[Tutor] Todays Learning Python Question From a Newbie ;)

[Jon Moore]

Hi,

Ok its the last exercise in the chapter of the python book (Python for the
absolute beginner) I am working my way through.

I have been learning about functions using a tic-tac-toe game as an example
and I understand it fairly clearly, however the author says the following:

Write a new computer_move() function for the tic-tac-toe game to plug the
hole in the computers stratergy. See if you can create an opponent that is
unbeatable!

My main problem is that I can not see how the computers stratergy can be
improved as at best I can only manage a tie with the computer!

If I could see past this, I could hopefully work out the code.

Copy of the function:

def computer_move(board, computer, human):
    """Make computer move."""
    # make a copy to work with since function will be changing list
    board = board[:]
    # the best positions to have, in order
    BEST_MOVES = (4, 0, 2, 6, 8, 1, 3, 5, 7)

    print "I shall take square number",

    # if computer can win, take that move
    for move in legal_moves(board):
        board[move] = computer
        if winner(board) == computer:
            print move
            return move
        # done checking this move, undo it
        board[move] = EMPTY

    # if human can win, block that move
    for move in legal_moves(board):
        board[move] = human
        if winner(board) == human:
            print move
            return move
        # done checkin this move, undo it
        board[move] = EMPTY

    # since no one can win on next move, pick best open square
    for move in BEST_MOVES:
        if move in legal_moves(board):
            print move
            return move

--
Best Regards

Jon Moore
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