Leonard Benson Takes the Challenge for the POWER NUMBERS BLACKJACK System

[Ed. note: In the September '95 issue of Blackjack Forum, we published a letter that mathematician John Leib wrote to Leonard Benson, in which Leib offered to test the POWER NUMBERS BLACKJACK™ system, which Benson has been heavily promoting through newspaper advertisements all over the country. Leib told Benson he wanted to use Benson's money to test the non-card-counting system, and stated that he would publish his analysis and results in Blackjack Forum. This is Leib 's follow-up report. — Arnold Snyder]

The test of the POWER NUMBERS BLACKJACK™ system is ongoing as we speak. After the September issue of Blackjack Forum was distributed, I again wrote to Leonard Benson, noting the willingness of Blackjack Forum to print the results of extensive casino play in accordance with POWER NUMBERS BLACKJACK (or PNB™). He responded and, in conjunction with Dr. Morton Jacobs (inventor of PNB™ ), agreed to my proposal to casino-test PNB™ and report on the results.

One change, to allay Leonard's concern about short-run bad luck, was to extend the test period from 10 sessions to 25 sessions. I, too, felt this would give us a better handle on the true strengths and weaknesses of PNB™. But this meant more time, and the test cannot be completed in time for this issue.

I have, however, begun the testing process and data taking, and expect that the entire 25 sessions will be completed in time for the March '96 issue of Blackjack Forum.

I am, of course, sworn to secrecy about the particulars of PNB™; these you must purchase. I can tell you that PNB™ is different from any system I have seen before. It is an interesting approach which has some scientific basis. Whether it is a winner remains to be demonstrated. ♠