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What Is Risk per Trade Idea?

What Is Risk per Trade Idea?

Risk per trade idea refers to the maximum potential loss of all positions that belong to the same trade idea, calculated using stop-loss levels where provided or worst-case price exposure where no stop loss is set.

A trade idea includes:

  • A single instrument (e.g. only Gold), or
  • A group of correlated instruments (e.g. EUR/USD + GBP/USD)

All related positions are aggregated and treated as one trade idea, even if they are:

  • Opened at different times
  • Split into multiple entries
  • Using different lot sizes

Splitting trades does not reduce total risk.

 

What Is the Risk Limit?

At The Trading Pit, risk per trade idea is limited to:

Maximum risk: 1.5% of your initial account balance

This rule exists to ensure traders can survive losing trades and trade sustainably over the long term.

You can find the affected trades in your trading dashboard under the Trade List tab.

These limits apply at all times and are evaluated based on open positions, closed positions and real-time equity.

 

What Actions Do We Take?

Risk is monitored continuously in real time based on stop-loss levels and overall price exposure, including positions without stop losses:

  • Reminder
    Sent when risk reaches 1% per trade idea
  • First violation
    First warning + forced position closure
  • Second violation
    Account breach

Using no stop loss increases calculated risk and may trigger warnings or violations faster.

 

 

Example – Single Instrument (Gold)

A trader opens:

  • Buy 0.5 lots XAUUSD (risk $400)
  • Buy 0.3 lots XAUUSD (risk $350)
  • Buy 0.2 lots XAUUSD (risk $300)

All positions are combined and treated as one trade idea.

Total risk = $1,050
Risk must remain below 1.5% of the initial account balance.

 

Example – Correlated Instruments

A trader believes the USD will weaken and opens:

  • Buy EUR/USD
  • Buy GBP/USD
  • Sell USD/CHF

These trades are correlated and treated as one trade idea.

Combined risk across all positions must stay below 1.5%.

 

How Do I Calculate Risk?

Risk is calculated using your stop loss.

Formula (simplified):

Risk = Stop-Loss Distance (pips) × Pip Value × Lot Size

The total risk is the sum of risk from all positions within the same trade idea.

 

Example – Risk per Trade Idea (Correlated FX Instruments)

Scenario

A trader believes the US dollar will weaken and opens positions across multiple USD-related pairs.

Although different instruments are used, they are correlated and therefore treated as one trade idea.

 

 

 

Account & Risk Limits

  • Account balance: $100,000
  • Risk limit per trade idea: 1.5% → $1,500
  • Reminder level: 1% → $1,000

 

Trades Opened

Pair

Lot Size

Risk per Trade

EUR/USD

1.0 lot

$600

GBP/USD

0.8 lot

$500

 

Step 1 – Combined Risk (One Trade Idea)

Instrument

Risk

EUR/USD

$600

GBP/USD

$500

Total Risk

$1,100

Both trades express the same USD-weakness idea
They are aggregated into one trade idea

 

Step 2 – Rule Evaluation

  • Reminder level (1%): $1,000
  • Current risk: $1,100 (1.1%)

First reminder issued (risk exceeded 1%)

 

Step 3 – Violation Scenario

The trader adds another correlated position:

Pair

Risk

USD/CHF

$500

New total risk:
$1,100 + $500 = $1,600 (1.6%)

First violation
Automatic warning + position closure

If the trader repeats this behavior again:
Second violation → account breach

 

Why This Rule Exists

Risking too much on a single idea is not professional trading — it’s gambling.

Excessive risk leads to:

  • Large drawdowns
  • Emotional and impulsive decisions
  • Account failure

Professional trading is built on discipline, consistency and survival.