Black-Zach - My Framer Site

Black-Zach

Simulating Chance and Choice: What started as a simple coding challenge became a project about risk, math, and the illusion of control.

Author

Zachary Quintana

Date Published

8/1/24

Why I Built It

Most people play Blackjack for fun. I built Black-Zach to teach probability—and to highlight the darker side of gambling.
For my AP Computer Science Principles Create Task, I wanted to design something that didn’t just run code, but made a point: luck always evens out.

The project is both a game and a message. It demonstrates how probability shapes every hand—and how quickly the illusion of control can break down when randomness takes over.

Disclaimer: This is NOT my APCSP Create Task submission, although mine is very similar.

How I Built It

I built the simulator in Snap!, a block-based programming language that taught me how visual code logic translates into real algorithms.

Every part of the game—from the randomization to the cardshoot system—was made from scratch. The cardshoot, which ensures no card appears twice, became the toughest challenge of the project. It forced me to think like a computer scientist: managing lists, depleting data structures, and validating every possible outcome.

Even the rules of Blackjack became a puzzle. Simple as they seem, things like deciding whether an Ace counts as 1 or 11 turned into intricate logic trees that tested every bit of patience I had.

Why I Built It

The project is both a game and a message. It demonstrates how probability shapes every hand—and how quickly the illusion of control can break down when randomness takes over.

Disclaimer: This is NOT my APCSP Create Task submission, although mine is very similar.

How I Built It

I built the simulator in Snap!, a block-based programming language that taught me how visual code logic translates into real algorithms.

Even the rules of Blackjack became a puzzle. Simple as they seem, things like deciding whether an Ace counts as 1 or 11 turned into intricate logic trees that tested every bit of patience I had.

What I Learned

By the end, Black-Zach worked exactly how I imagined it. The game deals, tracks totals, and accurately simulates a full deck—without any duplicates.

Through it, I learned:

How to build and manage a dynamic deck system
How probability theory plays out in real-time simulations
The importance of clarity and structure in block-based programming

And maybe most importantly, how easy it is for randomness to feel like strategy—a lesson that extends far beyond the screen.

What’s Next

If I were to expand the project, I’d replace the numbers with actual card graphics and add a basic betting system. I’d also integrate data tracking—like win rates or longest streaks—to show how probability always balances in the end.

Play It Yourself

Play Black-Zach on Snap!

My personal high score was $63000, See if you can beat me!

Reflection

This project started as a way to pass the AP exam, but it became something deeper—a small, coded warning about the nature of chance.

Every line of logic has shown me that no system of luck can beat the math beneath it.

Play It Yourself

Play Black-Zach on Snap!

My personal high score was $63000, See if you can beat me!

Reflection

This project started as a way to pass the AP exam, but it became something deeper—a small, coded warning about the nature of chance.

Every line of logic has shown me that no system of luck can beat the math beneath it.

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