comparing characters (letters) on c -

im making program compare letters. goal of make hangman game. cant make letter comparison work

#include<stdio.h> #include<conio.h> #include<string.h>  int c=0,x; char a[50],b[50],n[50],j,h; char a1[50],b1[50],y; main() {     printf("player 1:enter word\n");     gets(n);     x=strlen(n);     printf("%d letters\n",x);      puts("now enter word letter letter");         {         gets(a);         strcat(b,a);         c++;      }     while(c!=x);     printf("%s",b);     getch();     system("cls");      c=0;      puts("player 2:try guess word letter letter");         {         gets(a1);         y=strcmp(a,a1);         printf("%d",y);         strcat(b1,a1);         c++;     }     while(c!=x);      printf("%s",b1);       getch();     return 0;  } 

im having problems in particular player 2 section. not supposed whole comparing letters program; comparing letters whatever in player 1 section (but keeps trowing 1 , -1 , have no idea how fix this).

im sure little bit more programming knowledge, should able fix this, im beginner trying learn on own. tip extremely helpful :)

in code, a stores temporary value of player1's input, if player1 input "abide", result a = "e" after plyaer1's loop. in player2's loop, compare "e" user's input.

a solution may compares first character instead of using strcmp

y = b[c] - a1[0];