Thread: Can I get some help fixing this issue?

Basically I have to write a program that plays the card game, 21.

This is the assignment. I've done most of it but my code has a few issues.
"
PART 1:

You are going to create a simple card game of 21. In this game, the single player has to try to come as close to a score of 21 without going over and beat the computer's score.

1. Set up a class called PlayingCard. Add a method that returns a string representing its rank and suit. For example, the card with rank 1 and suit 'S' is "Ace of Spades".

2. Set up a class called DeckOfPlayingCards which contains the following information:

INSTANCE VARIABLES
an array of 52 PlayingCard objects
index of the "top" card in the deck

METHODS
constructor - initializes each PlayingCard object to a unique card in a standard deck
shuffle - randomly permute the order of the cards in the array (see below for a hint) and sets the top card to the first card in the array
deal - returns the top card in the deck and sets the top card index to the next card

3. Set up a class TwentyOne with a main method that creates the deck of cards and then allows the user to play the game of 21.
SHUFFLING

In order to shuffle the cards, use similar to the following algorithm:

for i = 0 to 50
pick a random integer j between i and 51
swap card i with card j
end for

GENERAL GAME RULES

Each card has a point value based on its rank (the suit is ignored in this game). The cards with ranks 2 through 10 have point values of 2 through 10 respectively. The "face" cards (Jack, Queen, King) have a point value of 10 each. The Ace is considered as 11 points, unless that puts the player over a total of 21 points, in which case it reverts to 1 point instead. For example, the following cards are dealt to the player and the total scores are shown to their right:
CARD CARD SCORE TOTAL SCORE
5 of Diamonds 5 5
Ace of Hearts 11 16
7 of Clubs 7 13
3 of Clubs 3 16
Ace of Spades 1 17
4 of Hearts 4 21

In each game, the deck of cards is shuffled, and the user starts with the first two cards of the deck. The user may pick the next card of the deck by inputting "HIT" or the user may stop at this point by inputting "STAY". The user can pick as many cards as he or she wants in order to try to come up with a score as close to 21 without going over. If the user goes over 21 points, the user automatically loses and the computer wins. Otherwise, if the user stops with a total score less than or equal to 21, then the computer plays. The computer starts with the next two cards of the deck. The computer automatically "hits" until its score is at least 17. If the computer goes over 21 (but the user did not), then the user wins automatically. Otherwise, the winner is the player with the higher score. A tie (same total score) is won by the computer.
INPUT PROCESSING

Input will come from the keyboard in this game. The user should input "HIT" or "STAY" (lowercase ok) as the game proceeds. Any other input should flag an error "Unrecognized input", etc. and you should ask for the input again. At the end of the game, you should ask the user if he/she wants to play again. The input here will be "Y" or "N" (lowercase ok). All other input will lead to an error and you should ask the user to input again. See OUTPUT PROCESSING for an example of correct input.
OUTPUT PROCESSING

Here is a sample of the output of the program (user input in purple italics):

LET'S PLAY 21!
SHUFFLING CARDS...

YOUR TURN
5 of Diamonds 5
Ace of Hearts 16
HIT or STAY? HIT
7 of Clubs 13
HIT or STAY? hit
3 of Clubs 16
HIT or STAY? HIT
Ace of Spades 17
HIT or STAY? hit
4 of Hearts 21
HIT or STAY? STAY

COMPUTER'S TURN
King of Clubs 10
9 of Diamonds 19

YOUR SCORE: 21
COMPUTER'S SCORE: 19
YOU WIN!
PLAY AGAIN? (Y/N) Y


LET'S PLAY 21!
SHUFFLING CARDS...

YOUR TURN
8 of Hearts 8
Queen of Spades 18
HIT or STAY? stay

COMPUTER'S TURN
Jack of Hearts 10
3 of Clubs 13
7 of Spades 20

YOUR SCORE: 18
COMPUTER'S SCORE: 20
YOU LOSE!
PLAY AGAIN? (Y/N) Y


LET'S PLAY 21!
SHUFFLING CARDS...

YOUR TURN
Queen of Hearts 10
5 of Diamonds 15
HIT or STAY? HIT
7 of Hearts 22

YOU LOSE!
PLAY AGAIN? (Y/N) Y


LET'S PLAY 21!
SHUFFLING CARDS...

YOUR TURN
4 of Spades 4
10 of Clubs 14
HIT or STAY? HIT
6 of Hearts 20
HIT or STAY? STAY

COMPUTER'S TURN
5 of Hearts 5
Jack of Spades 15
Ace of Diamonds 16
4 of Clubs 20

YOUR SCORE: 20
COMPUTER'S SCORE: 20
YOU LOSE!
PLAY AGAIN? (Y/N) Y


LET'S PLAY 21!
SHUFFLING CARDS...

