Hello,

I'm creating a php blackjack (21) game, and need some help creating a function that will select a random card, that is not already in use.

Ultimately I want to be able to define a new, unused card as simply as going:

$new_card = newCard();

I've looked at a few ways of going about this, and really just need someone to help me put it together.

PHP Code:

function newCard(){

$all_cards    = range(1, 52);
$used_cards    = array();
$card        = rand($all_cards[0], $all_cards[51]);

while    (in_array($card, $all_cards)){
// not sure what to do here to here.
}

$used_cards = array_push($used_cards, $card);
// I want this to add whatever card to the used cards array, so it can't be used again.
return $card;
} 


I'd be over the moon if someone could help me with this !

The way I would do it would be to build an array of integers, where each item corresponds to the point value of a card, and then shuffle that array.

PHP Code:

$cards = array();
$value = 2;

//generate non-face cards
for($i = 1; $i <= 36; $i++)
{
    $cards[] = $value;
    if(($i % 4) == 0)
    {
          $value++;
    }
}

//generate jacks queens kings
for($i = 0; $i < 12; $i++)
{
     $cards[] = 10;
}

//generate aces
for($i = 0; $i < 4; $i++)
{
     $cards[] = 11;
}

shuffle($cards); 


I haven't tested this but I think it should do the trick. Use array_pop to get items from the array.

Thats a very nice script, i tested it out + it only produced 4 of each number.
After that it just stopped echoing. All working well.

So if I were to put that into a function, and each time I wanted a new card, simply do. $var = function(); it would work?

You would probably have to use it in an object, since it is not static.

PHP Code:

class Dealer
{
     private $cards;
     function __construct()
     {
          $cards = array(); 
          $value = 2; 

           //generate non-face cards 
           for($i = 1; $i <= 36; $i++) 
           { 
                $cards[] = $value; 
                if(($i % 4) == 0) 
                { 
                     $value++; 
                } 
           } 

           //generate jacks queens kings 
          for($i = 0; $i < 12; $i++) 
          { 
               $cards[] = 10; 
          } 

          //generate aces 
          for($i = 0; $i < 4; $i++) 
          { 
              $cards[] = 11; 
          } 

         shuffle($cards);
         $this->cards = $cards;
     }

     function deal()
     {
          return array_pop($this->cards);
     }
}

$dealer = new Dealer();
$myCard = $dealer->deal(); 


Something like that should work.

Works great! Thanks alot