any text files for your tests, you must name those files beginning with "studentTest" and ending with the .txt extension. If you don't name files this way, the submit server will generate an authorization error (even if the tests run fine in Eclipse).  By the way, feel free to use the SupportPublicTests.correctResults method for your own tests.  The SupportPublicTests class is part of the code distribution.

Keep in mind that your can use the debugger with JUnit tests.

Style Requirements

• You must avoid code duplication.  For example, if several methods in your class share the same code fragment, place the common fragment in a private method.
• You must follow Java conventions for identifiers.  For example, class/interface names must start with capitals.
• You must use meaningful variable names.
• You must indent your code using three or four spaces or by using the Eclipse "Correct Indentation" option.
• You must use the same style for blocks of curly brackets ({ }) throughout your code. 

Sample Run

The following video illustrates the functionality associated with the application. Game Video

Submission

Submit your project using the submit project option associated with Eclipse.

Academic Integrity

Please make sure you read the academic integrity section of the syllabus so you understand what is permissible in our programming projects.  We want to remind you that we check your project against other students' projects and any case of academic dishonesty will be referred to the University's Office of Judicial Programs.

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