What's better - A safe 20 pips or potential larger moves?

Short and simple question What's better - safer 20 pips or attempts to catch larger moves?

I'm asking because I have a pretty good system based on japanese candlestick patterns & volume that gives me a few entries per day on each pair trading H1 timeframe. 2 trades per day with 20 pips TP gives me 12% profit risking 2% of my account... It's not difficult for me to catch a 20 pips trade, but I'm still thinking about catching larger TP levels (which are uncertain) - and this causes that I'm fighting with myself...


What would you choose in my situation?




Thanks for the help in advance

Keep doing what you're doing freakout, it's working great.

You could look back at your trades to see how chasing bigger moves would've affected your overall profitability if you'd like but I'd stick with your profitable method for your active trading.

I'm trading also H1 most of the time and when i see promissing trade, i close 50% of position in my 1st target then i leave other 50% to growing eventually. Usually don't move SL to BE in same time, because the price often goes for correction and then move in my favour.

Keep doing what you're doing and just adjust your position size

I'd take the 20 pips, shut down the PC and trade on the next day.

The question is simple, and the answer is rather simple as well. So simple, I'm surprised you even needed to come on here to ask the question. :-/

TradeDream suggested it, but only in hindsight. I'd say put the thinking into action.

The tools are there...discussed almost ENDLESSLY here and in other forums. Stop loss. Are you actually capping every trade at 20 pips? Can you not even notice the price sometimes moving up past that point yourself? Without coming on here and asking the question??

To me, that beggars belief in the light of the fact that you sound like you're successfully trading a good system and regularly capturing profitable moves.

To not even think you would just...even only sometimes...put on an SL at 5, 10 or 15 pips and see whether you get the trade past 20 and close it? Or add a trailing stop at those levels that moves at 5 pips a time? You really, REALLY didn't even think to consider this as an option yourself? I find this hard to believe.

Or is this just a re-framed question like "If I can do trades and make 20 pips, is that a good way to trade?"
...hmmm...

It's ALL uncertain. Your 'safe' 20 isn't certain (nor safe, by any means), certainly not any significantly more than the 21 pips or more where you "dare not tread". Go that extra inch...throw caution to the wind and leave off the TP or resist that powerful urge to close the trade at 20 pips. Dare...dare I say!

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However, even after saying all that - as others have said already - if what is working for you is really working, then stick with it, as that is a very good (and rare?) thing.

But feel free to step your toes in the water and let some of your trades move up and breathe. Stick in an SL and see what happens. If you can plant it at 20 pips profit once it shifts up to 40, then you really might see your profits increase noticeably.

Good luck.

Hi all
I always look to catch big moves with small risk i find that better for my own personality and weak heart but some are strong and have there way
It is all about your own self capibilties and needs
All have a nice day

thanks for the answers and suggestions I think that I will remain at the current trading style and I won't change anything 8 profitable trades per day with 15 pips SL and 20 pips TP give me almost 50% profit, so I will stay with what works

I say 20pips are good, do it one or two time everyday and you will be pretty fine!