Pyramid Trading Strategy (Double Your Profit Potential)

by Justin Bennett  · 

January 12, 2022

by Justin Bennett  · 

January 12, 2022

by Justin Bennett  · 

January 12, 2022


The Forex pyramid trading strategy you’re about to learn will greatly increase your chances of making consistent returns as a Forex trader. It can literally double or even triple your profits on a single trade.

But as profitable as pyramid trading can be, it can be just as damaging if used improperly. Which is why I wanted to take some time today to walk you through exactly how I use this strategy to double my profit potential.

By the end of this lesson, you will understand the pyramid strategy inside and out. You will be familiar with the dynamics behind the strategy as well as the mechanics that make it so profitable. But most importantly, you will know how to double or even triple your profits on a single trade.

Before we get into the technical side of things, it’s important to first understand the basics of pyramiding.

What is Pyramid Trading?

Pyramid trading is a strategy that involves scaling into a winning position. In other words, strategically buying or selling in order to add to an existing position after the market makes an extended move in the intended direction.

When you’re right – you need to be really right, and when you’re wrong – you need to be a little wrong. This has to be your mentality if you ever wish to become a consistently profitable Forex trader.

Pyramid trading fits perfectly into this mentality because it compounds your winning trades into two or three times the initial profit potential while reducing your overall exposure.

Therein lies the best part about pyramid trading – if done properly, you aren’t exposing yourself to any additional risk. In fact, you are actually mitigating your risk as the trade moves in your direction.

The illustration below shows the basic idea behind pyramiding.

illustration of pyramid trading

The illustration above shows a market that’s in a clear uptrend, making higher highs and higher lows. This is a nice “stair step” pattern where the market is continually breaking resistance and then retesting that resistance as new support. Market conditions such as this are ideal for scaling into a winning trade.

The initial buy order in the illustration above is triggered when the market retests former resistance as new support. The second and third buy orders are similar to the first, which are both triggered when the market retests a former resistance level as new support.

Keep in mind that the market has to break through each level and then show signs of holding in order to justify adding to the original position. This is why having a strong trend in place is a requirement for effective pyramiding.

Now that you understand the basics of pyramiding, let’s get into the mechanics behind pyramid trading as a strategy.

Forex Pyramid Strategy: How to Double or Even Triple Your Trading Profits

The key to successful pyramiding is to always maintain a proper risk to reward ratio, which says that your risk can never be greater than half the potential reward. So if your profit target is 200 pips, your stop loss must be no greater than 100 pips. This achieves a 1:2 risk to reward ratio, also known as “2R”.

Let’s take a look at another illustration, only this time we’re going to apply position sizing and a proper stop loss strategy.

forex pyramid trading strategy with position sizing and stop losses

Using a hypothetical $20,000 account, we would buy 40,000 units (4 mini lots) on a retest of each key level. The profit target for each position is varied, while the stop loss for each new position is 100 pips.

Let’s run through this example starting with the initial buy of 40,000 units. For example purposes, we’re going to assume that the market represented above is in a strong uptrend, so momentum is on our side.

  1. The market breaks through a level of resistance, and upon retesting the level as new support you notice a bullish pin bar, so you buy 40,000 units (2% risk)
  2. You decide you’re going to let this trade run because again, you’re trading a market that’s in a strong uptrend
  3. The market breaks through the second resistance level and again retests it as new support
  4. You notice the market holding above the new support level so you decide to buy 40,000 additional units and trail your stop loss behind the second position
  5. Once more, the market breaks through a key level and retests it as new support
  6. Seeing the continued strength, you decide to buy another 40,000 units and trail your stop once more behind the third position

That’s a lot of buying! At this point you have built up a fairly large position size of 120,000 units at risk. Or is it? The total position size is in fact 120,000 units, but how much of that is actually at risk?

Nothing! In fact by the time you add the third position of 40,000, the worst case scenario is that you make a 6% profit.

What’s the profit potential if the market travels another 200 pips after buying the third block of 40,000 units?

A massive 24% profit.

How’s that possible, you ask?

Let’s crunch some numbers to find out.

The Mechanics Behind Pyramid Trading

Now that you have a good understanding of the dynamics behind pyramiding, let’s dig a little deeper and find out why it’s such a profitable strategy.

The illustration below shows the previous example, only this time we’re including the profit potential along with the risk profile of each entry.

the mechanics behind pyramid trading

This is where the real magic happens. Notice how the profit potential for each additional position is compounded throughout the trade, while the risk is continually mitigated.

The initial entry would have resulted in a 12% profit, which is considerable on its own. However, by pyramiding, we were able to double the profit on the same trade while reducing our overall exposure.

Let’s take a look at the best and worst-case scenarios for each step of this trade.

First block of 40,000 units

Worst case: 2% loss

Best case: 12% profit

Second block of 40,000 units

Worst case scenario: Break-even (+2% from the first block and -2% from the second)

Best case scenario: 20% profit (+12% from the first block and +8% from the second)

Third and final block of 40,000 units

Worst case scenario: 6% profit (+6% from the first block, +2% from the second and -2% from the third)

Best case scenario: 24% profit (+12% from the first block, +8% from the second and +4% from the third)

As you can see from the figures above, the worst case scenario at any point in the trade is a 2% loss, while the best case scenario is a 24% profit. This makes pyramid trading not only extremely profitable but vastly more favorable compared to most other trading strategies out there.

