Question

I am trying to write a program which can keep track of the number of chips each player has in poker. This is not a poker game, only a program which can keep the number of chips each player has. However, I want to be able to “bet” “call” “fold” etc and be able to automatically keep track.

My question is, is there a way for adjusting the number of players without writing each permutations? Currently, it can only keep track of 2 people. How would I make it so it can theoretically keep track of an infinite amount of people? I’ve written every permutation possible and I know it’s not very efficient so is there a more efficient way of coding this?

I am a java noob so any help would be appreciated.

import java.util.Scanner;
import static java.lang.System.out;

class Chips {
static String move; //first move
static int betVal1, betVal2;
static int pot;
static int P1, P2;
static int roundcount;
static String player;
static Scanner myScanner = new Scanner(System.in);
static int turncount;
static String outcome;

public static void firstP1() { //first move when P1 start
    out.print("P1 - will you 'Bet', 'Check' or 'Fold'? ");
    move = myScanner.next();

    while (!move.equals("Bet") && !move.equals("Check") && !move.equals("Fold")){
    out.print("Please type 'Bet', 'Check' or 'Fold'");
    move = myScanner.next();
    }

    switch(move) {
    case "Bet":
        out.print("How much will you bet? If you've changed your mind: Type '0' to check and '-1' to fold. ");
        betVal1 = myScanner.nextInt();

        while (betVal1 > P1) {
            out.print("You cannot bet more than your chip count. How much will you bet? ");
            betVal1 = myScanner.nextInt();
        }
        if (betVal1 == 0) { //check
            P2aftercheck();
        }
        if (betVal1 == -1) { //fold
            P2 += pot;
            pot = 0;
            roundcount = 0;
            turncount++;

            out.print("P1: ");
            out.println(P1);
            out.print("P2: ");
            out.println(P2);
            out.println("Next turn");

            if (turncount  % 2 == 0) { //check to see who begins next turn
                player = "One";
            } else {
                player = "Two";         
            }

            if( player.equals("One")) {
                firstP1();
            } else {
                firstP2();
            }

        }


        pot += betVal1;
        P1 -= betVal1;
        //out.println(betVal);
        //out.print(pot);
        P2afterbet();
        break;

    case "Check":
        P2aftercheck();
        break;

    case "Fold":
        P2 += pot;
        pot = 0;
        roundcount = 0;
        turncount++;

        if (turncount  % 2 == 0) {
            player = "One";
        } else {
            player = "Two";         
        }

        if( player.equals("One")) {
            firstP1();
        } else {
            firstP2();
        }
        break;

    }
}

public static void firstP2() { //first move when P2 start
    out.print("P2 - will you 'Bet', 'Check' or 'Fold'? ");
    move = myScanner.next();

    while (!move.equals("Bet") && !move.equals("Check") && !move.equals("Fold")){
    out.print("Please type 'Bet', 'Check' or 'Fold' ");
    move = myScanner.next();
    }

    switch(move) {
    case "Bet":
        out.print("How much will you bet? ");
        betVal2 = myScanner.nextInt();
        while (betVal2 > P2) {
            out.print("You can not bet more than your chip count. How much will you bet? ");
            betVal2 = myScanner.nextInt();
        }
        pot += betVal2;
        P2 -= betVal2;
        //out.println(betVal);
        //out.print(pot);
        P1afterbet();
        break;

    case "Check":
        P1aftercheck();
        break;

    case "Fold":
        P1 += pot;
        pot = 0;
        roundcount = 0;
        turncount++;

        out.print("P1: ");
        out.println(P1);
        out.print("P2: ");
        out.println(P2);
        out.println("Next turn");

        if (turncount  % 2 == 0) {
            player = "One";
        } else {
            player = "Two";         
        }

        if( player.equals("One")) {
            firstP1();
        } else {
            firstP2();
        }
        break;

