First time in the terminal: what confused you most?
The MetaTrader terminal shows balance, equity, margin, free margin and margin level — five numbers that overlap confusingly. Most beginners stare at it for weeks without knowing which one to watch.
What confused you?
- the number you misunderstood at first
- how you eventually learned the difference
- which one you check before opening a trade now
The leverage and margin guide defines each number with worked examples.
Background: How to use leverage responsibly: sizing for survival
Leverage multiplies both the gains and the losses, and the account usually learns this before the trader does. Here is how offered leverage differs from used leverage, and how to set yours so a bad week stays a bad week.
How much leverage should a beginner use?
Far less than the broker offers. What matters is used leverage — the position size relative to the account — and beginners should risk about 1% per trade, which usually means micro or mini lots at most.
What is the difference between offered and used leverage?
Offered leverage is the account's maximum, set by the broker and the regulator. Used leverage is what your open positions actually employ. The second number decides whether a move against you is survivable.
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