Why I Started Counting Trades
In the summer of 2019, I traded gold 3 to 5 times a day for three consecutive weeks, totaling 15-16 trades a week. During those three weeks, my account dropped from $8,200 to $5,100. It wasn't that every trade lost, but commissions and spreads ate a big chunk, plus a few impulsive trades, and the equity just kept sliding. I remember staring at the screen, the London session had just opened, gold was oscillating around 1410, and I couldn't resist entering another 0.5 lot with a $3 stop loss. A single 15-minute bullish candle took me out. That day I made 7 trades, lost 4, netting a $180 loss. During my evening review, it hit me: I couldn't even remember the reason for each entry.
From then on, I started recording my weekly trade count and comparing it with my P&L. Over three years, the sample size grew, and I gradually figured out my own limit.
More Than 8 Trades Is Basically Working for the Broker
My tracking is simple: every Monday morning I note the starting equity, Friday close I note the ending equity, and count how many trades I opened that week (including stop-outs and take-profits). From 2021 to 2023, I recorded 132 weeks. Among them, 31 weeks had more than 8 trades, and only 9 of those were profitable—a 29% win rate. In contrast, 58 weeks had 3 to 5 trades, with 36 profitable—a 62% win rate.
The numbers are clear. Over 8 trades, my judgment noticeably deteriorates, especially on Wednesday and Thursday, because the previous days' P&L affects my mindset. For example, one week in March this year, gold ranged between 2150 and 2180. I made 2 trades on Monday, one win one loss; 3 trades on Tuesday, two wins one loss. By Wednesday I felt I was in the zone and made 5 trades in a day—3 hit stop loss, each with a $4 stop, 0.3 lots, losing $360. On Thursday I rushed to recover, made 4 trades, lost another $200. That week totaled 14 trades, net loss $520. Friday night I reviewed my records and found that 3 of those 5 trades on Wednesday were entered without a clear signal on the 15-minute chart—pure itchy hands.
So for me, more than 8 trades a week is too many. It's not an absolute number, but at my pace, 8 is the rational boundary.
My Current Trade Count Control Method
Now I allow myself a maximum of 6 trades per week, usually 4 to 5. Specifically:
Monday to Tuesday, I only trade the first hour after the London open, max 2 trades. These two must meet one condition: the 4-hour chart shows clear support or resistance, and the 15-minute chart shows an engulfing or pin bar. Stop loss distance is controlled at 3 to 5 dollars, lot size 0.2 to 0.3. If both trades on Monday hit stop loss, I don't trade on Tuesday and wait until Wednesday.
Wednesday to Thursday, if the previous two days were profitable, I trade normally but no more than 2 trades per day. If the previous two days were losing, I only take 1 trade on Wednesday with half the lot size. Thursday evening during the US session, I usually don't trade because of Friday's NFP or weekend closing risk.
Friday, I basically don't take new trades unless there's a very clear daily-level signal, and only 0.1 lot.
So a normal week is 4 to 6 trades. If I exceed 6, I force myself to close the platform and go to the gym or read a book.
More Trades Doesn't Mean More Opportunities
Many people think gold is volatile and there are opportunities every day. After ten years, the truth is: opportunities that truly fit my system only come three to five times a week. The rest is noise. For example, last month there was a week when gold rose from 2320 to 2350, looking like there was action every day, but I only made 3 trades: went long at 2325 on Monday with a stop at 2318, added once at 2338 on Wednesday, and closed at 2345 on Friday. Three trades made $420. Most of that week I was observing because the 4-hour chart was above the moving averages but without a pullback confirmation, and I didn't want to chase.
Conversely, if I make more than 10 trades in a week, I usually find I'm频繁试错, each stop loss not big, but cumulatively significant. 0.2 lots, $4 stop, one trade loses $80, 10 trades is $800. Over a month, stop losses alone eat a lot.
So my conclusion: more than 8 trades a week is too many, under 6 is comfortable, 4 to 5 is my current norm. This isn't exact science, but it works for me. Everyone's system is different; you can record for a few weeks and see the relationship between trade count and P&L to find your own limit.
One last thing: don't use trade count as a measure of effort. The gold market doesn't lack opportunities; it lacks the patience to wait for them.