Patience pays.

When it comes to trading, that’s my motto.

I’ve now coached a statistically significant sample size of over 3,000 traders. And I’ve worked with enough traders to find reliable patterns based on what gets results and what doesn’t.

One of the most common reasons that traders fail has nothing to do with their ability to read the market or manage a position.

Instead, the biggest downfall for many traders is their impatience. A good trader isn’t defined by their ability to spot great trades.

Instead, it’s by their ability to avoid bad trades. And this is how trading and playing Texas hold ‘em poker are alike…

Keep Your Head in the Game

A game of Texas hold ‘em will see a total of seven cards dealt in three stages…

First, each player will get two cards, and won’t reveal them to their opponents.

Next, the dealer will lay three more cards facing up. This sequence is known as the “flop” and are communal cards.

After the flop comes a fourth communal card – the “turn”. Finally, there’s the fifth and final communal card – the “river”.

Between each stage that the cards are handed out, a round of betting takes place.

This is where players will jockey for position and try to force their opponents to fold their hand by raising the stakes.

If a player bets the required amount to stay in the game, then they get to see the next community cards that the dealer will pull from the deck.

But here’s how trading and poker are very similar…

An elite poker player will only see roughly 15-20% of total flops.

That means the best poker players (even the most aggressive ones) will fold roughly 70% of their hands before they even see any of the community cards.

In other words, a good poker player spends more time on the sidelines than on any action. It’s the same for elite traders…

Wait for the Right Moment to Strike

The best traders I know are sitting on the sidelines, patiently waiting for their moment to strike.

They know exactly what they’re looking for… and when they see it, they pounce.

They don’t trade out of boredom, or on a hunch. Instead, they use a combination of fundamental analysis, technical analysis, and strong risk management to inform their decisions.

That’s why you’ll often hear that good trading is boring trading.

Knowing when not to trade is just as (if not more) important than knowing when to trade. Remember, a trader’s primary responsibility is to preserve their capital.

If you’re looking for thrills, go to the casino. It’ll be a lot more fun than sitting in front of your trading screen and likely just as fruitful, too.

The next time you find yourself itching to get into a trade, take a step back and ask yourself if this is a trade you’ve spent time planning and waiting for.

If it’s a trade you want to take because you feel like you need some action… or because the market suddenly started to move and you don’t want to miss out…

Then you should probably fold your hand and wait for the next set of cards.

Happy trading,

Imre Gams
Analyst, Market Minute

Was there a time when patience helped you score a big trade?

Let us know your thoughts – and any questions you have – at feedback@jeffclarktrader.com.