Game

TRACS is played with a special deck of two-sided cards.
The backs show black shapes called tracks. The fronts show colored sets called treads.
Below are the six types of cards. Move your mouse to turn the tracks and see the treads.

TRACS is a family of games with simple rules. 
This website only describes the games that you can play online, but many other games can be played with the "real" cards. Real cards are also needed to do the Magic Tricks. A limited number of card packs are available to interested parties by contacting Mail.

For a brief introduction to the cards and rules, click here to hear the Theme Song. 
For a light exposition of human thinking in the game and in life, click here to read the Comic Strip.
For a deep discussion of why TRACS is unique and useful, click here to read the Science. 
TRACS games can be played online.
The TRACS Arcade includes three solitaire games (click here to play):
Straight TRACS The Basic Game 
Wild TRACS The Options Game
Booty TRACS The Betting Game
The TRACS Casino includes three gambling games (click below to play):
Slot TRACS The Payoff Game
Black TRACS The Counting Game
Poker TRACS The Bluffing Game
Straight TRACS is the simplest game, played solitaire.  
To begin: Three cards are dealt from the deck to a field (see below): Two cards are dealt face down (showing tracks) and one card is dealt face up (showing tread).

The object is to turn the track (left or right) that is most likely to match the color - Red or Blue - of the tread in the middle. 

Turn a track by clicking the mouse on either the left track (circle) or the right track (triangle). [Hint: The Blue tread in the middle shows that there are more Blue circles than Blue triangles in the deck - by odds of 2:1.] When you click on a track (black shape) it will turn over to reveal its tread (Blue or Red). The turn is scored a "save" if the track turns out to match the color of the tread in the middle (in this case, Blue). Otherwise you get a "strike".  

 

If you clicked the circle (above left), you got a "save" (that's good). If you clicked the triangle (above right), you got a "strike" (that's bad).

To continue: The pair of treads (strike or save) is removed from the field. The remaining track is turned and moved to the middle of the field where it becomes the tread (color) to match on the next turn. Two new tracks are dealt from the deck to the field, a track is turned and scored, etc. The sequence continues until the deck is depleted. Your score is the total number of strikes (mismatches) on a trip through the deck - the fewer the better (like strokes in golf).

The object of the game is to avoid strikes (mismatches) - by making saves (matches). 
The challenge of the game is to count the cards and play the odds - which change as the deck is depleted.

 

Try all of the TRACS games.

The TRACS Arcade includes two twists on Straight TRACS. In one twist, called Wild TRACS, you get a limited number of Wild cards that you can play as options - either to pass on a turn (to avoid a strike) or to bet on a turn (to wipe out a strike). The challenge in this game is to use your Wild cards wisely. In another twist, called Booty TRACS, you can bet for higher stakes and you can bet on any turn.   

In the TRACS Casino you can play three gambling games. Slot TRACS is like a slot machine except that  you have to make a few choices on each turn (besides just pulling the arm). In Black TRACS - like Blackjack - you play against a dealer. In Poker TRACS you face three opponents (computer agents) who you have to outwit and outplay.

 

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TM and Copyright 2004 by K. Burns. All Rights Reserved.