# Max Open Trades across account

`0` — *(Default)* Disables the limit. The EA will trade freely without checking how many trades are already open.\
`1` — Enables **exclusive mode**: the EA will only open a trade if there are **no other open positions** on the account.\
`N > 1` — The EA will only open a new trade if the total number of open positions is **less than N**.

{% hint style="info" %}
This setting controls how many trades can be open at the same time across the entire trading account. It acts as a global safety mechanism to prevent overexposure by limiting the number of concurrent open positions, regardless of which symbol or EA opened them.

Applies account-wide. It considers all open trades, not just those opened by this EA or for a specific symbol.

If `MaxOpenTrades = 3`, and there are already 3 open positions on the account, the EA will **not open new trades** until one of them is closed.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="success" %}

#### ✅ **Best Practices**

1. **Choose a Limit Based on Strategy Design**
   * Use `1` for **strict exposure control** — only one trade open across the account at any time.
   * Use higher values (`2`, `3`, etc.) for strategies that **scale into positions** or run across **multiple charts**.
2. **Label Manual Trades (Optional)**
   * If you're trading manually alongside the EA, consider tagging or noting manual trades so you can understand when and why the EA might be blocked.
3. **Avoid Over-Restriction in Fast Markets**
   * If you're trading during volatile times, consider a slightly **higher threshold** to avoid missed trades due to brief position overlaps.
4. **Test in Strategy Tester First**
   * Always backtest or use a demo account when adjusting `MaxOpenTrades`, especially when changing its value in a multi-EA or multi-symbol setup.
     {% endhint %}

{% hint style="warning" %}

####  **Warnings and Considerations**

1. **Interference Between EAs**\
   Since this option counts *all* open positions on the account, other Expert Advisors (EAs) or manual trades may block this EA from opening new positions.\
   ➤ *Ensure coordination if multiple EAs are used.*
2. **Missed Trade Opportunities**\
   If `MaxOpenTrades` is too restrictive (e.g., set to `1`), the EA may skip valid trade setups simply because another trade is already open.\
   ➤ *Use higher values if your strategy benefits from multiple open trades.*
3. **Non-SmartChoise Trades Included**\
   The setting does **not distinguish** between trades opened by this EA, other EAs, or manually.\
   ➤ *Manual trades or other systems can unintentionally block this EA from trading.*
4. **No Retry on Skipped Signals**\
   When a trade is skipped due to this setting, the opportunity is lost unless the signal remains valid on the next tick.\
   ➤ *Consider combining with signal persistence or recheck logic if needed.*
5. **Symbol Independence**\
   The trade limit applies *regardless of symbol*. If you run the EA on multiple charts (e.g., EURUSD and GBPUSD), one symbol's trade can block the other.\
   ➤ *This is intended behavior for strict exposure control.*
   {% endhint %}


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