- Buy stopAbove the current ask · joins strength after a trigger
- Current askA market buy starts here, before any slippage
- Buy limitBelow the current ask · waits for a cheaper price
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FREE FOREX ORDER LAB
An order line is a request. The fill is the evidence.
Choose a market, limit or stop entry, place a stop loss and take profit, then reveal a fixed fictional path one candle at a time. The lab shows which side of the quote triggers and where the model actually fills.
ORDER-TYPE PRACTICE
Choose the instruction. Then reveal the outcome.
The first three candles are known. Pick one entry instruction, set its exit levels and place it before stepping through the hidden path.
CANDLEC3
BID1.08614Sells enter here
ASK1.08626Buys enter here
FIXED SPREAD1.2 pipsTeaching assumption
Twelve-candle teaching chart with 3 candles currently revealed. Current bid 1.08614, Current ask 1.08626, Requested entry 1.08550, Stop-loss trigger 1.08420, Take-profit limit 1.08730. Green bodies closed above their open; orange bodies closed below. Future candles remain hidden.
3 / 12 candles revealedGreen = bullish · Orange = bearishLevels are a draft until you place the order
- Current bid1.08614
- Current ask1.08626
- Requested entry1.08550
- Stop-loss trigger1.08420
- Take-profit limit1.08730
NEXT ACTIONPlace the ticket
READY TO PLACE
What just happened?
Wait to buy below the current ask, at the limit price or better. The price is controlled, but the order may never fill.
- Requested entry
- 1.08550
- Entry fill
- Not filled
- Entry slippage
- —
- Exit fill
- Not filled
- Exit instruction
- —
- Marked / realised
- —
Where does each pending entry sit?
“Buy” or “sell” describes direction. “Limit” or “stop” describes how the order is positioned and what happens after its level is reached.
- Sell limitAbove the current bid · waits for a higher price
- Current bidA market sell starts here, before any slippage
- Sell stopBelow the current bid · joins weakness after a trigger
Say exactly what the order is asking for.
Market buy
Buy now at the available ask rather than waiting for a chosen level.
- Placement
- No entry level is requested; the current ask is the starting point.
- Trade-off
- Execution is prioritised, so the fill can differ from the quote you saw.
Market sell
Sell now at the available bid rather than waiting for a chosen level.
- Placement
- No entry level is requested; the current bid is the starting point.
- Trade-off
- Execution is prioritised, so the fill can differ from the quote you saw.
Buy limit
Wait to buy below the current ask, at the limit price or better.
- Placement
- Place the requested price below the current ask.
- Trade-off
- The price is controlled, but the order may never fill.
Sell limit
Wait to sell above the current bid, at the limit price or better.
- Placement
- Place the requested price above the current bid.
- Trade-off
- The price is controlled, but the order may never fill.
Buy stop
Wait for the ask to rise to a trigger above the market, then try to buy.
- Placement
- Place the trigger above the current ask.
- Trade-off
- After triggering, a basic stop can fill beyond the requested price.
Sell stop
Wait for the bid to fall to a trigger below the market, then try to sell.
- Placement
- Place the trigger below the current bid.
- Trade-off
- After triggering, a basic stop can fill beyond the requested price.
Stop loss and take profit do different jobs.
An activation level, not a guaranteed exit price.
The lab applies 0.3 pip of adverse slippage after a stop trigger. That fixed amount is a teaching device. A real difference can be smaller, larger or unavailable until the market reopens.
A price-controlled exit that may not be filled.
The lab fills a take-profit limit at its requested level when the executable quote reaches it. Real liquidity, queue position and provider rules can leave all or part of an order unfilled.
The details that catch new traders out.
Why does a market buy use the ask while a market sell uses the bid?
The bid is the price available to a seller and the ask is the price available to a buyer. Their difference is the spread. A mid-price candle can sit between those executable prices, which is why a candle touching a line is not by itself proof of a trigger or fill.
What is the difference between a limit order and a stop order?
A limit order controls the worst acceptable price but can remain unfilled. A basic stop waits for a trigger and then commonly becomes an executable instruction, so its fill can be worse than the trigger. Exact terminology and behaviour depend on the provider.
Does a stop loss guarantee the maximum loss?
Not usually. A standard stop loss can fill beyond its trigger during a gap, fast move or thin market. Some providers offer guaranteed stops under separate conditions and charges, so the instrument and account rules must be checked.
Why might a real limit order stay unfilled after the chart touches it?
The chart may show a different price side or aggregation from the provider’s trigger rules, and available liquidity or queue priority may be insufficient. This lab deliberately assumes a limit fills when its executable quote reaches the level so the basic mechanics stay easy to see.