Jerry Patterson

[SPX]

Opinions? Just curious what everyone thinks about him.

I understand he's a controversial figure, but from what I've read he's made some significant contributions to the game.

[Sonny]

http://www.blackjackforumonline.com/.../offtarget.htm
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homep...e21/TARGET.htm

-Sonny-

[shadroch]

My understanding is that JP was once a very repected member of the BJ community but started to market a system that couldn't be supported by anything but his word.His insistance on trying to sell this system put him on the outs.

[SPX]

Originally Posted by Sonny

http://www.blackjackforumonline.com/.../offtarget.htm
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homep...e21/TARGET.htm

-Sonny-

Yeah, I've heard that before. So why would a smart guy like Patterson abandon counting if he didn't at least believe that there was merit to Target 21? I assume he has seen significant results to go to such lengths.

[shadroch]

Think Annakin Skywalker and you'll figure it out.

[moo321]

There's good money in selling systems. He probably still counts cards.

[Automatic Monkey]

Originally Posted by SPX

Yeah, I've heard that before. So why would a smart guy like Patterson abandon counting if he didn't at least believe that there was merit to Target 21? I assume he has seen significant results to go to such lengths.

Well let's put it this way. I could write a blackjack book. It would be based on sound mathematics and emphasize the importance of game selection, adequate spreads and diligent habits at the table. It would give a realistic picture of what a player can expect from the game. This bokk would be much like a dozen or so BJ books out there, all of them saying basically the same thing, and it would be marketed to people who are rational and careful with money as card counters tend to be.

Or I could write a blackjack book based on gambling superstition. It would be easy to understand for any English-literate adult. It would require little work or memorization, promise exorbitant profits in return, and would be marketed to the compulsive and impulsive who typically frequent casinos hoping for riches.

Which book do you think would make more money for the author?

[Kasi]

Originally Posted by SPX

I understand he's a controversial figure, but from what I've read he's almost made some significant contributions to the game.

Almost? Sounds like he hasn't.

It's so easy to design a betting system that will win x units y% of the time.

And his is only 80% winning sessions after a quick glance? That's low.

I just don't understand why anyone would actually pay for it since it's so easy to do.

But I have no problem with people using it, or other systems like it, to increase the chances of a winning session.

For a guy going to Vegas on his once-in-a-lifetime vacation who doesn't know crap with $10,000 and wants to win $1000, and will quit when he does, why not use a system that will achieve that goal 90% of the time if he doesn't care about losing the 10K 10% of the time?

If that's his goal, let's face it, it won't happen at $10/hd.

[SPX]

Sounds like the debate is over whether Patterson believes in his system and is an honest guy or is just trying to make a buck. Snyder, in his article, seems to believe the former. Who knows.

[Automatic Monkey]

Originally Posted by SPX

Sounds like the debate is over whether Patterson believes in his system and is an honest guy or is just trying to make a buck. Snyder, in his article, seems to believe the former. Who knows.

Snyder's article was written in 1983. If Patterson is still selling TARGET, it's unlikely he still hasn't figured out after 24 years that it's NFG. There is not even one legitimate BJ researcher or author who supports it.

Sad, but advantage play and the very idea of making money in casinos is always going to be attractive to people with low moral standards. I trust people I encounter in casinos less than a random person I meet out on the street.