One Rule Is Enough
Cultural Note: The original Chinese title is 一条规则足够 (Yī tiáo guīzé zúgòu). Beginners accumulate rules; veterans eliminate them. One rule, enforced absolutely, beats a hundred rules enforced partially.
The more complex a trading system, the easier it breaks.
Not because complexity is inherently problematic — because complex things are hard to execute.
复杂系统的每一条规则，都是一条”可能出错”的链。 “Every rule in a complex system is a chain link that might fail.”
The One-Rule Experiment
If you could have only one rule, what would you choose?
I choose: “Single-trade loss never exceeds 2%.”
Just this one. If I only had this rule:
- No heavy positions (heavy = potential >2% loss)
- No missing stop-loss (no stop = unlimited loss)
- No all-in in extreme markets
- No revenge trading (revenge positions exceed 2%)
One rule already prevents most fatal errors.
Hard Rules vs. Soft Rules
Hard rules: No exceptions. “Loss ≤ 2%.” “Stop-loss must be set before opening.” “24h break after 3 consecutive losses.”
Soft rules: Flexible, can “adapt.” “Try not to chase.” “Don’t position too large.” “Don’t overtrade.”
软规则 = 不是规则。因为它可以被你的情绪绕过。 “Soft rules = not rules. Because they can be bypassed by your emotions.”
Only hard rules protect you.
Five Recommended Hard Rules
- Single-trade loss ≤ 2%
- Stop-loss must be set before opening
- No trade without signal
- 24h no-trade after big loss/win
- Maximum N trades per day (1-3)
5条规则覆盖了5个最致命的弱点。够了。 “Five rules cover five fatal weaknesses. That’s enough.”
Simplify Your System
If you have >10 rules, do a cleanup:
- List all rules
- Which 5 are most important?
- Delete the rest or降级 to “suggestions”
- Trade with these 5 rules for one month
- Ask: did execution improve? Did results improve?
交易不是加法，是减法。你不需要更多规则，你需要更少但更硬的规则。 “Trading isn’t addition — it’s subtraction. You don’t need more rules. You need fewer, harder rules.”
Texture Check:
- How many rules in your current system? Can you list them all?
- How many are hard (no exceptions)? How many are soft (flexible)?
- If keeping only 3 rules, which 3?
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