YOUR TURN
8 of Hearts 8
9 of Diamonds 17
HIT or STAY? STAY

COMPUTER'S TURN
King of Clubs 10
6 of Spades 16
Jack of Diamonds 26

YOU WIN!
PLAY AGAIN? (Y/N) N"

--- Update ---

Here is my code. It's divided into the classes that were stipulated in the assignment.

public class PlayingCard {
 
	// instance variables
 
	private static int rank; // rank of card
 
 
 
	private static char suit;// card's suit
 
 
 
 
	// default constructor
 
 
	// setter method for Rank
	public static void setRank(int i) {
 
		rank = i;
	}
 
	// getter method for Rank
	public static int  getRank() {
 
		return rank;
	}
	// setter method for Suit
	public static void setSuit(char i ) {
 
		suit = i;
	}
 
	// getter method for suit
	public static char  getSuit() {
 
		return suit;
	}
 
	// cardInfo method. It accepts parameters, 2 string arrays, rank, and suit to return string that indicates the card's name and suit
	public static String cardInfo(String [] rankstr, String[] suitstr, int rank,  char suit) {
 
 
		//  The logic behind this declaration is the following. This code will use the char input and discern int's nature in if statements and then assign corresponding index values so that I can use that index to access the right string in the array of characters
		int suitindex =0;
 
		// The suits are ordered from least to greatest value. S,H,D,C. That is the order
		if(suit=='S')
 
		suitindex =1;
 
		if(suit=='H')
 
		suitindex = 2;
 
		if(suit=='D')
 
		suitindex =3;
 
		if(suit=='C')
 
		suitindex=4;
 
	// String variable r is used to store the string at index rank.
 
	String r =rankstr[rank];
 
	// String variable s is used to store the string at the suitindex obtained previously.
 
	String s = suitstr[suitindex];
 
 
	// String info is essentially a concatenation of r and s along with "of".
	String info = r+"  of  " + s;
 
	return info;
 
 
 
 
	}
 
	public static void main(String [] args) {
 
 
		Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);
 
		// String array of names that correspond with ranks
 
		String r[] = {null,"Ace", "King", " Queen " , "Jack", "Ten", "Nine", "Eight ", " Seven", "Six"," Five", "Four", "Three", " Dueces"};
 
		// String array of suits corresponding to ranks
 
		String s[] = { null, "Spades", " Hearts", "Diamonds ", "Clubs"};
 
		// Prompt user for input
 
		System.out.println("Enter card rank and suit");
 
		int rank = input.nextInt();
 
		String str = input.next();
		// Method "charAt" is used to find the character at index zero because scanners don't work for characters.
		char suit = str.charAt(0);
 
		PlayingCard nm = new PlayingCard();
 
		String m =nm.cardInfo(r, s, rank, suit);
		// PlayingCard object
		System.out.println(m);
 
		// Value returned by the invocation of the cardInfo method is stored in s1;
 
 
		// s1 is now being printed
 
}
}

import java.util.Arrays;
 
 
 
public class DeckOfPlayingCards {
 
    private static PlayingCard cards[] = new PlayingCard[52];
 
    private static int  indexOftop =51;
 
	String rankstr[] = {"Ace", "King", " Queen " , "Jack", "Ten", "Nine", "Eight ", " Seven", "Six"," Five", "Four", "Three", " Dueces"};
 
 
 
	String suitstr[] = {  "Spades", " Hearts", "Diamonds ", "Clubs"};
 
 
 
 
    public void setCards() {
 
        this.cards = cards;
    }
 
    public PlayingCard[] getCards() {
 
 
 
		return cards;
    }
 
    public void setIndexOftop() {
 
        this.indexOftop= indexOftop;
    }
 
    public int getIndexOftop() {
 
    	return indexOftop;
    }
 
    public DeckOfPlayingCards() {
 
    for(int i =0; i<cards.length; i++) {
 
    	int rank =cards[i].getRank();
 
    	char suit = cards[i].getSuit();
 
    	cards[i]=new PlayingCard();
 
        cards[i].cardInfo(rankstr, suitstr, rank, suit);
 
    }}
 
    public void shuffle(){
 
    	int j;
 
        for(int i = 0 ; i<51; i++) {
 
        j = (int)Math.random()*51;
 
        PlayingCard temp = cards[i];
 
        cards[i]=cards[j];
 
        cards[j]=temp;
 
        temp = cards[0]; 
 
 
        cards[0]=cards[indexOftop];
        }
 
 
 
 
}
 
    public PlayingCard deal() {
 
 
        for(int i=0; i<51; i++){
 
 
        indexOftop=52;
 
        indexOftop -=i;
        }
 
        return cards[indexOftop];
 
 
 
 
 
    }
 
}

import java.util.Scanner;
 
 
 
public class TwentyOne {
 
 
public static void main(String [] args) {
 
	Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);
 
	DeckOfPlayingCards deck = new DeckOfPlayingCards();
 
 
	// String array of  ranks
 
	String rankstr[] = {  "Ace", "2", " 3 " , "4", "5", "6", "7 ", " 8", "9"," 10", "Jack", "Queen", " King"};
 