Conclusion

Pyramid trading can be an extremely advantageous way to compound your profits on a winning trade. However, it isn’t without caveats and it shouldn’t be used excessively. If you find yourself trying to scale into more than one trade per month, there’s a good chance that you aren’t being selective enough about which trades to scale into.

Knowing when to use pyramiding takes a great deal of practice, just as the proper execution takes no small amount of planning. But the potential profit is well worth the time and effort.

Last but not least, don’t get greedy. It’s far too easy to fall into the trap of thinking that the market isn’t going to reverse on you. Remember, markets ebb and flow. Even the strongest trends experience pullbacks to the mean.

Have an exit plan outlined before entering the first trade in a series.

This allows you to define your plan while in a neutral state of mind. If you wait until you’re in a trade before defining an exit plan, there’s a good chance your emotions will get the best of you.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when using the pyramid trading strategy.

  • Only use the pyramid strategy in a strong, trending market
  • Always define your support and resistance levels before entering the trade (plan your trade and trade your plan)
  • Know your exit plan of where you want to book profits before entering the first trade
  • Maintain a proper risk to reward ratio at all times
  • Trail your stop loss behind each new position in order to mitigate your exposure
  • Keep things simple by using the same position size for each block of buying or selling
  • Don’t get greedy – stick to your plan no matter what

Above all else, just remember to use pyramiding sparingly. This isn’t a technique you want to use on every trade or even every other trade.

But if you can catch just three or four pyramided trades per year, you’re looking at a profit potential of 60% to 80% from a mere handful of trades. Combine that with the fact that you’re only risking 2% each time, and you have a strategy that is as favorable as it is profitable.

Your Turn

Do you currently scale into winning trades using something similar to the pyramid strategy covered in this lesson? If not, do you think pyramiding is something you will use for future trades?

Leave your answer in the comments section below.


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45  Comments

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  1. Since you’ve closed the comments to your risk/reward article, I’ll comment here since you linked to it. I’d like to see you revisit that article after doing some Monte-carlo simulations which will show that trader B with a 1:1 risk reward is actually the far more favorable option, will likely win much more, and have far better draw down characteristics. The scenarios you ran through are unrealistic and the math is incorrect, or I should say overly simplistic to the point of being misleading, because it doesn’t account for randomness when position sizing is a percentage of the account rather than a fixed $100 bet.

    As you increase R:R, you win rate decreases and your loss rate increases and your possible outcomes, when randomness are factored in, get terrible. At the very least, one must consider the best and worse case scenarios to get an idea of the range or possible equity curves. Say you win 50 out of 100 trades. Figure out the equity curve of the best case, all the wins first then all the losses in that order, and the worst case, all the losses first and then all the wins. Both scenarios betting 2% of the account with a 1:2 risk reward; this should make clear that the order of wins and losses which is completely random matters a great deal with any R:R over 1:1 which in the end makes your result subject to massive luck. Do the same with 1:1 and you’ll see it’s the better approach.

  2. Wow, did you really just delete my comment about risk reward? I’ve always found you very reasonable and love your articles, can’t believe you’d just do that.

      1. OK, that’s a valid reason, however, would you mind addressing the comment or re-opening the comments on the risk reward article; I find it an interesting place where retail traders follow myths instead of math. Math says 1:1 is better than 1:2.

        1. I dont think so. Your math is only based to the possibility that the market moves in your favor, but what about the percentage that it may move against your favor? Let’s say you take 20 trades with 50% chance market moves in your favor and 50% chance of market moving against your favor. With the first 50%, you have 1R guaranteed losses already, but what about the other 50%??? Would you just really take 1R for it?? Do your MATH dude. The reason why 1:2 is doable is to “compensate” the losses due to the other have. Now you may ask why Im using 50%-50%, im being conservative in my projections. Youre 1:1 is mathematically INCORRECT.

  3. Not yet. But I will after reading this most useful explanation.
    Great advice Justin.
    I get it, it must be used regarding the big picture. Like a Head and Shoulders pattern appears on a high TF like weekly or daily and the TP Target is far enough to add positions in between..

  4. Well written Justin, but I have only one issue with this which is the first position’s profit is not protected. I’ll explain how I pyramid my trade.
    I initially define my risk say $100 for example. I divide it into 2 trades which is $50 risk per trade. I take the 2 trades at the same price as my first trade and let one of them run to 3x my risk which gives me $150 and leave the other open to catch larger move. After this, I wait to see if there’s going to be any chance to take the 2nd trade for me to now pyramid, risking from the market’s money ($150 already keyed in). On the second trade, I risk $100 out of the $150 initially gained and move my SL to the new higher low if i’m buying or Lower high if otherwise. By so doing, I pyramid by using the market’s money. Pls pardon my English. Good to know you website. Thanks

  5. Hi Justin,

    Thank you for another great article. I had a question to run by you regarding pyramiding with EMA’s. I’ve become very interested in scaling back the number of trades I make a month and trying to catch a handful of really good winners, thus the idea of pyramiding a position really intrigues me. On that same note, I have noticed that in addition to Support and Resistance levels (like you) I am a big believer in the 10/20 EMA levels for strongly trending pairs. I was curious if you have ever experimented in pyramiding a trade according to pullbacks to the 10/20 EMA rather than key S/R levels and what your over all thoughts are on a strategy like this?

