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T-H Card Counting System(s) {PCS/L1} (T. Hopper)  A series of card counting systems from basic playing strategies to advanced systems requiring side counts.  At time of writing the following terms represented the complete T-H series:

• T-H Basic Blackjack: Includes both the T-H Instant and T-H Basic playing strategies and betting counts. 

• T-H Intermediate Blackjack: Count-based playing strategy and worldwide rules variations.

• T-H Advanced Blackjack: Complete count-based playing and betting strategy, the unbalanced true count for playing and the floating true count for betting.  

• T-H Expert Blackjack: Extended playing strategy, ace side count, and the adjusted pivot for betting. 

• T-H Master Blackjack: Adds the {8,9} side count, with bonus strategies for side bets. 

• T-H Grandmaster Blackjack: The {6,7} side count, with bonus strategies for special rules. 

• T-H Champion Blackjack: The {4,5} side count, and bonus strategies for blackjack variants.

A 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
-1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 -1

BC = ?? PE = ??

See Bushido Blackjack.  See KO.

[ http://www.BJRnet.com/thop/ ]
[ http://www.BJRnet.com/member/archive_systems3/index.cgi?read=2508 ]
[ http://www.BJRnet.com/member/archive_systems3/index.cgi?read=2146 ]

T-Hop 1 Count. (T-H 1) {PCS/L1} (T. Hopper) A card counting system originally designed to be used with the ace-deuce secondary count with KO.   

A 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 -1

BC = ?? PE = ??

T-Hop 2 Count. (T-H 1) {PCS/L2} (T. Hopper)

A 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 1 1 2 2 2 1 0 0 -2

BC = ?? PE = ??

table hopping. {CS}. To move from one table to another whenever the count at the first table indicates the game is unfavorable. Today, this is somewhat impractical for single-deck but often used for multiple-deck play. See Wonging.
[84 Table Hopping BJF]

TableLink. TableLink PT is a Mikohn's Gaming product. According to Mikohn advertising,  "TableLink™ is the new CasinoLink™ module from Mikohn dedicated to the automation of table games using unique and patented technologies. The system provides table games manager the same on-line accountability, management information, merchandising tools, profitability and accuracy currently enjoyed by slot systems.  TableLink™ TableLink™ is a suite of products which allow you to move your table games into the future. There is no other comprehensive, integrated solution like it in the gaming industry. TableLink™ consists of four (4) tiers; TotalView, Player Tracking, Chip Tracking, and Game Tracking. Through patented technology, TableLink™ can be implemented on existing tables, adding additional automation and accuracy with each tier. The four (4) tiers; TV (TotalView), PT (Player Tracking), CT (Chip Tracking) and GT (Game Tracking) of the product suite are fully integrated, enabling a "phased" approach to any implementation. "  IMAGE 1 | IMAGE 2.   See SafeJack.
[ http://www.mikohn.com/ ]

table limit. The smallest and largest bets allowed at the table. See minimum. See maximum.

Taft, Keith.  In 1972, Keith Taft developed the first toe-operated blackjack computer. Originally based on the Z-80 computer, it was used legally to beat the casinos throughout the '70s and '80s. See David. See George.   See Thor.
[Eudaemonic Pie by Thomas A. Bass, 1985]
[ http://wearables.www.media.mit.edu/projects/wearables/timeline.html#1966a ]

Tahoe. See Lake Tahoe

tail checking. A common casino practice of requiring the floorman or pit boss to check the tails of the shuffled cards before they are pushed together. See shuffle check.
[91 Davis New Blackjack Home Study Manual 41]

take down. As in to take down a bet. To remove a bet before the next hand or deal.

take-off man. The player, usually in a spooking or cheating operation, who places the big bets. See George.
[81 Uston Million Dollar Blackjack 322]

tally. A counting term used in systems such as BIAS to distinguish from the conventional count.

tap out. To lose one's entire bankroll.