	// String array of suits corresponding to ranks
 
	String suitstr[] = {  "Spades", " Hearts", "Diamonds ", "Clubs"}; 
 
	gamePlay(rankstr,suitstr,deck);
 
	System.out.println("DO YOU WANT TO PLAY AGAIN? Y OR N");
 
	String answer = input.next();
 
	while(answer.equals("Y")) {
 
	gamePlay(suitstr, suitstr, deck);
 
	if(answer.equals("N")) {
 
 
 
	System.out.println("THANK YOU FOR PLAYING");
 
	break;
 
	}}
 
}
 
		public static void gamePlay(String rankstr[],String suitstr[],DeckOfPlayingCards deck) {
 
			Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);
 
		// Initialization of rank and index number of suit array.
		int rank = (int)Math.random();
 
 
		int suitIndex = (int)Math.random();
	// Represents the score of the user 
		int total;
		// A secondary variable for user's score. Its use will become more apparent as you progress through the program
		int tot =0;
 
		// Represents computer's score
		int totcomputer =0;
 
		// suitIndex is used to get a string from the array and then charAt() is used to find the first character
		String str= suitstr[suitIndex];
 
		char suit = str.charAt(0);
 
		// Game 
		System.out.println("LET'S PLAY 21!");
 
		System.out.println();
 
		System.out.println();
 
		System.out.println("SHUFFLING CARDS...");
 
		System.out.println();
 
		 deck.shuffle();
 
		 System.out.println();
 
		System.out.println("YOUR TURN");
		 // I'm adding 1 to rank b/c the first element in the array of ranks is the ranked number 1 and so on and so forth for the other elements
		 total = rank+1;
 
		 // Print first card
		 System.out.println(deck.deal().cardInfo(rankstr, suitstr, rank, suit) +" " +"\t\t\t" + total);
 
		 		deck.shuffle();
 
 
			 rank = (int)((Math.random()*rankstr.length-1));
 
			suitIndex = (int)((Math.random()*suitstr.length-1));
 
			str= suitstr[suitIndex];
 
			suit = str.charAt(0);
 
 
			 total = rank+1;
 
		 // Print second card
		 System.out.println(deck.deal().cardInfo(rankstr, suitstr, rank, suit) +" " +"\t\t\t" + total);
 
		 deck.shuffle();
 
 
		 System.out.println("HIT OR STAY");
 
		 String response = input.next();
 
		 // When user decides to hit, more cards will be played
		 while(response.equals("HIT")||response.equals("hit")) {
 
			 rank = (int)((Math.random()*rankstr.length-1));
 
			 suitIndex = (int)((Math.random()*suitstr.length-1));
 
			 str= suitstr[suitIndex];
 
			 suit = str.charAt(0);
 
			 tot+=rank+1;
 
			 if(rank==0)
 
				 rank=10;
 
			 if(tot>21&&rank==11)
 
				rank =0;
 
 
 
		System.out.println(deck.deal().cardInfo(rankstr, suitstr, rank, suit) + " " +"\t\t\t" + tot);
 
		deck.shuffle();
 
			if(tot==21){
 
			System.out.println("YOU WIN");
 
			break;}
 
			if(tot>21){
 
			System.out.println("YOU LOSE. THE COMPUTER WINS"); 
 
			break;
 
 
 
			}
 
			System.out.println("HIT OR STAY");
 
			response = input.next();
		// When user is done
		  if(response.equals("STAY")||response.equals("stay")) {
 
				  System.out.println("COMPUTER'S TURN");
 
 
				 do { 
 
					 rank =  (int)((Math.random()*rankstr.length-1));
 
 
					 suitIndex = (int)((Math.random()*suitstr.length-1));
 
 
 
					 str= suitstr[suitIndex];
 
 
 
 
					 suit = str.charAt(0);
 
					 totcomputer+=rank+1;
 
					 if(rank==1)
 
						 rank=11;
 
					 if(totcomputer>21&&rank==11)
 
						rank =1;
 
					 deck.shuffle();
 
				  System.out.println(deck.deal().cardInfo(rankstr, suitstr, rank, suit) +" " +"\t\t\t" + totcomputer);
 
				  if(totcomputer==21) {
 
					  System.out.println("THE COMPUTER WINS");
				  		break;}
 
					 if(totcomputer>21&&tot<=21){
 
						 System.out.println();
 
					 	System.out.println();
 
						 System.out.println("YOU WIN");
 
						 break;
					 }
				 }
				  while(totcomputer<=17);
 
				 System.out.println();
 
				 System.out.println();
 
				 System.out.println();
 
				 System.out.println("YOUR SCORE" + " " + tot + "        "+  "COMPUTER'S SCORE" + "        " + totcomputer);
 
 
 
 
				 if(tot<21&&totcomputer<21&&tot>totcomputer){
 
					 System.out.println();
 
					System.out.println("YOU WIN");}
 
				 if(tot<21&&totcomputer<21&&tot<totcomputer){
 
					 System.out.println();
 
					 System.out.println("YOU LOSE. THE COMPUTER WINS");}
 
				 if(tot==totcomputer&&tot<=21&&tot>=21) {
 
					 System.out.println();
 
					System.out.println("THE COMPUTER IS THE WINNER");
			  }
 
				 if(tot==totcomputer&&tot<21&&totcomputer<21) {
 
					 System.out.println();
 
					System.out.println("THE COMPUTER IS THE WINNER"); }
				 }}
 
		 }}

--- Update ---

I keep getting indexoutofbounds exceptions and sometimes for my cardInfo method, 2 suits are printed instead of a rank and a suit. Can I please get some help? I'd really appreciate it. Thanks in advance!

