a_cards = a_cards[:-3]

a_cards.append(a_stash.pop())

b_stash.extend([b_card]+b_cards[-3:])
b_cards = b_cards[:-3]
b_cards.append(b_stash.pop())
elif a_card > b_card:
# ordering of a_stash and b_stash is undefined by game rules
a_cards = [a_card, b_card] + a_stash + b_stash + a_cards
a_stash = []
b_stash = []
elif b_card > a_card:
# ordering of a_stash and b_stash is undefined by game rules
b_cards = [b_card, a_card] + b_stash + a_stash + b_cards
a_stash = []
b_stash = []

print "round %s: a_cards: %s, a_stash %s, b_cards %s, b_stash %s" %
(round, len(a_cards), len(a_stash), len(b_cards), len(b_stash))
round += 1