What is "one unit?"?

Question

I've been reading card counting stuff for like Blackjack and stuff, and they all say to like, bet one unit when the count is this or bet two units. What is one unit equal to and what do they mean when they say that?

Answer 1

You are going to think this silly, but 'one unit' is your original bet. If you bet 'one' $5 chip...one 'unit' is a $5 chip. Hence forth, your original bet is a $25 chip...one 'unit' is a $25 chip.

It's whatever your original bet is. If you play a $5 table..or $25 table..unit = original bet. You can always go up or down, but the original amount that you started at, needs to always be remembered.

Answer 2

A unit is a betting amount.

Typically systems are based on a "base bet" of one unit. This unit may be the minimum amount you are allowed to bet at at table, or it may be a multiple of the minimum allwwed bet. It allows you to easily calculate what your next bet should be based on the card count.

Some systems will tell you to start at at least twice the table limit. You then raise your bet by units as the deck become favorable, and decrease your bets by units or half units as the deck becomes unfavorable.

For example, lets say you are playing at a $5 blackjack table.

You establish your Base Bet (One Unit) at $10.

The count becomes unfavorable, you reduce your bet by 1/2 unit, which puts you at the table minimum.

The count becomes favorable, you increase your base bet by 1/2 unit, or a full unit (or more) depending on how favorable.

The idea is to have fewer chips when you are more likely to lose, and more chips when you are more likely to win.

The reason some systems use half units, and a higher than the table minimum base bet is to try to disguise the fact that you are changing your bet because you are card counting. Half units in incremental raises are less detectable than sudden large raises. Card counting, while not illegal,  is frowned upon by the casinos.

Another method of winning at blackjack is called the Blackjack Betting Trigger. This system has been around for a while and does not use card counting to determine when to increase your bet, but a different strategy.

You can find out more here:

http://www.thedoverpro.com/blackjack.htm