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I am trying to create a Blackjack game in C#, but I am stuck in the part of how to shuffle the deck. I made an array of 52 integers.

Here's the code I have written so far. The code is written within a .cs file (so it is not the main file of the game).


C#
 class Deck
    {

        int[] Cards = new int[52];

        public enum SuitType
        {
            Hearts,
            Clubs,
            Spades,
            Diamonds
        }
        public enum Value
        {
            Two = 2,
            Three,
            Four,
            Five,
            Six,
            Seven,
            Eight,
            Nine,
            Ten,
            Jack = 10,
            Queen = 10,
            King = 10,
            Ace,
        }
        public void ShuffleCards()
        {
            
        }
    }    
}


What I have tried:

I've tried running a different variety of for loops without obtaining any sort of success.
Posted
Updated 1-Aug-16 21:26pm
Comments
Garth J Lancaster 1-Aug-16 21:52pm    
I would start by looking at the Knuth-Fisher-Yates shuffling algorithm - a good article on why is here https://blog.codinghorror.com/the-danger-of-naivete/

The comment by Garth J Lancaster has answered your question. Suggest you start by reading this: How not to shuffle - the Knuth Fisher-Yates algorithm[^]
This gives code examples which can be adapted as required:Knuth shuffle - Rosetta Code[^]
 
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Comments
Maciej Los 2-Aug-16 1:42am    
+5
Have you explored the C# Random Class and its methods ? I'd like to see some code where you use that; right now it looks like you have not really done anything but write some Enums.

Let's see how simple it is to get a List of 52 unique numbers in the range #0~51:
C#
// required in addition to the usual directives:
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;

private Random rnd;

private List<int> ShuffledDeck;

private void ShuffleButton_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    // seed the Random with current current time millisecond value
    rnd = new Random(DateTime.Now.Millisecond);
    
    ShuffledDeck = new List<int>(52);
    
    int card;

    // create a sequence 0~51
    List<int> DeckSequence = Enumerable.Range(0, 52).ToList();

    for (int i = 0; i < 52; i++)
    {
        card = DeckSequence[rnd.Next(0, DeckSequence.Count)];
        DeckSequence.Remove(card);
        
        ShuffledDeck.Add(card);
    }
}
We create an ordered list, select a value from it with a random function, remove that selected value from the ordered list; each time we select the ordered list is getting "shorter."

Note: for a discussion of "seeding" the .NET default pseudo-random number generator: [^]. If you want better "quality" randomness, look into the "System.Security.Cryptography.RandomNumberGenerator" facility in .NET.

Enums: note that while having Enum entries with the same assigned value is "legal" in .NET, you should at least think about the issues discussed here: [^].
 
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v7
I recommend not to "shuffle the cards" but pick them randomly from an array initialized with all "Cards". There is no reason for real "shuffling" in a programm. But if you plan to make something connected to real Money - like online poker/blackjack platform - It's better to make it impossible for potential hackers to "see" the shuffled array. If you need the next card - just pick it randomly from the list of all cards left.
 
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Comments
BillWoodruff 2-Aug-16 6:35am    
"If you need the next card - just pick it randomly from the list of all cards left."

And how do you prevent the "hackers" from seeing that list ? Or seeing the contents of the list of cards in the current "hands" that the program will have to maintain to implement the game rules ?
johannesnestler 2-Aug-16 9:34am    
Hi Bill!
You are right - it's just a small part of securing your app - but I think it's not the right place to go into this topics here to deep (could say a lot about it...). Anyway Step 1 is "don't make the next card predictable" - think about a real life game - looking to your opponents cards is one kind of cheating, but knowing which card will be drawn next is another level of cheating - don't you agree?
Anyway, I never saw a reason for "shuffling" in the card games I implemented - that was the point I was trying to make. But maybe OP is just doing some homework - if so, your solution is a good fit.
Kind regards Johannes

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