Going cold turkey is the only way I can manage to stop (not forever, though, I have my relapses once in a while, every three or four years on average). When I go cold turkey, I will suffer about two or three days, then all it takes is to remind myself that no, I am quitting, so buying a pack won't do. By reducing the no. of cigarettes over a period of time, all I accomplish is that I will crave more for weeks on end, and the fight to finally stop altogether will be just as hard as on day one. Just my experience, ymmv.