Hi! Could you guys look at my code for problem #2: Update a hand in a word game.
def update_hand(hand, word):
for letters in word:
hand[letters]=hand[letters]-1
return hand

This code doesn't work for some cases. For instance, I have {s e e a} in my hand and I typed 'sea' which also deletes extra 'e' that I had. Can you guys explain what I am thinking wrong conceptually and how it should be fixed?

Thank you!

Question

Hi! Could you guys look at my code for problem #2: Update a hand in a word game. 
def update_hand(hand, word):
   for letters in word:
        hand[letters]=hand[letters]-1
    return hand

This code doesn't work for some cases. For instance, I have {s e e a} in my hand and I typed 'sea' which also deletes extra 'e' that I had. Can you guys explain what I am thinking wrong conceptually and how it should be fixed? 

Thank you!

turingtest · Answer

I have the almost exact same code as you for that problem, so perhaps your bug lies in another function. The only difference is that I clone the hand for the replay part later on.

newHand=hand.copy()

but I don't think that should cause the effect you are dealing with.

rsmith6559 · Answer

For debugging, try printing hand as part of each iteration.  Dollar says it's not what you expect.