TARGET. {RWC} (c1983) (Developed by Eddie Olsen and originally marketed by Jerry Patterson). Also called TARGET 21. TARGET stands for TAble Research, Grading and Evaluation Technique. This is a controversial table selection method that claims to be able to exploit shoe games (and single-deck games but to a lesser degree) because shuffles are non-random. This system claims that games with non-random shuffles tend to have biases that favor either the dealer or player and that these biases can last for several shoes or decks. An observant player is therefore told that he can increase his chances of winning by playing only at those tables that have evidence of current player winnings and by avoiding those tables that are dealer biased. The actual selection process is simplified to a set of table selection factors.   The TARGET system, as marketed by Jerry Patterson during the late 1980's, also recommended variations to basic strategy under excessive dealer-breaking conditions and the use of progressive betting.   The TARGET system, as presented by Eddie Olsen during the 1990's, was somewhat different in scope and methodology. Eddie Olsen placed a greater emphasis on card counting and did not completely agree with progressive betting methods.  TARGET players are taught that 70% of games are dealer biased, 13% are neutral, 10% are player breaking, 5% are player biased and only about 2% are dealer breaking. This system is not recommended. See BIAS Barometer.
[9/83 Snyder The TARGET Controversy BJF]
[6/84 Snyder Stanley Roberts Supports TARGET BJF 10]
[85 Patterson TARGET Manual]
[86 Patterson Break the Dealer]
[89 Patterson Casino Gambler's Winning Edge at... 65]
[90 Patterson Blackjack: A Winner's Handbook]
[3/90 Snyder Ruffled by the Shuffle BJF]
[8/90-1/91 Olsen TARGET 1990 BJC]

TARGET II. {RWC} (1988) (Eddie Olsen) A controversial method of betting using a traditional count in games with insufficiently shuffled cards. In this method, maximum bets are placed whenever the count is near 0. See zero proximity betting.
[10/88, 1/89, 4/89 Olsen Blackjack Confidential]

TC. 1) See true count. 2) See Triple Chance.

TCS. Acronym for a Ten Count System.

team play. {CS}. The use of several players, each receiving signals and information from one another in how to bet and play the hand. There are a variety of team play methods and tactics with the most popular being the use of the big player. Other valid reasons for team play include:

• Sharing of information
• Pooling of resources
• Big player tactic
• Insurance counter
• Shuffle tracking
• Back counters
• Spooking
• Hole card play
• Camouflage

Tek's Black Jack Computo-Matic. {PCS/L1} (1991) (Mel M. Tekavec) University D Supply, Inc., Pueblo, Colorado. A single-deck basic strategy and card counting slide rule device. An off the top starting count of +2 is indicated, although this is a balanced count. Card values assignments are opposite of the more common approach.

tell. A particular mannerism, habit, or characteristic exhibited by a dealer that indicates to the player the possible value of his hand. Tells are generally useful only in games in which the dealer peeks under tens for a possible natural. See tell play.

tell play. {HCS}. The strategy of using dealer body language to determine whether the dealer is stiff or pat and to play your hand.
[80 Wong Winning Without Counting]
[83 Caro ...the Profitable Magic of Tells C&S Vol.25,7]
[86 Forte Read the Dealer]
[3/86 Forte Tips on Tells BJF 5]
[6/86 Snyder Reno Tell Player Acquitted BJF 7]
[6/88 Dog-Ass Johnny Stalking the Elusive Tell BJF 5]
[92 Wong Basic Blackjack]

ten. A 10-valued card such as a ten, jack, queen, or king. There are 16 ten-valued cards and 36 non-tens in a deck of cards, therefore, a ratio exists of 2.25 non-tens to each ten.

ten count. A system based on the ratio of ten valued cards to non-tens. A ten count system can give perfect insurance decisions.  See Thorp Ten-Count.

ten rich. A term describing that the remaining portion of a deck or shoe has a disproportionately high number of 10-value cards. See rich.

