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Python Python Basics (2015) Letter Game App Letter Game Introduction

Posted by Max Phelan
Max Phelan
1,398 Points

Cant figure out were my mistake is. Can anyone help spot it. 

import random

# make a list of words
words = [
    'apple'
    'bananas'
    'orange'
    'coconut'
    'strawberry'
    'lime'
    'grapefruit'
    'lemon'
    'kumquat'
    'blueberry'
    'melon'
    ]

while True:
    start = input("Press enter/return to start, or enter Q to quit")
    if start.lower() == 'q':
        break

    # pick a random word
    secret_word = random.choice(words)
    bad_guesses = []
    good_guesses = []

    while len(bad_guesses) < 7 and len(good_guesses) != len(list(secret_word)):   
        # draw spaces
        for letter in secret_word:
            if letter in good_guesses:
                print(letter, end='')
            else:
                print('_', end='')

        print('')
        print('Strikes: {}/7'.format(len(bad_guesses)))
        print('')

        # take guess
        guess = input("Guess a letter: ").lower()

        if len(guess) != 1:
            print("You can only guess a single letter:")
            continue
        elif guess in bad_guesses or guess in good_guesses:
            print("You've already guess that letter:")
            continue
        elif not guess.isalpha():
            print("You can only guess letters!")
            continue
        if guess in secret_word:
            good_guesses.append(guess)
            if len(good_guesses) == len(list(secret_word)):
                print("You win! The word was {}".format(secret_word))
                break
        else:
            bad_guesses.append(guess)

    else:
        print("You didn't guess it! My secret word was {}".format(secret_word))

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,269 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,269 Points

You might need to describe the issue that led you to conclude there was a "mistake".

But (and perhaps this is it), I did notice that you compare the number of good guesses with the length of the word. This will only work as a strategy to detect a win if the word has only unique letters. For a word like "apple", you'll need a different strategy since you can win with 4 guesses but it has 5 letters.

Max Phelan
Max Phelan
1,398 Points

Thanks so much Steven. Sorry, yes i should of included the issue. Essentially when i run the program in the console a large number of underscores '_' get's printed, a much greater amount then any number of letters in any of the words. When letters are guessed the underscores get replaced, but its like the whole underscore line is just the list of words joined together.

Example of start of program:

Press enter/return to start, or enter Q to quit

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strikes: 0/7

Guess a letter:
Max Phelan
Max Phelan
1,398 Points

Found the mistake. Forgot to add a comma between each word in the list. Cant believe i missed that! Thanks for your help

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,269 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,269 Points

Good deal. I hope my other suggestion will be helpful.

Happy coding!