Blackjack Java Project

🎲 Overview

This project is a complete command-line Blackjack game implemented in Java. It follows the official rules of Blackjack and was designed for the APCS course as a capstone project. The game logic includes card management, betting, dealer behavior, and player decision-making. Built and tested on the CodeHS platform.

📁 Classes Implemented

Core Components

• Card.java: Represents a single playing card with suit and rank. Includes support for evaluating Ace as 1 or 11.
• Deck.java: Contains a standard 52-card deck. Supports shuffling and dealing.
• Shoe.java: Represents one or more decks combined. Automatically reshuffles when running low on cards.
• Hand.java: A hand of cards for either a player or dealer. Calculates total value with Ace flexibility.
• Player.java: Holds a player's bankroll and current hand. Implements decision-making like hitting or doubling down.
• Dealer.java: Contains the main game logic: dealing cards, determining outcomes, and handling house rules.
• Game.java: Main driver class. Instantiates Dealer and begins the game loop.

Testers

Each class (except Game.java) includes a corresponding Tester file to validate correctness:

• CardTester.java
• DeckTester.java
• ShoeTester.java
• HandTester.java
• PlayerTester.java
• DealerTester.java

🧠 Key Features

• Accurate Blackjack rules:
  • Dealer hits on 16, stands on 17
  • Blackjack pays 3:2
  • Push when hands tie
  • Ace handling (1 or 11)
• Full game loop:
  • Betting system with bankroll
  • Double down (only on initial hand)
  • Game ends when bankroll is depleted
• Enhancements:
  • Discard pile tracking and reshuffling
  • Multiple hand support
  • Bullet-proofing user inputs

🧪 Testing

All major classes were tested using dedicated tester files. These ensure that methods behave as expected and validate interactions like:

• Drawing cards from a shoe
• Calculating hand values correctly
• Dealer and player decisions
• Handling busts, Blackjacks, and pushes

📜 Documentation

All classes include Javadoc-style comments and inline documentation for clarity and maintainability.

🔍 Known Limitations

• The code is designed specifically for the CodeHS environment and may require adjustment to run locally.
• The project uses terminal output only; no GUI was implemented.

✅ Project Completed

This project meets all benchmark requirements:

• UML diagrams (7 classes)
• Javadocs and commenting
• Code organization and Java conventions
• Complete and playable game