Texas Blackjack System. {PBS}. (c1979-80?) (Johnny Belt) B & W Enterprises, Las Vegas, NV. TBD
[80 Casino & Sports Vol.10,24]

Thor. (c1980) (Keith Taft)  A modified version of the David concealable blackjack computer.

third base. The last seat at a blackjack table on the dealer's right. This is typically the 6th or 7th seat and is dealt to and played last. See anchor man.

Thorp, Edward O.  Author of the classic and best selling blackjack book Beat the Dealer and developer of several blackjack counting systems. Thorp is considered by most as the "inventor" of card counting. See below.  See Reports.
[66 Thorp Beat the Dealer 47]

Thorp Five-Count. {RCS}. (Edward O. Thorp). With the release of his classic best seller Beat the Dealer Dr. Thorp proved to the world (and the casinos) that blackjack could be beaten. He was a major impact in the development of winning strategies for blackjack. See Revere Five-Count.
[66 Thorp Beat the Dealer 47]
[86 Gwynn El Cheapo Systems BJF 22]

Thorp Ten-Count. {TCS}. (Edward O. Thorp) (c1961).

(Converted 10 count)

[66 Thorp Beat the Dealer 102]

Thorp Simple Point-Count. {PCS/L1}. (Edward O. Thorp). See Hi-Lo.

BC = .97 PE = .51

[66 Thorp Beat the Dealer 75]

Thorp Complete Point-Count. {PCS/L1}. (Edward O. Thorp). A refinement of the simple point count.
[66 Thorp Beat the Dealer 93]

Thorp Ultimate. {PCS/U}. (Edward O. Thorp).

BC = 1.00 PE = .53

three deck. An uncommon arrangement of decks always dealt from a shoe but more often seen in automatic shuffling machines.

tie. See push

TIMES. {RWC} (Developed by Don Cierzan and marketed by Jerry Patterson) (c1990) TIMES stands for Table Integrity Master Evaluation System. A system for determining the integrity of the game. Based on features of both TARGET and BIAS Barometer.
[91 Patterson Casino Gamblers Network]

tip, tipping. See toke.

TKO. TBD See KO Count.

TOB.   Acronym for Peter Griffin's book Theory of Blackjack.

toke. As in a token of gratitude. A tip to the dealer or other casino employee. Also called zukes. Tokes can be given directly to or bet for the dealer. In some casinos the dealers keep their own tokes while in others tokes are pooled and shared. Due to the very small advantage that a card counter can sometimes achieve, excessive toking often turns a positive expectation game into a losing one. It is often recommended to toke dealers only if you can get something in return such as deeper penetration or better shuffles. See toke box. See pocket.
[79 Grossman To Tip or Not to Tip... C&S Vol.7, 17]
[80 Reply to Grossman Article C&S Vol.9,64]
[81 Snyder Toking Guidelines for Card Counters BJF]
[2/83 Roberts To Toke or Not to Toke... GT 7]
[5/87 Blackjack Toking GT]
[90 Patterson Blackjack: A Winner's Handbook 127]
[90 Malmuth Gambling Theory 116]

toke box. A box in the pit where dealer tips are held. Many casinos place a toke box in each table. Some toke boxes are hidden from view.

toke hustling. What dealers do when they make subtle or not so subtle suggestions to players for tokes. Before December of 1980, some Las Vegas casinos were using microphones for surveillance to detect toke hustling and possible cheating violations. The Nevada Gaming Control Board ordered these casinos to remove these devices after hearing a state attorney general's opinion that the use of microphones was illegal. The order was supposedly obeyed by all casinos involved.
[80 Strip Exec Comments on T. H. C&S Vol.13,5]