    }
}

public static void P1afterbet() { //P1 move after P2 bet
    out.print("P1 - will you 'Bet', 'Call' or 'Fold'? ");
    move = myScanner.next();

    while (!move.equals("Bet") && !move.equals("Call") && !move.equals("Fold")){
        out.print("Please type 'Bet', 'Check' or 'Fold' ");
        move = myScanner.next();
    }

    switch(move) {
    case "Bet":
        out.print("How much will you bet? ");
        betVal1 = myScanner.nextInt();
        while (betVal1 < betVal2){
            out.print("Please bet at least ");
            out.print(betVal2);
            out.println(" chips.");
            out.print("How much will you bet? ");
            betVal1 = myScanner.nextInt();
        }

        pot += betVal1;
        P1 -= betVal1;
        P2afterbet();
        break;

    case "Call":
        pot += betVal1;
        P1 -= betVal1;
        roundcount++;
        if (roundcount == 4){
            roundend();
        }
        if( player.equals("P1")) {
            firstP1();
        } else {
            firstP2();
        }
        break;

    case "Fold":
        P2 += pot;
        pot = 0;
        roundcount = 0;
        turncount++;

        out.print("P1: ");
        out.println(P1);
        out.print("P2: ");
        out.println(P2);
        out.println("Next turn");

        if (turncount  % 2 == 0) {
            player = "One";
        } else {
            player = "Two";         
        }

        if( player.equals("One")) {
            firstP1();
        } else {
            firstP2();
        }
        break;
    }
}

public static void P1aftercheck() { //P1 move after P2 check
    out.print("P1 - will you 'Bet', 'Check' or 'Fold'? ");
    move = myScanner.next();

    while (!move.equals("Bet") && !move.equals("Check") && !move.equals("Fold")){
    out.print("Please type 'Bet', 'Check' or 'Fold'");
    move = myScanner.next();
    }

    switch(move) {
    case "Bet":
        out.print("How much will you bet? ");
        betVal1 = myScanner.nextInt();
        while (betVal1 > P1) {
            out.print("You can not bet more than your chip count. How much will you bet? ");
            betVal1 = myScanner.nextInt();
        }
        pot += betVal1;
        P1 -= betVal1;
        //out.println(betVal);
        //out.print(pot);
        P2afterbet();
        break;

    case "Check":
        roundcount++;
        if (roundcount == 4) {
            roundend();
        }
        if( player.equals("One")) {
            firstP1();
        } else {
            firstP2();
        }
        break;

    case "Fold":
        P2 += pot;
        pot = 0;
        roundcount=0;
        turncount++; 

        out.print("P1: ");
        out.println(P1);
        out.print("P2: ");
        out.println(P2);
        out.println("Next turn");

        if (turncount  % 2 == 0) {
            player = "One";
        } else {
            player = "Two";         
        }

        if( player.equals("One")) {
            firstP1();
        } else {
            firstP2();
        }
        break;

    }
}

public static void P2afterbet() { //P2 move after P1 bet
    out.print("P2 - will you 'Bet', 'Call' or 'Fold'? ");
    move = myScanner.next();

    while (!move.equals("Bet") && !move.equals("Call") && !move.equals("Fold")){
    out.print("Please type 'Bet', 'Check' or 'Fold'");
    move = myScanner.next();
    }

    switch(move) {
    case "Bet":
        out.print("How much will you bet? ");
        betVal2 = myScanner.nextInt();
        while (betVal2 > P2) {
            out.print("You can not bet more than your chip count. How much will you bet? ");
            betVal2 = myScanner.nextInt();
        }
        while (betVal2 < betVal1) {
            out.print("You must bet at least ");
            out.print(betVal1);
            betVal2 = myScanner.nextInt();
        }
        pot += betVal2;
        P2 -= betVal2;
        //out.println(betVal);
        //out.print(pot);
        P1afterbet();
        break;

    case "Call":
        P2 -= betVal1;
        pot += betVal1;
        roundcount++;
        if (roundcount == 4){
            roundend();
        }
        if( player.equals("P1")) {
            firstP1();
        } else {
            firstP2();
        }
        break;

    case "Fold":
        P1 += pot;
        pot = 0;
        roundcount = 0;
        turncount++;

        out.print("P1: ");
        out.println(P1);
        out.print("P2: ");
        out.println(P2);
        out.println("Next turn");

        if (turncount  % 2 == 0) {
            player = "One";
        } else {
            player = "Two";         
        }

        if( player.equals("One")) {
            firstP1();
        } else {
            firstP2();
        }
        break;

