Progression Blackjack: Exposing the Card Counting Myth [Paperback]

Donald Dahl (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2000

Gain an better alternative to the card-counting strategy with "Progression Blackjack". This book offers a revolutionary strategy for novices to master the game and for veteran players to consider previous books and methods obsolete.

Product Details

• Paperback: 155 pages
• Publisher: Citadel (October 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806513969
• ISBN-13: 978-0806513966
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,171,309 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars If only it were this easy, March 6, 2002

By 

Andrew Nerney (Waynesville, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Progression Blackjack: Exposing the Card Counting Myth (Paperback)

Recently I read this book and began to employ its system. I more than tripled my bankroll on two consecutive trips. Unfortunately, I quickly became convinced that this was nothing more than luck; after those two good wins, I proceeded to get killed nearly every time I sat down at the table. My observations lead me to believe that any progression system, including Dahl's, fails to account for double-down and split situations. Dahl claims that if you bet 10, win, bet 10, win, bet 15, lose then you have won $5 of the casino's money since you won $20 before losing $15. What happens when, on that $15 bet, you draw two 8s and have to split? What about when you double down on 11, draw a low card, and lose to the dealer's pat hand? Then you have lost the $20 that you won on the first two bets plus an additional $10. That is why this system will not work in the long run.

I then learned Carlson's Omega II count system, which is complicated but very powerful. It also has been proven to work mathematically, while countless computer simulations have shown that progression systems do not work. I would recommend Carlson's "Blackjack for Blood" for the serious player. Also, check out works by Frank Scoblete or Stanford Wong.

17 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This book is a waste of time and money -- for anyone., September 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Progression Blackjack: Exposing the Card Counting Myth (Paperback)

Dahl's whole system is based on the idea that, when you win a hand, you should let some of the winnings ride on your following bet. He says he's found that "luck runs in streaks." Of course that's nonsense. Any thoughtful person should realize that winning one hand of blackjack makes you no more or less likely to win the next. What's more, the whole system is explained in about three pages, and the rest of the book is fluff. If you play blackjack and don't want to count cards, make up your own progression system and have a good time. You'll do just as well without reading this worthless little book. Incidentally, I've just finished reading The World's Greatest Blackjack Book by Lance Humble. It's very insightful and pleasant to read. I recommend it highly for anyone who would like to broaden his knowledge of the game

27 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This book is a joke, March 13, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Progression Blackjack: Exposing the Card Counting Myth (Paperback)

This book is a [bad], it is based on the idea that you will have streaks of luck. Anyone who has ever taken a statistics course knows that in the long run these streaks even out and do not really exist. The strategy is also based on the fact that you need to win at least three hands in a row to start making more money. When the author fails to metion that every time you win two hands in a row and lose the next one then you end up winning less money than if you had just bet the same every time(and statistically you will win two hands in a row on average more than three). The book consists of exactly four pages of actual blackjack strategy and about 100 bitching about how bad card counting is. Dahl never even states that he has ever broken ahead in his life time playing blackjack, he never states that you will actually win using his method or that you have an actual statistical advantage over the house. Worst of all this method doesn't even have a statistical betting advantage over even bets. Dahl's strategy is like a donkey with a spinning wheel, no one knows where he got it and damned if he knows how to use it.

PS. The 5 star reviews must be done by him because anyone with a 4th grade education should realize this doesn't work.