How to Write Dou Dizhu (Fight the Landlord) Game in Python

Dou Dizhu, also known as “Fight the Landlord,” is a popular Chinese card game enjoyed by millions. Writing a basic version of this game in Python can be an engaging project for both beginners and intermediate programmers. This article outlines the steps to create a simple Dou Dizhu game using Python.

Step 1: Understand the Game Rules

Before coding, it’s essential to understand the game’s rules thoroughly. Dou Dizhu is played by three players, where each player is dealt 17 cards from a standard 54-card deck (including two jokers). The game involves rounds of bidding to become the landlord, followed by the landlord playing against the other two players as a team. The landlord’s goal is to be the first to play all cards, while the other two players (farmers) win if they can cooperate to play all their cards before the landlord.

Step 2: Design the Card Deck

The first step in coding is to design the deck of cards. Each card can be represented as a unique string or integer. For simplicity, let’s use integers where cards are numbered from 3 to 17 (representing 3 to Ace) with an additional representation for the two jokers.

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cards = [i for i in range(3, 18)] * 4 + ['Joker1', 'Joker2']
import random
random.shuffle(cards)

Step 3: Deal Cards to Players

Next, deal the cards to three players, ensuring each gets 17 cards.

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player1 = cards[:17]
player2 = cards[17:34]
player3 = cards[34:51]
landlord_cards = cards[51:]  # Remaining 3 cards

Step 4: Implement Bidding Logic

Implement a simple bidding logic where players can choose whether to become the landlord based on their hand. This can be randomized for simplicity.

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import random
landlord = random.randint(1, 3)
if landlord == 1:
    landlord_hand = player1 + landlord_cards
elif landlord == 2:
    landlord_hand = player2 + landlord_cards
else:
    landlord_hand = player3 + landlord_cards

Step 5: Gameplay Mechanics

Implement the basic gameplay mechanics, such as players taking turns to play cards. This can involve checking for valid card combinations (single, pair, sequence, etc.) and ensuring the landlord plays against the other two players.

Step 6: Determine the Winner

Finally, implement logic to determine the winner of the game. This involves checking when a player has played all their cards.

Conclusion

This article provides a high-level overview of writing a basic Dou Dizhu game in Python. The actual implementation can be more complex, involving detailed rules for card combinations, bidding strategies, and user interface for interaction. However, this foundation can serve as a starting point for anyone interested in developing their own version of this popular game.

[tags]
Python, Dou Dizhu, Card Game, Programming, Game Development