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Draw a Card

The code simulates drawing cards from a deck, displaying them, and continuing until the deck is empty.

Code Block

This script creates a standard 52-card deck, allowing users to draw a specified number of cards from the deck until it's empty. The create_deck() function generates a deck containing all combinations of suits and ranks. The draw_card() function removes the specified number of cards from the deck and returns them. Each card drawn is displayed visually using ASCII art in the show_card() function. The script repeatedly prompts the user to draw cards until the deck is depleted, at which point it informs the user that there are no more cards left.

Check out the Code

Code Analysis

Fixing the show_card() Function:

  • The show_card() function currently has a logic issue where it attempts to print all cards at once but uses the entire hand list, not individual cards. Also, the if condition and spacing for the rank "10" are not correctly handled. Here's an updated version of show_card():

def show_card(card):
   rank, suit = card
   space = " " if len(rank) == 1 else ""
   print(f"""
      +-------+
      |{rank}     {space}|
      |       |
      |   {suit}   |
      |       |
      |{space}     {rank}|
      +-------+
   """)

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Simplify and Modularize:

  • To enhance readability and maintainability, you can refactor your code to ensure that the main logic is contained within a function. This way, the script can be more easily modified or extended.

def main():
   deck = create_deck()
   random.shuffle(deck)

   while len(deck) > 0:
       try:
           num_cards = int(input("How many cards do you want to draw? "))
           if num_cards < 1:
               print("Please draw at least one card.")
               continue
       except ValueError:
           print("Please enter a valid number.")
           continue

       hand, deck = draw_card(deck, num_cards)
       for card in hand:
           show_card(card)

   print("We are out of cards.")

if __name__ == "__main__":
   main()

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Input Validation:

  • The num_cards input should be validated to ensure it’s a positive integer and not more than the remaining cards in the deck. This can prevent drawing more cards than available or invalid input.

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Shuffle Deck:

  • It’s common to shuffle the deck before starting the card draw. The random.shuffle(deck) method can be used right after creating the deck to randomize the order of cards.

deck = create_deck()
random.shuffle(deck)

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Deck Replenishment:

  • Consider adding functionality to allow the user to reshuffle and reuse the deck after it’s depleted or even add jokers to the deck if needed.

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Improving User Experience:

  • The script could be enhanced by showing the number of remaining cards after each draw or offering the user the option to quit before the deck runs out.

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Final Notes:

This code provides a good foundation for card-based games or simulations. Enhancements like better input validation, modular design, and handling edge cases can significantly improve the robustness and flexibility of the script.

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