--- Update ---

I keep getting indexoutofbounds exceptions and sometimes for my cardInfo method, 2 suits are printed instead of a rank and a suit. Can I please get some help? I'd really appreciate it. Thanks in advance!

Index out of bounds usually menas that you are referring to an array element that doesn't exist. This may mean that whatever you are using to obtain the array elements loops too long. Remember, arrays start at 0. so if you have 9 elements in your array, the computer sees it as 8 ( because of 0 being the first elemenet) I hope I have helped a bit

hannes

Post your errors, copied and pasted into code tags if they're long, and show sample runs where the cardInfo() method output is incorrect.

Originally Posted by GregBrannon

Post your errors, copied and pasted into code tags if they're long, and show sample runs where the cardInfo() method output is incorrect.

Here is one of the outputs:

It worked fine until after the game was over and I prompted the user to say whether or not he wants to play again and when the game restarted, the output displayed " Hearts of Hearts 2", it's displaying two suits instead of a rank and a suit. That shouldn't be happening and I can't figure out why it happened.

LET'S PLAY 21!


SHUFFLING CARDS...


YOUR TURN
Ace of Hearts 1
Ace of Clubs 1
HIT OR STAY
hit
2 of Hearts 2
HIT OR STAY
hit
Queen of Hearts 14
HIT OR STAY
stay
COMPUTER'S TURN
5 of Spades 5
Ace of Spades 6
Ace of Clubs 7
4 of Spades 11
Queen of Hearts 13
10 of Spades 23


YOU WIN



YOUR SCORE 14 COMPUTER'S SCORE 23
DO YOU WANT TO PLAY AGAIN? Y OR N
Y
LET'S PLAY 21!


SHUFFLING CARDS...


YOUR TURN
Spades of Hearts 1
Hearts of Hearts 2
HIT OR STAY

--- Update ---

Here's another sample output: I got an array index out of bounds exception and the output displayed two suits instead of a rank and a suit.

LET'S PLAY 21!


SHUFFLING CARDS...


YOUR TURN
Ace of Hearts 1
Ace of Hearts 1
HIT OR STAY
hit
7 of Clubs 7
HIT OR STAY
hit
7 of Clubs 14
HIT OR STAY
hit
5 of Spades 19
HIT OR STAY
hit
10 of Hearts 29
YOU LOSE. THE COMPUTER WINS
DO YOU WANT TO PLAY AGAIN? Y OR N
Y
LET'S PLAY 21!


SHUFFLING CARDS...


YOUR TURN
Spades of Hearts 1
Spades of Spades 1
HIT OR STAY
hit
Hearts of Hearts 2
HIT OR STAY
hit
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException: 10
at PlayingCard.cardInfo(PlayingCard.java:70)
at TwentyOne.gamePlay(TwentyOne.java:136)
at TwentyOne.main(TwentyOne.java:31)

Originally Posted by cbplayer

Here is one of the outputs:

It worked fine until after the game was over and I prompted the user to say whether or not he wants to play again and when the game restarted, the output displayed " Hearts of Hearts 2", it's displaying two suits instead of a rank and a suit. That shouldn't be happening and I can't figure out why it happened.

LET'S PLAY 21!


SHUFFLING CARDS...


YOUR TURN
Ace of Hearts 1
Ace of Clubs 1
HIT OR STAY
hit
2 of Hearts 2
HIT OR STAY
hit
Queen of Hearts 14
HIT OR STAY
stay
COMPUTER'S TURN
5 of Spades 5
Ace of Spades 6
Ace of Clubs 7
4 of Spades 11
Queen of Hearts 13
10 of Spades 23


YOU WIN



YOUR SCORE 14 COMPUTER'S SCORE 23
DO YOU WANT TO PLAY AGAIN? Y OR N
Y
LET'S PLAY 21!


SHUFFLING CARDS...


YOUR TURN
Spades of Hearts 1
Hearts of Hearts 2
HIT OR STAY

--- Update ---

Here's another sample output: I got an array index out of bounds exception and the output displayed two suits instead of a rank and a suit.

LET'S PLAY 21!


SHUFFLING CARDS...


YOUR TURN
Ace of Hearts 1
Ace of Hearts 1
HIT OR STAY
hit
7 of Clubs 7
HIT OR STAY
hit
7 of Clubs 14
HIT OR STAY
hit
5 of Spades 19
HIT OR STAY
hit
10 of Hearts 29
YOU LOSE. THE COMPUTER WINS
DO YOU WANT TO PLAY AGAIN? Y OR N
Y
LET'S PLAY 21!


