Learning notes
Short notes, one idea at a time.
Plain-language notes on the ideas beginners most often get wrong, with the maths shown. Each one takes a few minutes to read. They explain concepts; they are not trade signals or advice.
What is a pip, and how much is one worth?
A pip is the standard unit for measuring price moves in forex. Here is how to count pips, why yen pairs are different, and how to turn pips into money for any position size.
3 min read 02 · Position size · LeverageLots, units and leverage explained
How forex position sizes are written, what leverage really changes, and why margin is not the amount you can lose.
3 min read 03 · Costs · BasicsThe spread and the real cost of a trade
Every trade starts slightly negative. Here is why, how to put a number on it, and the other costs that sit on top of the spread.
3 min read 04 · Orders · BasicsMarket, limit and stop orders: what each one does
The main order types in plain language, how stop losses and take profits fit in, and why no order guarantees a price.
3 min read 05 · Stop loss · RiskStop loss placement basics
Where to put a stop loss so it means something, how stop distance and position size work together, and the habits that undo a good stop.
3 min read 06 · Risk:reward · RiskRisk:reward vs win rate: why you need both
A high win rate can lose money and a low one can make it. How risk:reward and win rate combine, with the break-even maths.
3 min read 07 · Risk · PsychologyWhy beginners blow up accounts: risk, not strategy
Accounts are rarely destroyed by one bad idea. They are destroyed by position size, leverage and behaviour after losses. Here is the maths and what to do instead.
3 min read 08 · Practice · PsychologyHow to use a demo account properly
A demo or simulator is only useful if you practise the right things. How to set one up realistically, what to measure, and its limits.
3 min read 09 · Planning · PsychologyBuilding a simple trading plan
A one-page plan makes decisions repeatable and reviewable. What to include, a template you can copy, and how to review it.
3 min read 10 · Getting startedHow much money do you need to start learning forex?
You can learn the concepts, the maths and the routine without depositing anything. What to learn first, and what to think about before ever funding an account.
2 min readEducation, not advice. Currency trading carries risk, and examples are illustrative. Read the risk disclaimer. Published 25 October 2026.