If I open 2 large opposite trades, will it affect available margin?

If I opened 2 large buy and sell trades for same currency.

Will available margin decrease??

I know I can test on Demo , but I am afraid to get a margin call while there is a small DD.

that is called hedging.... I think it depends on the platform / broker but I know when I hedge my required margin goes to 0 leaving more useable margin in the account.

Since your only demo trading why not try it and see

It depends on platform/broker and probably the size of the trade too. I'd say most brokers look at each trade separately so even if they were perfectly opposite your available margin would decrease with each trade. Large clients who can explain their hedges to their brokers can probably offset the margin requirements, but I don't think this would be the norm especially for small accounts with internet brokers.

Would your trade work as a OCO?
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/...#axzz1WaeaEzwa

Some brokers don't allow you to hedge.


With some brokers your positions are all aggregated, so two opposite trades of the same size will close the position.

It depends at broker .. try it with small positions and you will see