April 2005:
Dealers Progressive Betting and
Texas Wipe Out

Dear Mark,
Could you please provide some information on the Five Level betting system? Paul G

The Five Level Betting System is based on a cyclic progression: 1, 2, 3, and then 5 units, then back to 1 unit. For example, for a $2 player, the betting levels would be $2, $4, $6, $10, and then back to $2. After your initial $2 wager, you would progress to the next level after each winning hand. When you lose a hand, you return to your original $2 wager. Additionally, when you win four hands in a row, you automatically return to your original $2 wager, hence, the 1, 2, 3, 5, and then back to 1 progression. The Five Level Progressive Betting System recognizes runs of luck, rewarding you when you experience a winning run, but not killing you when you are on a losing streak. For instance, say you lose your first four hands and then you win your next four. If you were betting an equal amount of $2 on each hand, you would be dead even after eight hands. But with a starting wager of $2 and using the Five Level Progressive Betting System, you would net $14. My favorite progressive betting method, somewhat different in that you don't automatically return to a single unit after your fourth win, goes like this: You set a predetermined percentage increase to follow any winning bet, and pull in your horns after losses. For example; I increase the bet that follows any winning bet by roughly 50%: When the first $2 bet wins, my next bet is $3. If that wins I'm off on the plus-50% gallop: $5, $7, $10, $15, $22 etc, until I lose, and then I drop back to the table minimum, in this case, $2. What I like best about any winning progressive method of betting, Paul, is that you can minimize your losses and usually protect your winnings