Last Pencil

A simple but engaging pencil game in Java.

Stage 1/5:Empty the pencil case

In this stage, the program prints two lines: one line with several vertical bar symbols representing pencils (for example, ||| or |||||||) and one Your turn! string.

Even though both pencils are acceptable, you can choose to get a large pencil, or a small one, by providing a boolean value for the argument largePencil of the getPencil() function

Run SimplePencil.java

Example:

|||
Your turn!

Stage 2/5:New rules:

Expanding the previous stage by getting a few detailed needed for the game initialization.

Run CountedPencils.java

Example

How many pencils would you like to use:
> 20
Who will be the first (John, Jack):
> Jack
||||||||||||||||||||
Jack is going first!

Stage 3/5: Working on the gameplay

Let's change the rules of game. Players take turns taking X pencils until none of them remain.

Run PencilGame.java

Example 1

How many pencils would you like to use:
> 5
Who will be the first (John, Jack):
> John
|||||
John's turn:
> 2
|||
Jack's turn:
> 1
||
John's turn:
> 2

Example 2:

How many pencils would you like to use:
> 15
Who will be the first (John, Jack):
> John
|||||||||||||||
John's turn:
> 8
|||||||
Jack's turn:
> 7

Stage 4/5:Fair play

In this stage, a new level of control over the game has been added. The program checks the input. If it is incorrect, the reason is printed.

Also, the allowed amount of pencils which can be taken is limited; Let's say that players can remove no more than 3 pencils at a time.

Run FairPencilGame.java

Example 1: the chosen first player is not in the list

How many pencils would you like to use:
> 5
Who will be the first (John, Jack):
> Fatma
Choose between 'John' and 'Jack'
> John
|||||
John's turn!
>

Example 2: John is the winner of the game

How many pencils would you like to use:
> 5
Who will be the first (John, Jack):
> John
|||||
John's turn!
> 3
||
Jack's turn!
> 3
Too many pencils were taken
> 2
John won!

Stage 5/5:The right strategy

After playing a couple of games, both players found out that if there are 2, 3, or 4 pencils left on the table, the current player automatically wins. It happens because a player can take 1, 2, or 3 pencils and leave the other player with only one. The other player has nothing left but to take the last pencil and lose the game.

The same thing happens when there are 6, 7``, or 8 pencils left on the table. It will eventually repeat all over again.

So, if the player chooses Jack as the first player, after that input, the bot's move should be printed.

In this final stage,

the program is expanded. The solution for last stage, can be executed for any initial number of pencils. The second player (Jack), is the bot this time.

For each iteration, the program checks whose turn is now. If it is the bot, instead of requiring input from the second player, one line that contains the bot's move (1, 2 or 3) that follows the winning strategy, is printed.

Run StablePencilGame.java

Example 1:

How many pencils would you like to use:
> 10
Who will be the first (John, Jack):
> Jack
||||||||||
Jack's turn:
1
|||||||||
John's turn!
> 2
|||||||
Jack's turn:
2
|||||
John's turn!
> 1
||||
Jack's turn:
3
|
John's turn!
> 1
Jack won!

Example 2:

How many pencils would you like to use:
> 6
Who will be the first (John, Jack):
> John
||||||
John's turn!
> 1
|||||
Jack's turn:
2
|||
John's turn!
> 2
|
Jack's turn:
1
John won!