The Novice Path

Learning the ropes, in order

Pick your market and climb: Learn the Language → Size the Risk → Decode the Firms. Not sure which market? Start on the Bridge.

Futures track

Ticks, contracts and margin — from "what's a tick worth?" to sizing minis and micros against a daily loss limit.

Ticks and Points: The Futures Trader's Guide

Tick size, tick value and the multiplier — the three numbers that turn any futures stop into an exact dollar figure before you place the trade.

MES vs ES: Which Should a Beginner (or Prop Trader) Actually Trade?

MES is one-tenth of ES, same market, a tenth of the risk. What that means in dollars, and why it matters more for passing a prop evaluation than any broker will tell you.

MNQ vs NQ: The Nasdaq Contract That Won't Blow Your Evaluation

MNQ is one-tenth of NQ on the same Nasdaq-100 index. Why the Nasdaq's speed makes the micro even more important than on the S&P, with the dollar maths and the prop-firm angle.

MGC vs GC: How to Trade Gold Futures Without Overpaying for the Lesson

Micro Gold (MGC) is one-tenth of full Gold (GC) on the same metal. The tick maths that catches people out, plus where gold futures sit next to spot XAU/USD, with worked dollar examples.

MCL vs CL: The Crude Oil Tick Trap That Ambushes Index Traders

Micro Crude (MCL) is one-tenth of full Crude (CL) on the same oil price. Why crude's 100-ticks-per-dollar maths blindsides traders from indices, with the dollar examples and prop-firm angle.

Futures Rollover Explained: Why Your Chart Gapped and What 'Front Month' Means

Every futures contract expires. Most beginners find out the hard way, a chart that gaps overnight or a position that vanishes. What rollover is, when it happens, and the prop-firm traps around it.
Forex track

Pips, lots and leverage — the same rope, in the forex market's own language. First articles coming soon.

Pips, Pipettes and Lots: The Forex Trader's Guide

What a pip is really worth, why lot size changes everything, and the pipette mistake that makes beginners risk 10x what they meant to, in plain English with dollar examples.
The Bridge

The translation layer between markets — for the "not sure yet" reader, market migrants, and gold traders.

Pips, Ticks and Points: What a Price Move Actually Costs You

Three words for a price move, three different meanings — and confusing them changes your risk by 4x or 10x. Fixed permanently, with dollar examples.
Prop firm mechanics

Drawdowns, consistency rules, payouts and true costs — decoded so you can read any firm's rulebook.

The Rulebook Decoder: Every Futures Prop Firm Rule, Explained Once

Prop firm rules change constantly and vary by plan, so learn to read any rulebook instead of memorising one. The 12 rules every futures evaluation has, what each means for you, and the good-vs-dangerous version of each.

Trailing vs EOD vs Static Drawdown: The Rule That Fails More Traders Than Bad Trading

The same trades survive or die depending on one line in the rulebook. How each drawdown regime works, with the worked example that breaches an account in profit.