How units work
You set one unit to a small slice of your bankroll, commonly 1 percent. On a $2,000 bankroll a unit is $20. A standard play is one unit, a stronger play might be two units, and you rarely go beyond three. Because the size is tied to the bankroll, your bets scale down automatically after losses and up after wins.
Why bettors track in units
Units make records honest and comparable. "Up 40 units on the year" means the same thing whether someone bets $10 or $1,000 a unit. It also strips ego out of sizing: instead of chasing a loss with a huge bet, you stick to one or two units and let the edge play out over a large sample.
Setting your unit size
Most disciplined bettors use 1 to 2 percent of bankroll per unit. Smaller units survive variance longer; larger units grow faster but bust faster. Whatever you choose, keep it fixed and only recalculate occasionally, not after every win or loss. Consistent sizing is what separates a bankroll strategy from gambling.
Frequently asked questions
How much is one unit?
Whatever you set it to, usually 1 percent of your bankroll. On a $1,000 bankroll that is $10 per unit.
How many units should I bet per play?
One unit is standard. Reserve two or three units for your highest-conviction plays and avoid going higher, no matter how sure you feel.
Related terms
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