class Solution:
    def maximumGain(self, s: str, x: int, y: int) -> int:
        res = 0
        left, right = 0, 0
        while right < len(s):
            if s[right] != 'a' and s[right] != 'b':
                string = s[left:right]
                if x < y:
                    while 'ba' in string:
                        res += y
                        string = string.replace('ba', '', 1)
                    while 'ab' in string:
                        res += x
                        string = string.replace('ab', '', 1)
                else:
                    while 'ab' in string:
                        res += x
                        string = string.replace('ab', '', 1)
                    while 'ba' in string:
                        res += y
                        string = string.replace('ba', '', 1)
                left = right + 1  
            right += 1
        string = s[left:right]
        if x < y:
            while 'ba' in string:
                res += y
                string = string.replace('ba', '', 1)
            while 'ab' in string:
                res += x
                string = string.replace('ab', '', 1)
        else:
            while 'ab' in string:
                res += x
                string = string.replace('ab', '', 1)
            while 'ba' in string:
                res += y
                string = string.replace('ba', '', 1)
        return res