    }
}

public static void P2aftercheck() { //P2 move after P1 check
    out.print("P2 - will you 'Bet', 'Check' or 'Fold'? ");
    move = myScanner.next();

    while (!move.equals("Bet") && !move.equals("Check") && !move.equals("Fold")){
    out.print("Please type 'Bet', 'Check' or 'Fold'");
    move = myScanner.next();
    }

    switch(move) {
    case "Bet":
        out.print("How much will you bet? ");
        betVal2 = myScanner.nextInt();
        while (betVal2 > P1) {
            out.print("You can not bet more than your chip count. How much will you bet? ");
            betVal2 = myScanner.nextInt();
        }
        pot += betVal2;
        P2 -= betVal2;
        //out.println(betVal);
        //out.print(pot);
        P1afterbet();
        break;

    case "Check":
        roundcount++;
        if (roundcount == 4){
            roundend();
        }
        if( player.equals("One")) {
            firstP1();
        } else {
            firstP2();
        }

        break;

    case "Fold":
        P1 += pot;
        pot = 0;
        roundcount=0;
        turncount++;

        out.print("P1: ");
        out.println(P1);
        out.print("P2: ");
        out.println(P2);
        out.println("Next turn");

        if (turncount  % 2 == 0) {
            player = "One";
        } else {
            player = "Two";         
        }

        if( player.equals("One")) {
            firstP1();
        } else {
            firstP2();
        }

        break;

    }
}

public static void roundend() {
    out.print("Who won the round? 'P1' or 'P2'? ");
    outcome = myScanner.next();
    turncount++;

    if (turncount  % 2 == 0) {
        player = "One";
    } else {
        player = "Two";         
    }

    while (!outcome.equals("P1") && !outcome.equals("P2")){
        out.print("Please type 'P1' or 'P2'");
        outcome = myScanner.next();
    }

    if (outcome.equals("P1")){
        P1 += pot;
        pot = 0;
        roundcount = 0;

        out.print("P1: ");
        out.println(P1);
        out.print("P2: ");
        out.println(P2);
        out.println("Next turn");

        if (P1 != 0 && P2 != 0){
            if( player.equals("One")) {
                firstP1();
            } else {
                firstP2();
            }
        } else if (P1 == 0) {
            out.print("P1 is out of chips. P2 Wins!");
        } else {
            out.print("P2 is out of chips. P2 Wins!");
        }
    } else {
        P2 += pot;
        pot = 0;
        roundcount = 0;

        out.print("P1: ");
        out.println(P1);
        out.print("P2: ");
        out.println(P2);
        out.println("Next turn");

        if (P1 != 0 && P2 != 0) {
            if( player.equals("P1")) {
                firstP1();
            } else {
                firstP2();
            }
        } else if (P1 == 0) {
            out.print("P1 is out of chips. P2 Wins!");
        } else {
            out.print("P2 is out of chips. P2 Wins!");
        }
    } 

    System.exit(0);
}

public static void main(String args[]){

    pot = 0;
    roundcount = 0; //status within turn i.e. Flop, Turn, River
    turncount = 2; //use for who starts

    out.print("Please enter starting chip count ");
    P1 = myScanner.nextInt();
    P2 = P1;

    firstP1();
}

}

Answer 1

Yes but you will need to re-think the way your program is designed.

The easiest way to do this would be to create a Player class, and implement every action a player performs as a method within this class. In order to manage the Player’s chips you would have a variable Player.chips that is either globally accessible or managed with methods such as Player.getChips() and Player.setChips().

For multiple players you would have an array of Player‘s ie.

Player[] Players; 
Players[0] = new Player();
Players[1] = new Player();

The following post may help you more (similar problem but using Blackjack instead of Poker ) – How to initialize an array of objects in Java.