SHUFFLING CARDS...


YOUR TURN
Spades of Hearts 1
Spades of Spades 1
HIT OR STAY
hit
Hearts of Hearts 2
HIT OR STAY
hit
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException: 10
at PlayingCard.cardInfo(PlayingCard.java:70)
at TwentyOne.gamePlay(TwentyOne.java:136)
at TwentyOne.main(TwentyOne.java:31)

Can I please get some help?

You don't need to quote your whole last post, or any part of it for that matter, to "bump" your thread. Be patient.

This line:

gamePlay(suitstr, suitstr, deck);

in the while() clause at the end of the TwentyOne.main() method is probably the source of both of the errors for which you've asked for help.

Also, the game play is 'off'. Here's a run I experienced:

LET'S PLAY 21!
 
 
SHUFFLING CARDS...
 
 
YOUR TURN
Ace  of   Hearts 			1
Queen  of   Hearts 			12
HIT OR STAY
hit
7   of  Spades 			7
HIT OR STAY
stay
COMPUTER'S TURN
Queen  of   Hearts 			12
7   of   Hearts 			19
 
YOUR SCORE 7        COMPUTER'S SCORE        19
 
YOU LOSE. THE COMPUTER WINS
DO YOU WANT TO PLAY AGAIN? Y OR N
 
 
y
LET'S PLAY 21!
 
 
SHUFFLING CARDS...
 
 
YOUR TURN
Spades  of   Hearts 			1
Spades  of  Spades 			1
HIT OR STAY

I admit that I'm lousy at Blackjack, and maybe the results would have been different if I'd have stayed rather than hit, but the card values, results and/or totals are not correct. In the Blackjack I know, an Ace with any face card would have been Blackjack, and the value of any face card is 10.

Other items I noticed:

PlayingCard.cardInfo(), .getRank(), and getSuit are static methods and should either be changed to non-static (I believe the preference) or referred to in a static way.

DeckOfPlayingCards.setCard() and .setIndexOftop() methods are pointless.

Let us know how you're doing after addressing those points and if you need additional help.

You don't need to quote your whole last post, or any part of it for that matter, to "bump" your thread. Be patient.

This line:

gamePlay(suitstr, suitstr, deck);

in the while() clause at the end of the TwentyOne.main() method is probably the source of both of the errors for which you've asked for help.

Also, the game play is 'off'. Here's a run I experienced:

LET'S PLAY 21!
 
 
SHUFFLING CARDS...
 
 
YOUR TURN
Ace  of   Hearts 			1
Queen  of   Hearts 			12
HIT OR STAY
hit
7   of  Spades 			7
HIT OR STAY
stay
COMPUTER'S TURN
Queen  of   Hearts 			12
7   of   Hearts 			19
 
YOUR SCORE 7        COMPUTER'S SCORE        19
 
YOU LOSE. THE COMPUTER WINS
DO YOU WANT TO PLAY AGAIN? Y OR N
 
 
y
LET'S PLAY 21!
 
 
SHUFFLING CARDS...
 
 
YOUR TURN
Spades  of   Hearts 			1
Spades  of  Spades 			1
HIT OR STAY

I admit that I'm lousy at Blackjack, and maybe the results would have been different if I'd have stayed rather than hit, but the card values, results and/or totals are not correct. In the Blackjack I know, an Ace with any face card would have been Blackjack, and the value of any face card is 10.

Other items I noticed:

PlayingCard.cardInfo(), .getRank(), and getSuit are static methods and should either be changed to non-static (I believe the preference) or referred to in a static way.

DeckOfPlayingCards.setCard() and .setIndexOftop() methods are pointless.

Let us know how you're doing after addressing those points and if you need additional help.

Dont my total and values line up with sample output given my the instructor?

Also I fixed some of the issues you mentioned but I'm having trouble with another issue. Sometimes when the play wins, instead of asking the user if he wants to play again, it simply runs the game again. Also sometimes when I hit stay, the game just starts all over again.

SAMPLE OUTPUT:

SHUFFLING CARDS...


YOUR TURN
Queen of Spades 12
8 of Spades 8
HIT OR STAY
hit
9 of Spades 9
HIT OR STAY
hit
7 of Diamonds 16
HIT OR STAY
hit
4 of Spades 20
HIT OR STAY
stay
COMPUTER'S TURN
King of Clubs 13
5 of Spades 18



YOUR SCORE 20 COMPUTER'S SCORE 18

YOU WIN
LET'S PLAY 21!


SHUFFLING CARDS...


