Workshop › Blackjack › Step 8 of 22

What is a hand worth?

What we are doing

Number cards are worth their number, J, Q and K are worth 10, and an ace is worth 11 (for now). handValue adds up a hand; the totals are shown above both hands. We also count the aces: the next step needs that.

```js
function handValue(hand) {
  let total = 0
  let aces = 0
  for (const { rank } of hand) {
    if (rank === 'A') {
      total += 11
      aces += 1
    } else total += ['J', 'Q', 'K'].includes(rank) ? 10 : Number(rank)
  }
  return total
}

  ctx.fillStyle = 'white'
  ctx.font = 'bold 16px sans-serif'
  ctx.textAlign = 'left'
  ctx.fillText('Dealer ' + handValue(dealer), 20, DEALER_Y - 10)
  ctx.fillText('You ' + handValue(player), 20, PLAYER_Y - 10)
```

What it means

for (const { rank } of hand) takes just the rank of each card.
['J', 'Q', 'K'].includes(rank) asks whether the rank is a face card; Number('7') turns the text into 7.

Your turn

Above deal, write handValue.
At the end of draw, write both totals.

Skills: Functions, Loops

← Keep drawing Aces: 11 or 1 →

All steps