Top Deck Blackjack. An optional single-deck side bet first offered at the Club Cal-Neva in Reno in 1992. The house would pay 17 to 1 odds for a blackjack dealt on the first hand after a shuffle. Players could bet on their own hand, the dealer's hand or both. The payoff is increased to 20 to 1 when both the player and the dealer have blackjacks. Typical side bet limits were $10 - $25.
[6/92 17-1 blackjack at Club Cal-Neva BJC]

tournament. A popular variation to casino blackjack where players compete against the dealer and other players. Although a casino dealer is used to deal the cards the object of the game is not to beat the dealer but rather to end up with the most money at the end of each round. Blackjack tournaments are typically three rounds of from 10 to 15 hands and entry fees can range from $25 to $1000 or more. Playing and betting strategies used by knowledgeable tournament players differ significantly from regular blackjack.   A good source for listings of blackjack tournaments is Blackjack Confidential magazine.
[81 Friedman A Seq. Decision Model for Tour. BJ...]
[81 Uston Million Dollar Blackjack 307]
[84 Wolfe/Sludikoff Desert Inn BJ T... C&S Vol.26,56]
[84 Wong T. Strategy for Craps & 21 C&S Vol.28,8]
[86 Griffin BJ Experts Take a Bath in Reno Tour. BJF]
[1/86 BJ Tournament Winner Tells Everything GT]
[6/86 Snyder BJ Tournaments: The Next Attack BJF 9]
[12/86 Snyder Interview With a Tournament Pro BJF]
[91 Olsen A Winning Strategy for Tournament BJ]
[92 Wong Casino Tournament Strategy]
[Olsen Blackjack Confidential]

track zone. A shuffle tracking definition. A set of cards of pre-determined size (usually based on shuffle procedure) for which a count is obtained. See play zone.

tray. See chip tray.

TRB. Acronym for Tens Ratio Betting. See NBJ.

Tri-Level Blackjack. {PBS} {PCS/L2}. (c1977?). Professional Research, Mineola, NY. A system developed by an outfit that was in the horse system selling business for many years. The 16 page booklet offers an inaccurate basic strategy and a questionable card count.

BC = .97 PE = .45

trip bankroll. See bankroll.

trip risk of ruin. See risk of ruin.

Triple Action Blackjack. See Multiple Action Blackjack.

Triple Chance. (TC) (c1992) A blackjack variation that is similar to Multiple Action Blackjack except the dealer deals himself three separate up-cards. Players are required to make two or three bets on separate circles. Each hand is played against a separate up-card. Unlike Multiple Action Blackjack, the correct basic strategy for this game is to not play it!

true count. (TC) Also called the true. Also called the count per deck. The running count (RC) adjusted for the number of cards or decks remaining to be played. This is typically expressed as:

TC = RC / N

Where N = Number of remaining decks

The true count is a much more important indicator of the a player's advantage than is the running count. An increase of one true count unit is often estimated to be worth about +0.5% overall to the player. As an example, if there were 2 decks left in a 6 deck game and the running count was 5 the true count would be only 2.5. Card counters using a balanced count need to be able to figure the true count in order to accurately implement point count play variations.
[9/82 Snyder How True is Your True Count BJF 4]
[83 Snyder Blackbelt in Blackjack 57]
[91 Zender Card Counting for the Casino Exec 52]
[92 Carlson Blackjack For Blood 78]

TruCount. See Olsen TruCount.

tubes. Dealer terminology for the columns in a chip tray where checks are kept.

Turfwin Blackjack. {PBS}. (c1976) (J. Williams) Port Washington, NY.
[1/77 Rouge et Noir 13]

turkey. A casino slang term for a player who is unfamiliar with the social and situational etiquette of the casino. Turkeys are often the first to be hustled for tokes.
[88 Watson Beating Casino's Blackjack 54]

turn-over. {CS}. A cheating technique the dealer can use in a hand held game whereby he turns over the deck and deals cards already just played.
[88 Watson Beating Casino's Blackjack 65]

twenty-one. Most people will tell you that this is the proper name of the game of blackjack. See natural.

two deck. As in a two deck game. A game dealt from two decks, usually hand-held.  See double-deck.
[87 Snyder Beating the Two Deck Game]
[3/89 Olsen Blackjack Confidential]

twofer. A $2.50 chip. This chip is so designed to allow easy payoff of a blackjack win on a $5 bet. See pinks.

Last Update 12/10/03