The throughput of conventional ARQ protocols, such as the stop-and-wait, go-back-TV, and selective repeat, can be improved by dynamically adapting the protocol block length so that it approaches the optimum value for varying channel bit error rates. A very simple algorithm to implement such an adaptive scheme is presented here. The algorithm assumes a known block error rate, estimates the bit error rate and determines the best block length. Results of a simulation study show that in spite of its simplicity, the algorithm performs remarkably well. © 1990 IEEE