Backtest Concepts

Risk/Reward Ratio (R:R) — what it is and how to use it in trading

Definition

The risk/reward ratio (R:R) is the ratio of the distance from entry to the stop-loss (risk) to the distance from entry to the take-profit (potential reward) for a single trade.

How it works in the builder

For example, a 1% stop-loss and a 3% take-profit from the entry price give an R:R of 1:3 — three units of potential reward for every unit of risk. It's set separately from win rate in the strategy's exit settings, but the two are always read together.

Typical use

Used to work out the minimum breakeven win rate: at an R:R of 1:3, winning just 25% of trades is enough to break even before fees; at a symmetric 1:1 R:R, the breakeven threshold is around 50%.

Common pitfalls

A wide R:R doesn't guarantee profitability on its own — if price reaches a distant take-profit less often than a nearby stop-loss, a high risk/reward ratio can come with a win rate low enough that the net result is still negative.

This block is available in the strategy builder

137 no-code blocks — build an entry condition with this term and test it on history

Historical results do not guarantee future ones. The service is an informational and analytical tool, not an individual investment recommendation; trades are not executed.

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