YOUR TURN
10 of Spades 10
Queen of Spades 12
HIT OR STAY




here is my code

import java.util.Scanner;
 
 
 
public class TwentyOne {
 
 
public static void main(String [] args) {
 
	Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);
 
	DeckOfPlayingCards deck = new DeckOfPlayingCards();
 
 
	// String array of  ranks
 
	String rankstr[] = {  "Ace", "2", " 3 " , "4", "5", "6", "7 ", " 8", "9"," 10", "Jack", "Queen", " King"};
 
	// String array of suits corresponding to ranks
 
	String suitstr[] = {  "Spades", " Hearts", "Diamonds ", "Clubs"}; 
 
	gamePlay(rankstr,suitstr,deck);
 
	System.out.println("DO YOU WANT TO PLAY AGAIN? Y OR N");
 
	String answer = input.next();
 
	while(answer.equals("Y")||answer.equals("y")) {
 
	gamePlay(rankstr, suitstr, deck);
 
	if(answer.equals("N")||answer.equals("n")) {
 
	break;
 
	}}
 
}
 
		public static void gamePlay(String rankstr[],String suitstr[],DeckOfPlayingCards deck) {
 
			Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);
 
		// Initialization of rank and index number of suit array.
		int rank = (int)(Math.random()*rankstr.length);
 
 
		int suitIndex = (int)Math.random()*suitstr.length;
	// Represents the score of the user 
		int total;
		// A secondary variable for user's score. Its use will become more apparent as you progress through the program
		int tot =0;
 
		// Represents computer's score
		int totcomputer =0;
 
		// suitIndex is used to get a string from the array and then charAt() is used to find the first character
		String str= suitstr[suitIndex];
 
		char suit = str.charAt(0);
 
		// Game 
		System.out.println("LET'S PLAY 21!");
 
		System.out.println();
 
		System.out.println();
 
		System.out.println("SHUFFLING CARDS...");
 
		System.out.println();
 
		 deck.shuffle();
 
		 System.out.println();
 
		System.out.println("YOUR TURN");
		 // I'm adding 1 to rank b/c the first element in the array of ranks is the ranked number 1 and so on and so forth for the other elements
		 total = rank+1;
 
		 // Print first card
		 System.out.println(deck.deal().cardInfo(rankstr, suitstr, rank, suit) +" " +"\t\t\t" + total);
 
		 		deck.shuffle();
 
 
			 rank = (int)((Math.random()*rankstr.length));
 
			suitIndex = (int)((Math.random()*suitstr.length));
 
			str= suitstr[suitIndex];
 
			suit = str.charAt(0);
 
 
			 total = rank+1;
 
		 deck.deal();
		// Print second card
 
		 deck.shuffle();
 
		 System.out.println(PlayingCard.cardInfo(rankstr, suitstr, rank, suit) +" " +"\t\t\t" + total);
 
 
 
 
		 System.out.println("HIT OR STAY");
 
		 String response = input.next();
 
		 // When user decides to hit, more cards will be played
		 while(response.equals("HIT")||response.equals("hit")) {
 
			 rank = (int)((Math.random()*rankstr.length-1));
 
			 suitIndex = (int)((Math.random()*suitstr.length-1));
 
			 str= suitstr[suitIndex];
 
			 suit = str.charAt(0);
 
			 tot+=rank+1;
 
			 if(rank==0)
 
				 rank=10;
 
			 if(tot>21&&rank==11)
 
				rank =0;
 
 
 
		System.out.println(deck.deal().cardInfo(rankstr, suitstr, rank, suit) + " " +"\t\t\t" + tot);
 
		deck.shuffle();
 
			if(tot==21){
 
			System.out.println("YOU WIN");
 
			break;
 
			}
 
			if(tot>21){
 
			System.out.println("YOU LOSE. THE COMPUTER WINS");
			break;
			}
 
			System.out.println("HIT OR STAY");
 
			response = input.next();
		// When user is done
		  if(response.equals("STAY")||response.equals("stay")) {
 
				  System.out.println("COMPUTER'S TURN");
 
 
				 do { 
 
					 rank =  (int)((Math.random()*rankstr.length));
 
 
					 suitIndex = (int)((Math.random()*suitstr.length));
 
 
 
					 str= suitstr[suitIndex];
 
 
 
 
					 suit = str.charAt(0);
 
					 totcomputer+=rank+1;
 
					 if(rank==1)
 
						 rank=11;
 
					 if(totcomputer>21&&rank==11)
 
						rank =1;
 
					 deck.shuffle();
 
				  deck.deal();
				System.out.println(PlayingCard.cardInfo(rankstr, suitstr, rank, suit) +" " +"\t\t\t" + totcomputer);
 
				  if(totcomputer==21) {
 
					  System.out.println("THE COMPUTER WINS");
				  		break;}
 
					 if(totcomputer>21&&tot<=21){
 
						 System.out.println();
 
					 	System.out.println();
 
						 System.out.println("YOU WIN");
 
						 break;
					 }
				 }
				  while(totcomputer<=17);
 
				 System.out.println();
 
				 System.out.println();
 
				 System.out.println();
 
				 System.out.println("YOUR SCORE" + " " + tot + "        "+  "COMPUTER'S SCORE" + "        " + totcomputer);
 
