what the f@!# is wrong with my trading?!

candletrader · Jul 30, 2002

Originally posted by uptik2000
.45 to .47
risk to reward

is that a typical ratio you use? seems kind of dangerous

Nothing wrong with 1:1... its more on the safe side than the dangerous side... with a good hit rate, you can make a darn decent living on 1:1....

ElCubano · Jul 30, 2002

Originally posted by candletrader

Nothing wrong with 1:1... its more on the safe side than the dangerous side...

seems like u just have to be very accurate...but ur profit targets are more likely to get hit...

T/A_Bo · Jul 30, 2002

It's just a lot more accurate. And you get nice win streaks. I had 8 in a row early this month, now sitting at 6 in a row. I get 60-70% winners at 1 to 1, and in a orderly market I'll target 2 to 1, and have 50% accuracy.

-Bo

Babak · Jul 31, 2002

Originally posted by dg2000
any time i had an R greater than -1, it was because of gaps or execution. once i enter a trade, i immediately entered my stop order. i really was disciplined, but some gaps and executions hurt me.

I apologize. I didn't mean to imply that you didn't have discipline. However, the basic thrust of my comments still applies.

A simple way to prevent gaps from hurting your R multiples is to only trade intra-day and not hold overnight (or atleast to reduce to half position for overnights). Go back and take out the large negative Rs (pretending you didn't have gaps) and see what you results you get.

BIGbrother · Jul 31, 2002

any time i had an R greater than -1, it was because of gaps or execution. once i enter a trade, i immediately entered my stop order. i really was disciplined, but some gaps and executions hurt me.

Appears at times that your R was too small. Bigger R but less shares may help you.

dg2000 · Jul 31, 2002

Originally posted by Babak
Go back and take out the large negative Rs (pretending you didn't have gaps) and see what you results you get.

i tried what you said. if all losing trades were limited to -1, the system expectancy changes from +.11% to +.57% per trade. i think my win rate is kind of poor..only 36.67%.

dg2000 · Jul 31, 2002

babak,

if you happen to track your trading like i do, would you mind telling me your expectancy and win rate? just so i have someone to compare myself to?

dg2000 · Jul 31, 2002

EVERYONE PLEASE BE HONEST! is my trading close to being on the right track? do i just need to make some small adjustments, or is my trading entirely wrong?

thanks

T/A_Bo · Jul 31, 2002

You have to get your win % up higher. If your controlling losses, and sticking to your plan, then the last componant is the actual edge and accuracy rate of that style. If your only taking wins in the 30%'s you need 3 to 1 risk to reward ratios in order to profit. Either wait till your get the reward that your risk demands, or look for ways to increase the hit rate.

Good Luck and Good Trading

-Bo Yoder

Gordon Gekko · Aug 1, 2002

Originally posted by dg2000
EVERYONE PLEASE BE HONEST! is my trading close to being on the right track? do i just need to make some small adjustments, or is my trading entirely wrong?

thanks

NEVER QUIT. if you do, that will just be the point at which you failed and successful traders pursued on. i know it isn't easy, but if you're serious, you must continue on until your goal is reached.