    Thanks again and have a great weekend!
    Sal

  6. Hi Justin, thanks for the tip! I was wondering, how did you calculate 2% for the risk? I understand the “R”s part from your risk/reward ratio article but I’m not sure about the 2% part. I initially thought it would be 1% instead because of a 1:2 ratio? Would you be able to clarify?

    1. 2% is the recommendation risk percentage on your balance or equity, said for your balance is $2,000, your 2% risk mean $40 risk for the trade.
      1:2 is risk:reward ration, it means every $1 of risk, you expect $2 of reward, so when you risk 2%, you have a chance to gain 4%, $40 for $80.

      Or, in other language, we also said 2R, 3R, 4R, means the profit of the trade are 2xRisk, 3xRisk, 4xRisk

      Based on the risk percentage, you calculate the risk dollars, every pips have dollars value, divide the risk dollars to pips value, you have the volume to enter the trade. That the concept and meaning behind the risk percentage and R:R

      1. I tend to disagree that 2% is recommended. By who? The recommended risk per trade is whatever one is comfortable risking. Maybe that’s 2%, or perhaps it’s 0.5%, but there isn’t a one-size-fits-all percentage.

  7. Great, but how can we compare with the sentiments in the news,. As a beginner am having problem of locating ,y take profit, stop loss etc.

  8. Hi Justin
    Nice job so far

    Please I have hardly hear you mention about forex tester in gaining strategy competence. Is their reason for This?
    Also how can one backtest chart Partterns

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  10. Great article Justin just one issue I have…
    1. At what stage do you realize that the currency is trending?
    2. Do you have a measurement from which to gauge?
    3. Do you have a proffered time-frame on which to work.
    I prefer to watch my trades working as it is when you are asleep it tends to do it’s own thing and invariably stops me out.

  11. Me hubiera gustado, que explicaras las diferentes formas de piramide, me interezaría saber si conocen algun programador, intente hacer algo parecido, pero el programador se me quedo con la idea, y no he sabido de él, gracias

  12. Thank you, Justin, for your very clear explanation. However, I don’t see the advantage of pyramiding if what seems to be a better or equally good setup presents itself elsewhere. Allow me to explain.

    In your last illustration, you have a 12% profit from the first entry plus an 8% entry after the second. On each trade, you risk 2% for a total 20% gain.

    Now suppose I take the first trade with a 2% risk and gain 12%, and find an equally strong entry elsewhere and take that trade for a 2% risk and a 12% gain instead of 8%. (After all, with your first pyramid, the trend is already partially played out, whereas on a fresh trade elsewhere, the trend is more likely closer to its origin.) Here, each trade also has a 2% risk, but a potential 24% gain instead of 20%.

    With this in mind, why should I not consider pyramiding as only one possibility among two or more potential trades? If I am not seeing something, please explain what it is.

    Thank you.

  13. Hi Justin,

    Interesting article. I’ve been following your setup for few months already and starting to apply your teaching in my tradings. I’ve read this article, and it is an interesting approach to optimize the trade in strong trend market condition.
    Couple questions arise;
    1. with regards to have exit plan before even placing the 1st trade. Normally we will have target 1,2,3.. based on the key level drawn. if I plan to pyramid my position, where should I target for the TP?
    2. in your conclusion, you mention about keeping it simple by having the same position size, but if we keep same position size, the value of risk (in USD) will be different right. for instance, in 1st position, I enter a trade on bullish engulfing signal, and my SL as per engulfing strategy is 50p. Come second opportunity, I enter trade on pinbar signal that have 100p SL to the tail. If I keep the same position size, I’m doubling my risk, isn’t? i think it still better to calculate the position size based on the risk value, and keeping the same risk value at every layer of position.

    appreciate your reply. thanks

  14. Great article, with Fxcm you can’t scale in, you have to take a new trade then you will have 2 stop losses, is that correct? You can scale out with them , thank you

  15. The best case scenario is not 24% profit because you are entering three times. The profit is rather 8%, averaged over three entries.

  16. I am a firm believer in pyramiding up into a winning position. By far the most profitable trades I’ve ever had used this technique with one in particular resulting in a 10x. My main difference from the article is I buy more on new highs rather than pullbacks. My reasoning is if something is trending really strongly up a pullback isn’t strictly guaranteed. You can miss the entire trade waiting. However, if something is strongly moving up you are by necessity going to get new highs.

  17. Hi Thanks for this lesson great to see and understand the math behind the strategy , I do scale in but didnt understand the potential in it I will practice more Thanks

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