 
 
 
				 if(tot<21&&totcomputer<21&&tot>totcomputer){
 
					 System.out.println();
 
					System.out.println("YOU WIN");
					break;}
 
				 if(tot<21&&totcomputer<21&&tot<totcomputer){
 
					 System.out.println();
 
					 System.out.println("YOU LOSE. THE COMPUTER WINS"); break;}
 
				 if(tot==totcomputer&&tot<=21&&tot>=21) {
 
					 System.out.println();
 
					System.out.println("THE COMPUTER IS THE WINNER");
 
					break;
			  }
 
				 if(tot==totcomputer&&tot<21&&totcomputer<21) {
 
					 System.out.println();
 
					System.out.println("THE COMPUTER IS THE WINNER");
 
				 break;}
				 }}
 
		 }}

Anybody??

--- Update ---

I fixed several of the issues but one issue remains. If I input "stay" before I input 'hit" the computer's cards don't print. Please try to help. I really need to get this done.

example :
LET'S PLAY 21!


SHUFFLING CARDS...


YOUR TURN
Jack of Spades 11
King of Diamonds 24
HIT OR STAY
stay



YOUR SCORE 0 COMPUTER'S SCORE 0
DO YOU WANT TO PLAY AGAIN? Y OR N


[code==java]import java.util.Scanner;



public class TwentyOne {


public static void main(String [] args) {

Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);

DeckOfPlayingCards deck = new DeckOfPlayingCards();


// String array of ranks

String rankstr[] = { "Ace", "2", " 3 " , "4", "5", "6", "7 ", " 8", "9"," 10", "Jack", "Queen", " King"};

// String array of suits corresponding to ranks

String suitstr[] = { "Spades", " Hearts", "Diamonds ", "Clubs"};

deck.shuffle();

gamePlay(rankstr,suitstr,deck);




} public static void gamePlay(String rankstr[],String suitstr[],DeckOfPlayingCards deck) {

Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);

// Initialization of rank and index number of suit array.
int rank = (int)(Math.random()*rankstr.length);


int suitIndex = (int)Math.random()*suitstr.length;
// Represents the score of the user
int total;
// A secondary variable for user's score. Its use will become more apparent as you progress through the program
int tot =0;

// Represents computer's score
int totcomputer =0;

// suitIndex is used to get a string from the array and then charAt() is used to find the first character
String str= suitstr[suitIndex];

char suit = str.charAt(0);

// Game
System.out.println("LET'S PLAY 21!");

System.out.println();

System.out.println();

System.out.println("SHUFFLING CARDS...");

System.out.println();

deck.shuffle();

System.out.println();

System.out.println("YOUR TURN");
// I'm adding 1 to rank b/c the first element in the array of ranks is the ranked number 1 and so on and so forth for the other elements
total = rank+1;

// Print first card
System.out.println(deck.deal().cardInfo(rankstr, suitstr, rank, suit) +" " +"\t\t\t" + total);

deck.shuffle();


rank = (int)((Math.random()*rankstr.length));

suitIndex = (int)((Math.random()*suitstr.length));

str= suitstr[suitIndex];

suit = str.charAt(0);


total = total+rank+1;

// Print second card
System.out.println(deck.deal().cardInfo(rankstr, suitstr, rank, suit) +" " +"\t\t\t" + total);

deck.shuffle();


System.out.println("HIT OR STAY");

String response = input.next();

// When user decides to hit, more cards will be played
while(response.equals("HIT")||response.equals("hit ")) {

rank = (int)((Math.random()*rankstr.length-1));

suitIndex = (int)((Math.random()*suitstr.length-1));

str= suitstr[suitIndex];

suit = str.charAt(0);

tot+=rank+1;

if(rank==0)

rank=10;

if(tot>21&&rank==11)

rank =0;



System.out.println(deck.deal().cardInfo(rankstr, suitstr, rank, suit) + " " +"\t\t\t" + tot);

deck.shuffle();

if(tot==21){

System.out.println("YOU WIN");

break;}

if(tot>21){

System.out.println("YOU LOSE. THE COMPUTER WINS");

break;



}

System.out.println("HIT OR STAY");

response = input.next();
// When user is done




if((response.equals("STAY")||response.equals("stay ")))

System.out.println("COMPUTER'S TURN");
do{


rank = (int)((Math.random()*rankstr.length));


suitIndex = (int)((Math.random()*suitstr.length));



str= suitstr[suitIndex];




suit = str.charAt(0);

totcomputer+=rank+1;

if(rank==1)

rank=11;

if(totcomputer>21&&rank==11)

rank =1;

deck.shuffle();

System.out.println(deck.deal().cardInfo(rankstr, suitstr, rank, suit) +" " +"\t\t\t" + totcomputer);

if(totcomputer==21) {

System.out.println("THE COMPUTER WINS");
break;}

if(totcomputer>21&&tot<=21){

System.out.println();

System.out.println();

System.out.println("YOU WIN");

break;
}
}while(totcomputer<=17);
if(tot<21&&totcomputer<21&&tot>totcomputer){

System.out.println();

