kabloom.py

size = 9
top = "63742AKRT"
bot = "3547RAQKT"

def score(t, b):
  #print t
  #print b
  # No remaining cards to match
  if len(t) == 0 or len(b) == 0:
    #print "End"
    return 0

  # Only one possible pairing
  elif len(t) == 1 and len(b) == 1:
    if t != b and t != 'R' and b != 'R':
      #print "Mismatch"
      return 0
    elif t == b == 'R':
      #print "Joker Match"
      return 50
    else:
      #print "Match"
      return{
        'A' : 20,
        '2' : 2,
        '3' : 3,
        '4' : 4,
        '5' : 5,
        '6' : 6,
        '7' : 7,
        '8' : 8,
        '9' : 9,
        'T' : 10,
        'J' : 15,
        'Q' : 15,
        'K' : 15,
        }[t if t != 'R' else b]
    
  # Next card on top is Joker -> choose whether to discard bottom or match. 
  elif t[0] == 'R':
    #print "Discard"
    s1 = score(t, b[1:])
    #print "Match"
    s2 = score(t[0], b[0]) + score(t[1:], b[1:])
    return max(s1, s2)

  # Next card on bottom is Joker -> choose whether to discard top or match. 
  elif b[0] == 'R':
    #print "Discard"
    s1 = score(t[1:], b)
    #print "Match"
    s2 = score(t[0], b[0]) + score(t[1:], b[1:])
    return max(s1, s2)

  # First cards match -> always better to do so
  elif t[0] == b[0]:
    #print "Match"
    return score(t[0], b[0]) + score(t[1:], b[1:])

  # No matches possible -> must discard either top or bottom
  else:
    #print "Discard top"
    s1 = score(t[1:], b)
    #print "Discard bot"
    s2 = score(t, b[1:])
    #print s1, s2
    return max(s1, s2)

print 2*score(top, bot)