Staying disciplined after a big win
Losses get most of the attention, but big wins cause their own problems. It's common to feel invincible, raise position size, loosen the rules and give the gain back within days.
Has that happened to you? Tell us:
- what the win was, in R or as a percentage
- what you did differently in the trades that followed
- what rule, if any, you now follow after an unusually good day or week
Some traders keep size fixed for a set period after a large win; others simply stop for the day. Which works for you?
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A few rules traders describe for the days after an unusually good result.
- Fixed size for a set period. For example, no increase in position size for the next ten trades, regardless of results. Any change in size is decided at a weekly review, not after a win.
- Stop for the day after a target. If the day's result reaches a set level, such as +3R, the platform closes.
- Separate the process from the result. A big win from a trade that broke the plan gets recorded as a plan violation in the journal, not a success.
The reason this matters: after a large win, position sizes often creep up just as discipline relaxes, so an ordinary losing streak can take back the gain and more. Keeping risk fixed as a percentage of the account already grows position size gradually as the account grows.
For the maths behind it, see risk-reward, win rate and expectancy. Members, what's your rule after a great day?
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