System.out.println("YOU WIN");}

if(tot<21&&totcomputer<21&&tot<totcomputer){

System.out.println();

System.out.println("YOU LOSE. THE COMPUTER WINS");}

if(tot==totcomputer&&tot<=21&&tot>=21) {

System.out.println();

System.out.println("THE COMPUTER IS THE WINNER");
}

if(tot==totcomputer&&tot<21&&totcomputer<21) {

System.out.println();

System.out.println("THE COMPUTER IS THE WINNER"); }
}



System.out.println();

System.out.println();

System.out.println();

System.out.println("YOUR SCORE" + " " + tot + " "+ "COMPUTER'S SCORE" + " " + totcomputer);




System.out.println("DO YOU WANT TO PLAY AGAIN? Y OR N");

String answer = input.next();





while(answer.equals("Y")) {

gamePlay(rankstr, suitstr, deck);

if(answer.equals("N"))

System.out.println("THANK YOU FOR PLAYING");
break;
}


}}[/code ]

The output below is clearly not correct. I recommend you consult the rules of Blackjack:

YOUR TURN
Jack of Spades 11
King of Diamonds 24
HIT OR STAY
stay

Returning the correct value of a card would be a good use of Java's ternary operator:

    // returns the card's value according to the rules of Blackjack
    public int getValue()
    {
        return rankIndex + 1 > 10 ? 10 : rankIndex + 1;
    }

Though an incorrect total, the Player's score of 24 ends the current game (breaks out of the while statement), and starts a new game. The player busted. The option to HIT or STAY shouldn't even be given, because it and the dealer's score are irrelevant.

Other comments:

The Scanner input is never used in the main() method, but it probably should be. The main() method design might be something like:

    public static void main(String [] args)
    {
        boolean playAgain;
        DeckOfPlayingCards deck = new DeckOfPlayingCards();
        Scanner input = new Scanner( System.in );
 
        do
        {
            gamePlay( deck );
 
            playAgain = false;
 
            System.out.println("DO YOU WANT TO PLAY AGAIN? Y OR N");
 
            String answer = input.next();
 
            if( answer.equalsIgnoreCase("Y") )
            {
                playAgain = true;
            }
 
        }
        while ( playAgain );
 
        System.out.println("THANK YOU FOR PLAYING");
 
        input.close();
 
    } // end method main()

I don't understand why the arrays rankstr[] and suitstr[] are required in the main() method. Those characteristics belong to PlayingCard and if passed should be passed to the PlayingCard() constructor when a deck is built.

As suggested above, the shuffle() in the main() method should be deleted. The deck should be shuffled during game play. There are multiple shuffles in the gamePlay() method when I think there should be only one. I digress: I disagree with the instructor's suggestion for shuffling the deck, because it's not a particularly effective approach. It is more effective to NOT shuffle at all and to deal randomly from a deck that has cards in any order:

    // method deal() selects a card randomly that has not been previously dealt,
    // swaps that card with the last card in the deck, and decrements the
    // pointer to the top of the deck 
    public PlayingCard deal()
    {
        int dealIndex = random.nextInt( indexOfTop + 1 );
 
        // this is a test statement to show the card being returned
        System.out.println( "returning card at index " + dealIndex 
                + " = " + cards[dealIndex] );
 
        // capture the chosen card
        PlayingCard cardToReturn = cards[dealIndex];
 
        // swap the last available card with the chosen card
        cards[dealIndex] = cards[indexOfTop];
 
        // move the chosen card to the first not available card in the deck
        cards[indexOfTop--] = cardToReturn;
 
        // return the randomly chosen card
        return cardToReturn;
    }

There's a String method called equalsIgnoreCase() that simplifies expressions like these:
while(response.equals("HIT")||response.equals("hit "))

The gamePlay() method shouldn't have to initialize or randomize the deck's indices to the rank or the suit. Once the deck is built and shuffled, gamePlay() should get the next card using the DeckOfPlayingCards.deal() method. Once the dealt card is received, gamePlay() finds the card's rank and suit using the PlayingCard .getRank() and .getSuit() methods.

There is a lot of repetition in gamePlay() that should be broken out into methods.

The PlayingCard.cardInfo() method indicates a possible misunderstanding of OOP. The cardInfo() method looks like a toString() method (which is what I think the assignment had in mind), and all that would have to be done to correct it is:

    // toString() method. It returns a String that indicates the card's name
    // and suit
    public String toString()
    {
        return rank + "  of  " + suit;
    }

The current HIT or STAY design is awkward. Instead, consider something like the following:

// build the user's hand
do
{
    // deal two cards, face up and face down to both user and dealer.
    // show user's total, and ask the user if a third or more is desired
}
while( hitMe && !busted );
 
if ( busted )
{
    // determine if a new game is desired and restart if so
}
 
// contine to build the dealer's hand on the two existing cards according to
// the rules for dealers and evaluate result with each card

Good luck!