Rating: 
Summary: Not for every Black Jack Player
Review: After meticulously dealing 5,000 hands of blackjack and recording the results of three separate betting systems playing the same hands, and after several hundred thousand computer simulations comparing the three betting systems, flat, progressive, and card counting, the author admits he doesn't know why his system works, page 96. This is a very detailed book; Mr. Thomason makes a good argument for his system. Even if you skip over the numerous pages of charts and review the summaries you will be impressed by the amount of effort Mr. Thomason put into the research for this book. It is not a definitive study and in his conclusion, page 173, he admits this is only the "tip of the iceberg". He also admits much more research should be conducted to verify his findings and conclusions. This is not a how to book or for most blackjack players. Readers who enjoy a considerable amount of documentation will enjoy the book. This treatise will turn off readers searching for an easy to read blackjack book. Card counters will not enjoy the book or the results of his tests. Flat bettors eyes will be opened and should profit using this progressive system. I'm glad a bought it and will keep it in my gaming library. I will use some the information in the closing chapters when I return to Las Vegas later this year.
Rating: 
Summary: The name of the book says it all.
Review: An interesting book. The system works for me so far at my local casino which uses only continuous shuffling machines for 21, where cards dealt are immediately put back into the machine for continuous shuffling after every hand. The worst case scenario is that all casinos may one day use such machines, making card counting or shuffle tracking obsolete methods to beat the casinos in blackjack. A system like the one that's introduced in this book may be the only way to beat blackjack in the future, in the 21st century and beyond.
Rating: 
Summary: Best book on BJ for the non-counter
Review: As a recreational, basic strategy player, I had always tried to stay away from games utilizing more than 2 decks. Reason being that I almost never won when playing a 4 deck or more game. Mr. Thomason's system allowed me to play 6 deck games and walk away a winner in 7 of 10 sessions on my last trip to Vegas. His system makes no claim to being better than card counting even though it out performs the card counting method used in the book. In my past trips, playing as a flat bettor, overall I was probably even of just a little better. This last trip was significantly more profitable. Was it luck or the system? I think the system. This is a must read for the recreational player that does not have the time or desire to become a proficient card counter.
Rating: 
Summary: Dangerously inaccurate
Review: As other reviewers note, progression betting has been around a long time. It doesn't work. The data Mr. Thomason uses suffers from small samples and selection bias; other advice he gives reveals fundamental misunderstandings of basic mathematical concepts. Critiques of Mr. Thomason's work in public forums demonstrate that he simply doesn't understand the flaws in his methodology, and that makes this book dangerous to inexperienced players or those without the mathematical background to notice the errors in his reasoning. Someone might read this book and think they can safely gamble using the Thomason system, when in reality, they're playing a negative-expectation game that will lose money faster than flat-betting. Advice such as "Leave the table after losing four straight hands" makes no mathematical sense (cards have no memory, and losing four straight hands actually makes it infinitesmally more, not less, likely for the player to win the next hand); the only benefit it has is that a player will lose less money by following that advice and spending time walking around between tables than sitting at the same table and playing Walter's losing system. But one can save even more money by not buying this book at all. Try "Knockout Blackjack" or one of Ken Uston's books.
Rating:
Summary: For Every Blackjack Flat Bettor Tired of Losing Big
Review: Bravo Mr. Thomason for writing such a terrific book that actually uses real data and real simulations to show that a progressive system, while not necessarily better than card counting, is infinitely superior to flat betting. And bravo to Frank Scoblete, my favorite gambling writer, who has the guts to look into aspects of gaming that are derided by most other so-called authorities. I liked this book because it doesn't make inflated promises and it is for players such as myself who have tried to count cards but found that I couldn't bring myself to escalate my bets into the stratosphere when the counts called for them. Thomason's progressive system is a slow, steady and manageable way to play this game. Once again, bravo, Mr. Thomason.
Rating:
Summary: worth a read to see the other side.
Review: First let me say to my friends that know me as a guy that generally reviews books and movies from a family oriented point of view.. legal gambling is neither a sin nor a misdemenor in my church, especially since I haven't lost the house doing it. I only do legal gambling, in fact, I only play table games, mostly blackjack.Now the review - There are those your laugh at people who advocate betting up as one enters a winning streak, known as progressive betting. I am just a salesman who occasionally likes to play blackjack. BUT I don't really like to lose. I used to set a specific sum asside that represented the lose limit for my wife and I. And we often went home having lost our limit. OK, that is the cost for having enjoyed ourselves. Well, I'd much rather go home even or ahead. I have tested much of what this book teaches over the last 2 1/2 years. I started with a modest $300 worth of deposits to my gambling fund. I started a diary. I have gone on 12 trips that included a casino and have played 42 days, with 1 to 4 play sessions each day, but it is about 100 play sessions. The sessions seldom exceed 2 hours each because I employ max win and loss goals. I pay all tips to dealers or waitresses who brings me juice and water, from winnings. I only play $5 tables on rare occasions I play a $10 table if that is all there is. Bottom line is that the $300.00 is currently at $271.00. You could say that I have drank a lot of cranberry, orange and tomato juice and gotten over 30 buffets for $29.00. We go to mississippi a lot and its pretty easy to get a room for 24.99. If not, we take the motor home and pay $22 to $33 per night. We have also gotten compted for Kids Quest at Grand Casino. My total also includes the fact that i have lost $210.00 playing non-blackjack table games, otherwise i would have been ahead. But these temptations are part of the casino and can't be ignored. Biloxi, Ms isn't Myrtle Beach, the Dells or Disney World but it does have fun stuff for the kids.
Do I recommend this book? YES!!!
Rating:
Summary: Pay attention
Review: I am a recreational 21 player who is making the move to more serious play. I have read over 15 books about counting and alternative strategies. I've tried a few of the more controversial methods and counts and had overall success with most. Please pay close attention to the Money Management section of the book. The system works well BUT NOT IF YOU DON"T HAVE THE MONEY TO RIDE THE UPS AND DOWNS. This is a fun, low-stress strategy that can pay dividends if you stick to the math not the emotions. Also try Mannarino's Gregorian Strategy for an eye-opening experience.
Rating:
Summary: Winning Method
Review: I got this book and went to the casino and it really works. I have won much money at blackjack now because of Mr. Thomason and I just want to say thank you, sir, for allowing me to win!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: I have been reading Walter Thomason's articles in the great gambling magazine The New Chance and Circumstance and I have always enjoyed what he has to say. I have always been cynical of progressive betting systems in general but this book had gotten such good publicity that I decided to read it. I'm glad I did. I have been playing basic strategy at blackjack for 20 years but I could never count cards as it gave me a headache. This four step progression of Mr. Thomason (used with his quit point strategy) has worked for me in my last 15 trips to Las Vegas. It is a much better way to play than just flat betting or increasing ones bet on a whim.
Rating:
Summary: The Real World IS Different
Review: I just finished putting into practice the four step method that Walter Thomason explains in this book. I had great success with it. The book is very good. It is well written and explains in detail exactly what basic strategy players should do to get a better edge at the game. I think that real world blackjack is different from the computer world. The dealers I played with never thoroughly shuffled the cards and there were wild streaks on all shoes. When the streaks were going against me, I was usually at my lowest bet but when the streaks were going with me I had maximum money out. Thomason's system made a lot of sense when I saw it in action in a real casino.
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