Java Teen Patti: Three of a Kind Validation for 3 Players

Teen Patti, also known as Indian Poker, is a thrilling card game that’s been enjoyed by millions globally. The game revolves around a standard 52-card deck, and its mechanics are both simple and complex, making it attractive to both new players and seasoned pros. One of the most exciting hands in Teen Patti is the "Three of a Kind," and validating this particular hand for three players can enhance your game application significantly. In this article, we will walk through how to implement a validation mechanism for "Three of a Kind" in Java, focusing specifically on a scenario with three players.

Understanding the Basics

Before jumping into the code, let’s make sure we grasp the rules for a "Three of a Kind." In this hand, a player must possess three cards of the same rank, and the other two cards can be of any rank, as long as they are not of the same rank as the triplet. For example, if a player has cards: 9♥, 9♦, 9♣, Q♠, and 2♣, they indeed have a "Three of a Kind" (9s). The aim here is to create a function in Java that checks whether any player's hand contains a "Three of a Kind."

The Java Structure

The fundamental structure of our application will include defining classes for the Card, Player, and Game. Each player's hand will be stored, and we will implement the validation logic within the Game class. Below is the structure of these classes:

class Card {
    private String suit;
    private String rank;

    public Card(String suit, String rank) {
        this.suit = suit;
        this.rank = rank;
    }

    public String getRank() {
        return rank;
    }
}

class Player {
    private String name;
    private List hand;

    public Player(String name) {
        this.name = name;
        this.hand = new ArrayList<>();
    }

    public void addCard(Card card) {
        hand.add(card);
    }

    public List getHand() {
        return hand;
    }
}

class Game {
    private List players;

    public Game() {
        players = new ArrayList<>();
    }

    public void addPlayer(Player player) {
        players.add(player);
    }
}

Implementing the Three of a Kind Validation

Now that we have our basic structure in place, let’s write the method for validating "Three of a Kind." We will create a method called `checkThreeOfAKind` within the Game class.

public boolean checkThreeOfAKind() {
    for (Player player : players) {
        Map rankCount = new HashMap<>();
        for (Card card : player.getHand()) {
            rankCount.put(card.getRank(), rankCount.getOrDefault(card.getRank(), 0) + 1);
        }
        if (rankCount.containsValue(3)) {
            System.out.println(player.getName() + " has Three of a Kind!");
            return true;
        }
    }
    return false;
}

Completing the Game Logic

With our validation method set up, let’s create a method to simulate a game round where we will create players and distribute some cards. This will help test the validation method thoroughly.

public void playGame() {
    // Sample players
    Player player1 = new Player("Alice");
    Player player2 = new Player("Bob");
    Player player3 = new Player("Charlie");

    // Adding players to the game
    addPlayer(player1);
    addPlayer(player2);
    addPlayer(player3);

    // Sample hands for each player
    player1.addCard(new Card("Hearts", "9"));
    player1.addCard(new Card("Diamonds", "9"));
    player1.addCard(new Card("Clubs", "9"));
    player1.addCard(new Card("Spades", "K"));
    player1.addCard(new Card("Hearts", "2"));

    player2.addCard(new Card("Hearts", "5"));
    player2.addCard(new Card("Diamonds", "5"));
    player2.addCard(new Card("Clubs", "3"));
    player2.addCard(new Card("Spades", "6"));
    player2.addCard(new Card("Hearts", "8"));

    player3.addCard(new Card("Hearts", "7"));
    player3.addCard(new Card("Diamonds", "4"));
    player3.addCard(new Card("Clubs", "7"));
    player3.addCard(new Card("Spades", "7"));
    player3.addCard(new Card("Hearts", "9"));

    // Check for Three of a Kind
    checkThreeOfAKind();
}

Detailed Explanation of Code

1. **Card Class**: This class has attributes for suit and rank. It contains a constructor for initializing these properties and a method to retrieve the rank of a card.

2. **Player Class**: This class stores the player’s name and their hand (a list of cards). It has methods to add cards to the player's hand and to access that hand.

3. **Game Class**: This class manages the players in the game. It initializes a list of players and has methods to add players and check for "Three of a Kind."

4. **Validation Logic**: Within the `checkThreeOfAKind` method, we utilize a HashMap to count the occurrences of card ranks for each player. If any player has three cards of the same rank, we announce the outcome.

Testing and Output

When the `playGame` method is executed, it simulates a round of Teen Patti, assigns card hands to three players, and checks if any player has achieved a "Three of a Kind." In our sample, Alice has a winning hand. This functionality will help you understand how to expand your Teen Patti game effectively.

Expanding the Game Logic

The validation logic discussed above can further be expanded to include more functionalities such as:

• Implementing other hand rankings
• Supporting more than three players
• Creating user interfaces for gameplay
• Integrating betting mechanics

The modular design allows for easy upgrades and feature additions, providing a better gaming experience.

Incorporating the Three of a Kind validation into your Teen Patti game strengthens both the gameplay experience and the code’s effectiveness. As you refine your code and add more advanced features, you’ll find the robust nature of Java helps you efficiently manage the complexities of card games.