How to pick a random card in Python

In this Python tutorial, we will learn how to pick a random card from a deck of cards in Python. To learn how to select a random card in Python we gonna use random module.

In my previous tutorial, I have shown you How to print a deck of cards in Python

You can follow that tutorial if you wish.

Pick a random card in Python

In order to pick a random card from a deck of cards in Python, firstly you have to store all the cards. Then choose any random card. But there are 52 cards. I think it will not a good practice to store all the cards one by one in a list.

So, we are going to learn a smarter way to do this.

1. At first, store all the values of the cards in a list ( values are from 2 to A )
2. Then, store the signs of the card. (Club, Heart, Spade, Diamond )
3. Using the random module, choose a random value from the first list
4. Using the random module choose a random sign from the second list
5. Just concatenate those random value and sign

Suppose we got value 8 from the first list as a random value and Club as a random sign from the second list.

Thus we can get a random card, which is 8 of CLUB

Python program to select a random card in Python from a deck of cards

import random
card_points =['A','K','Q','J','2','3','4','5','6','7','8','9','10']
card_signs =['Heart','CLUB','DIAMOND','SPADE']
random_point = random.choice(card_points)
random_sign = random.choice(card_signs)
random_card = random_point,random_sign
print(random_card)

Output:

$ python codespeedy.py
('5', 'SPADE')

That means the random card is 5 of SPADE

Each time you run the code, you will get a new random card.

Explanation of the program to choose a random card from a deck of cards in Python

At first, we have imported random module using the below line

import random

Learn more,

• How to generate a random number in Python
• Python | Select a random item from a list in Python

Using the below two lines, we have stored all the values and signs

card_points =['A','K','Q','J','2','3','4','5','6','7','8','9','10']
card_signs =['Heart','CLUB','DIAMOND','SPADE']

To choose a random card we used,

random_point = random.choice(card_points) 
random_sign = random.choice(card_signs)

these two variables are used to store the random value and sign of a random card.

Finally, we concatenate the value and sign by using the below line

random_card = random_point,random_sign

We know there is not only a single solution to a particular problem. if you find any other solution feel free to let others know using the below comment section.