Python while loop won't exit at sentinel and processes letter as integer.

Question

I am trying to write a simple blackjack program that takes bets and exits when the user enters "x". But when x is entered, it appears to process it as an integer and continue the loop.

I've posted the complete code below. If anyone could show me what I am missing, I'd be grateful.

# blackjackpluspluw.py NJM 2/23/2018

import random


def startingmoney(mybankroll):
    mybankroll = input('Starting Money: ')
    mybankroll = int(mybankroll)
    while (mybankroll < 0 or mybankroll > 10000):
        print('Invalid amount. Must be between 0 and 10,000')
        mybankroll = input('Starting Money: ')
        mybankroll = int(mybankroll)

    return mybankroll


def greeting():
    print("BLACKJACK!\nBlackjack payout is 3:2")
    print("Enter 'x' for bet to exit")
    print("")

    return 0

#function where problem happens. Tried putting the while loop here previously
def makebet(bet, money):
    bet_amount = input("Bet Amount: ")
    try:
        bet = int(bet_amount)
    except ValueError:
        print("Bye")
    finally:
        if bet > money:
            print('You don\'t have enough to make that bet')
            makebet(bet, money)
        elif bet < 5:
            print('Minimum bet is 5')
        elif bet > 1000:
            print('Maximum bet is 1000')
        else:
            money = money - bet
            outcome = draw()
            winnings = blackjack_table(bet, outcome)
            money = money + winnings
            print("Money:", money)
            print("")
            makebet(bet, money)

    return 0  # function to calculate winnings


def blackjack_table(bet, play):
    if play.lower() == "b":
        bet = bet * 2.5
    if play.lower() == "w":
        bet = bet * 2
    if play.lower() == "l":
        bet = 0
    if play.lower() == "p":
        bet = bet

    return bet


def draw():
    hands = ['b', 'w', 'p', 'l']
    rand_item = hands[random.randrange(len(hands))]
    if rand_item == 'b':
        print("You win.")
    elif rand_item == 'w':
        print("You win.")
    elif rand_item == "p":
        print("You push.")
    else:
        print("You lose.")

    return rand_item


# main
def main():
    # meet and greet with exit strategy
    greeting()
    mybankroll = 0
    money = startingmoney(mybankroll)
    bet_amount = "0"

#also tried it here
    while bet_amount != "x":
        makebet(bet_amount, money)

    print("Bye")


# end program
print(" ")

# run program
main()

Answer 1 · 2018-03-05T13:40:30Z

March 5, 2018 1:40pm

I tried to fix it completely but I couldn't. I changed finally to else because if you leave it as finally it will run even if the try throws an error and that will cause it to throw an error lol. The else only runs if try doesn't throw an error i believe. Next I changed the return value for makebet to bet_amount so that it could be checked by the loop before entering it again.
That was all. It works but for some reason you have to enter x about 2 or 3 times before it exits and say bye. hopefully you will have better luck at fixing that.

# blackjackpluspluw.py NJM 2/23/2018

import random


def startingmoney(mybankroll):
    mybankroll = input('Starting Money: ')
    mybankroll = int(mybankroll)
    while (mybankroll < 0 or mybankroll > 10000):
        print('Invalid amount. Must be between 0 and 10,000')
        mybankroll = input('Starting Money: ')
        mybankroll = int(mybankroll)

    return mybankroll


def greeting():
    print("BLACKJACK!\nBlackjack payout is 3:2")
    print("Enter 'x' for bet to exit")
    print("")

    return 0

#function where problem happens. Tried putting the while loop here previously
def makebet(bet, money):
    bet_amount = input("Bet Amount: ")
    try:
        bet = int(bet_amount)
    except ValueError:
        print("Bye")
    else:
        if bet > money:
            print('You don\'t have enough to make that bet')
            makebet(bet, money)
        elif bet < 5:
            print('Minimum bet is 5')
        elif bet > 1000:
            print('Maximum bet is 1000')
        else:
            money = money - bet
            outcome = draw()
            winnings = blackjack_table(bet, outcome)
            money = money + winnings
            print("Money:", money)
            print("")
            makebet(bet, money)

    return bet_amount.lower()  # function to calculate winnings


def blackjack_table(bet, play):
    if play.lower() == "b":
        bet = bet * 2.5
    if play.lower() == "w":
        bet = bet * 2
    if play.lower() == "l":
        bet = 0
    if play.lower() == "p":
        bet = bet

    return bet


def draw():
    hands = ['b', 'w', 'p', 'l']
    rand_item = hands[random.randrange(len(hands))]
    if rand_item == 'b':
        print("You win.")
    elif rand_item == 'w':
        print("You win.")
    elif rand_item == "p":
        print("You push.")
    else:
        print("You lose.")

    return rand_item


# main
def main():
    # meet and greet with exit strategy
    greeting()
    mybankroll = 0
    money = startingmoney(mybankroll)
    bet_amount = None

#also tried it here
    while bet_amount != "x":
        bet_amount = makebet(bet_amount, money)

    print("Bye")


# end program
print(" ")

# run program
main()

Answer 2 · 2018-03-05T17:18:03Z

March 5, 2018 5:18pm

Thanks for trying. I am doing a few more debugging exercises and will take another whack at it shortly.

Answer 3 · 2018-03-05T20:26:59Z

March 5, 2018 8:26pm

I was able to import sys and add an exit statement after the ValueError. Worked well enough to submit it for grading. Thanks very much for tweaking it a little so I could make that work.

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Nancy Melucci

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Python while loop won't exit at sentinel and processes letter as integer.

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