Learn futures trading—one concept at a time.
Understand futures contracts, read candlesticks, explore a simulated trading platform, and practice placing stop-loss and take-profit orders. No prior experience required.
What you’ll learn
Learn mechanics and build a repeatable practice process—not a promise of profits.
▥ Read price candles
Open, high, low, close, wicks, bodies, and timeframes.
⚖ Manage risk
Estimate position risk and understand stop-loss, take-profit, and reward:risk.
⌘ Practice a platform workflow
Explore simulated entries, exits, and a trade journal.
21 lessons
Choose a day for notes, an example, a practice activity, and a prompt.
Mini futures trading platform
Experiment with fictional prices. This is not a live feed or broker connection.
PaperTrade Lab ● SIMULATED
Illustrative micro futures-style contract. Point value is user-defined for arithmetic practice, not an actual product specification.
Green = close above open · Red = close below open · Wicks show high/low
Simplifications: no fees, slippage, liquidity, margin calls, partial fills, or real order routing. Real stop orders may fill at a worse price than the trigger; stop-limit orders may not fill.
How a candle moves
Play the local animation to see open, evolving high/low, and close.
Animated candle formation
This animation is generated in the page and works offline.
Optional video lessons
These links open YouTube search results for beginner explanations. Preview videos and use reputable educational sources; availability can change.
The page does not depend on a specific third-party video embed, so the course remains usable offline.
Stop-loss and take-profit
Plan exits before entering. Neither order guarantees an exact fill price.
🛑 Stop-loss (SL)
A protective exit trigger at a level where your practice idea is invalidated or your planned risk limit is reached. A stop-market can fill worse than its trigger. A stop-limit can fail to fill.
🎯 Take-profit (TP)
A target exit intended to realize gains if reached. A limit target may not fill if price touches the level without enough liquidity.
Typical bracket / OCO workflow
- Verify contract, tick size/value, session hours, fees, and margin rules.
- Choose direction and entry type.
- Decide stop and target before entry; do not choose them impulsively after a loss.
- Enter quantity and calculate planned dollar risk.
- If supported, use a bracket order to attach stop and target exits.
- Verify OCO (one-cancels-the-other) behavior, so one exit cancels the other when intended. Do not assume every platform handles it identically.
- Confirm order status and follow your written plan.
Risk calculator
Estimate planned risk and reward. This calculator does not recommend a trade.
Practice exercises
Try each before revealing the answer. All numbers are fictional.
Exercise 1 — Candle reading
Open 50, high 53, low 48, close 52. Bullish or bearish? What is the range?
Show answer
Bullish because close 52 is above open 50. Range = 53 − 48 = 5 points. Upper wick is 52–53; lower wick is 48–50.
Exercise 2 — Planned risk
One contract, entry 200, stop 197.50, illustrative value $2 per point. What is planned risk?
Show answer
Distance = 2.5 points. Risk = 2.5 × $2 × 1 = $5 before costs, assuming a fill at the trigger. Real fills can differ.
Exercise 3 — Short exits
Short entry 4200, stop distance 10 points, target distance 20 points. What are the levels?
Show answer
Stop 4210 (above entry); target 4180 (below entry). Planned reward:risk = 20 ÷ 10 = 2:1 before costs; this does not predict win probability.
Exercise 4 — Simulator practice
Set Long, 1 contract, stop distance 3, target distance 6. Place a simulated trade and watch the chart. Repeat with Short and compare the exit sides.
Reflection checklist
- Did you check direction before entry?
- Were stop and target on the correct sides?
- Could price reach the stop first?
- Do you understand a stop trigger is not a guaranteed fill?
Exercise 5 — Write a plan
Write down the practice setup, entry condition, stop, target, planned dollar risk, and condition that means you will skip.
Sample structure
“I am practicing [setup] on [timeframe]. I enter only if [condition]. My stop is [price] because [reason]. My target is [price]. Planned risk is [amount] before costs. I skip if [condition]. I record the outcome without changing rules mid-trade.”
Final knowledge check
Choose one answer per question and check your score.
FAQ
What are futures?
Standardized exchange-traded contracts tied to an asset or benchmark, with contract size and expiration rules. They are leveraged and can carry substantial risk.
Can I start with a small amount?
Do not judge safety by advertised margin alone. Margin is not maximum loss. Learn contract specifications and possible losses; practice in simulation and never risk money needed for essentials.
Does a stop guarantee the planned loss?
No. Fast markets, gaps, and thin liquidity can cause slippage. A stop-limit may not execute.
Stop order vs limit order?
A stop activates after a trigger; stop-market generally prioritizes execution but not price. A limit specifies an acceptable price but may not fill. Exact behavior varies by platform.
What is a tick?
The smallest allowed price increment for a contract. Tick size and dollar value vary by product; verify current official specifications.
What does leverage mean?
A relatively small margin deposit controls a larger notional position. This magnifies price effects and can cause rapid losses or liquidation.
Does a 2:1 reward:risk ratio guarantee profit?
No. It describes planned reward relative to planned risk if exits fill as expected. It says nothing by itself about win probability.
Can this page place live trades?
No. Prices are fictional and local to the page. It does not connect to a broker, use live market data, or place real orders.
What after 21 days?
Continue simulated practice, keep a journal, study official contract and broker documentation, and seek qualified independent education. Course completion alone is not proof of readiness for live trading.