Problem with while loop and the scanner method

[hhh80p]

hi guys:
I'm having trouble with this while loop. The thing is I want this loop ask me for a name and then ask for 3 cards, but I want this process 3 time. When first the while starts, there is not problem, it ask me for the name of the player and then ask for 3 cards. But in the second and third time, it show me the system.out.print message, but it bypass the input.Scanner method (meaning it doesn't let me put the name of the player) and go to the second while loop, which is asking me for 3 cards. this is my code. I hope somebody can help me. thanks

public void letsPlayPoker()
{
// Create Scanner to obtain input from command window
Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);
String pokerName;
int numberCards = 1;
int counter = 0;
int cardNumber;


while (counter <= 2) // how many poker player do we have
{
System.out.print("Please enter the name of the poker Player: ");
pokerName = input.nextLine();
System.out.printf("Welcome:\n%s\n", pokerName);
counter = counter + 1;

while (numberCards <= 2)
{
System.out.print("\nEnter card number\n");
cardNumber = input.nextInt();
System.out.printf("name", cardNumber);
numberCards = numberCards + 1;
}
if (numberCards == 3)
numberCards = 1;
}
System.out.print("\nGood luck gentlemen!!!!\n");
}
}

thanks

[hhh80p]

For all the beginner like me:
Found it!!!!!

ok, so, if you decide to get a scanner in a while loop, at the end of the loop, you have to put and if statement that will check it the scanner has something, because if it has something, the next time the loop pass for the scanner code, it won't read it since it already has something in there. here is the solution:

at the end of the loop put

if (input.hasNextLine()) // name that I select to create a new scanner object
pokerName = input.nextLine(); // pokerName is the name of my string, and
// here I created an reset the input scanner.

cheers!

[JosAH]

In general this type of error occurs when there is still an <enter> character in the input buffer and you want to read an entire line. e.g. if you want to read in int and you type '1', '2', '3', <enter>, the scanner will read the first three characters but leaves the <enter> character in the input buffer because it isn't part of an integer value. If you want to read a String afterwards and you want it by reading an entire line, the method will hit the <enter> character that is still in the input buffer; the readLine method will return immediately after having read an empty line and you programs leaves you with a puzzled look on your face.

The remedy is simple though: read a dummy empty line first and only then read your String values.

kind regards,

Jos