Glossary · Risk & money management

Win rate

The percentage of trades that close in profit. On its own it says little. A 40% win rate can be very profitable with large winners, and an 80% win rate can lose money.

In practice

Two strategies: A wins 70% of the time but its average loss is three times its average win; B wins 40% with wins twice the size of losses. B makes money and A loses it.

Common mistake

Choosing a signal provider by win rate alone. Without average win and average loss, the number tells you nothing about profitability.

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