Github – https://github.com/plattnotpratt/blackjack-game-java
In this post, I’ll walk you through how I built a simple yet engaging Blackjack game in Java. The project was designed to be a practical learning tool for a Java game development class, and it serves as an introduction to key programming concepts such as object-oriented design, game logic, and user input handling.
Why Create a Blackjack Game?
Before diving into the code, let’s talk about why Blackjack was a great project choice. The game is both simple and complex enough to demonstrate the fundamentals of Java programming and game development. I learn important concepts like managing game state, implementing logic, and handling user interaction—all of which are applicable to other types of games and general application programming as well.
Tools and Technologies Used
- Java: The programming language I used to write the game. Java’s object-oriented nature makes it an ideal choice for creating structured, scalable code.
- BlueJ: A beginner-friendly Java IDE (integrated development environment) that was used to write and compile the code. It’s especially useful for teaching Java, as it provides an intuitive interface for managing classes and objects.
- Game Logic: Implementing core Blackjack rules, including dealing cards, calculating hand values, and determining a winner.
Designing the Game
Class Structure
To maintain clear and modular code, I divided the game into several classes:
- Card Class: Represents a single playing card, with properties like rank and suit.
- Deck Class: Handles the deck of cards, dealing, and shuffling.
- Hand Class: Represents a player in the game. It keeps track of the player’s hand and score.
- Blackjack Class: This is the main driver of the game. It controls the flow of the game, from dealing cards to determining the winner.
User Interaction
The game is text-based, so it runs entirely in the console. The user can interact by typing commands to take actions such as “hit,” “stand,” and “exit.” The main aim was to keep the gameplay intuitive while introducing players to the rules of Blackjack.
Key Features Implemented
- Card Dealing and Shuffling: The game includes a deck that shuffles cards before each round, ensuring no two rounds are the same.
- Hand Scoring: The game calculates the value of each player’s hand, accounting for aces (which can be 1 or 11) and face cards (which are worth 10 points).
- Player Actions: Players can choose to “hit” (take another card) or “stand” (keep their current hand).
- Game End Conditions: The game automatically ends when the player either wins, loses, or opts to quit.