Trade management: stops, targets and partial exits

Size comes from risk

Decide how much you are willing to lose (for example 0.5-1% of the account), then calculate the lots from the stop distance. You will find the method and a calculator in the dedicated position size guide.

Exits

• Partial exit at the first target (for example close 50%) to reduce emotional risk
• Stop to breakeven after the first target: you protect capital but risk being stopped out before the real move
• Trailing stop below subsequent swings: you let profits run but give back part of the gain

There is no perfect exit

Moving the stop to breakeven too early reduces the win rate. Never moving it increases breakevens that turn into losses. Choose a rule, test it on at least 50 trades and don't change it midway.

Daily and weekly risk

• Maximum daily loss (for example 2%): once reached, you stop
• Maximum number of trades per day (for example 2 or 3)
• Maximum weekly loss, beyond which you take a break and review your journal

Exercise

• Write your management rules on a sheet: size, stop, target, partials and limits
• Print it and keep it in front of you while you trade