Every successful Forex trader uses a specific strategy (or strategies) to win more often than he or she loses. Having a strategy makes the difference between a dabbling Forex amateur and a savvy trader. And while all Forex trading strategies are different, the successful ones usually have several things in common.



1. A Thorough Understanding of the Strategy

Sounds pretty basic, right? After all, how can you use a strategy that you don't understand?

But many unsuccessful traders don't follow this very basic step-- especially when using somebody else's trading strategy. They simple follow the rules they were given for a particular strategy with no real understanding of why it works. But if you don't have a thorough understanding of how the system you're using works, you have no reason to have confidence in the system and may not be able to stick to it.

2. Central Simplicity

The fact that simpler Forex strategies work better is a little counter-intuitive. It's logical to think that more complex and effortful a strategy is, the more effective it will be-- and the more money you'll make. But this generally isn't true. Simpler strategies work well for a number of reasons. For one, they focus your efforts like a well-honed blade, keeping you focused on the most important areas of a trade. A simpler strategy is also more resilient when the market gets difficult. And with less steps and requirements for a trade, less is the chance that you will make a crucial mistake.

3. Predefined Loss and Gain Limits

This is probably the biggest one. It's key that you use a trading strategy that sets limits for loss and goals for gain before ever making a trade. This way, if a trade starts going wrong and you begin losing, you know not to get out until you reach a pre-defined loss marker.

Not deciding on a time to get out loss marker is the number one mistake that novices make. They start a trade with no idea of how much they're willing to lose, and when the trade goes bad, they panic. Emotions get in the way, and they bail out of a potentially profitable trade not long before it turns.

If you don't have a good trading strategy with clear limits, emotions also get in the way when you're winning instead of losing. The first thing you feel when you see a currency you've purchased go up? Greed, of course. You want to sail the wave to the top of the rise, and get off just before it goes down. Sounds perfect, right?

But no Forex trader is psychic (let's hope not, anyway), and there's no real way to tell when a great trade will start going sour. That's why it's important to use a Forex strategy with a pre-defined profit goal. When you've reached your profit goal for that trade, you need to have the self-discipline to get out.