The Witch Hunt Against 0.5R – A Reversed Perspective on TradingBitcoin / US DollarCOINBASE:BTCUSDXXXX4XThe case for 0.5R: probability over ego Most traders focus on 1:2 or 1:3 targets – but here I’ll show why 0.5R with ATR can be an easier, more consistent approach for many. Till today, I’ve posted 6 trade ideas here on TradingView. All of them hit their targets. That’s a 100% winrate – all with the exact same simple structure. (On TradingView, published Ideas cannot be edited or deleted – so these trades are shown exactly as they happened.) Here’s a recent example where the 0.5R concept played out perfectly: Before diving into the details, let’s first define two key terms: R and ATR. What is “R”? In trading, “R” = one unit of risk. It’s the amount you are willing to lose on a single trade. If you risk $100 per trade, then: • If the stop is hit → –1R = –$100. • If the target is hit → +0.5R = +$50. So when I say “0.5R target,” it simply means half the size of the risk you took. What is ATR? ATR = Average True Range, a measure of market volatility. It tells us how much price typically moves during a given period. By default, ATR is calculated from the last 14 candles – this is the standard setting most traders use. Using ATR makes stops and targets logical, not random. For example: • 2 ATR stop, 1 ATR target = 0.5R • 3 ATR stop, 1.5 ATR target = 0.5R Both setups respect market volatility while keeping the same risk/reward structure. The Setup in Numbers All my trades here used exactly this approach: • Stop: 2 ATR (sometimes 3 ATR) • Target: 1 ATR (or 1.5 ATR) • Risk/Reward: 0.5R For example, with ATR = 1200: • Stop = 2 ATR = 2400 points = –1R • Target = 1 ATR = 1200 points = +0.5R One green Trading Unicorn beats two reds – that’s the 0.5R logic. That’s the foundation. Everything else – winrate, psychology, consistency – builds on this. The Dogma of 1:2R, 1:3R and Higher The trading world has developed a kind of witch hunt against any setup below 1:2 or 1:3. It has become the so-called “professional standard.” But here’s the truth nobody talks about: • 1:3 rarely hits on the first attempt. • It usually takes multiple tries – each one adding risk, losses, and stress. • By the time one 1:3 target is finally hit, many traders have already lost money or burned mental energy. On paper, high-R multiples look perfect. In practice, for most traders, they are psychological torture. One small green Trading Unicorn win is often worth more than chasing oversized targets that almost never arrive. Visual breakdown: • 1:3 R/R – great if it hits, but usually doesn’t on the first try. • 1:2 R/R – “more realistic,” yet still often fails before reaching target. • 0.5R ATR – smaller, faster, higher probability – it usually hits first. Why 0.5R Flips the Script A 0.5R setup often looks “too small” to many traders – but that’s exactly the point. • High probability: most trades hit target on the first attempt. • Not mentally exhausting: no long waiting, no constant pressure. • Quick wins and confidence: reward comes fast, reinforcing discipline. • Consistency: with an 80%+ winrate, just a couple winners cover the losses. Example: If 1 trade loses (–1R), only 2 winners (+2 × 0.5R = +1R) are enough to breakeven. This isn’t just math – it’s where probability and psychology align in practice. And here’s the hidden edge: with smaller, faster ATR-based targets, you don’t need to commit to being a “bull” or a “bear.” • Bulls chase big breakouts, but often wait too long. • Bears fight the trend, but usually get stopped before reversal. • With 0.5R, you don’t need to predict who’s right. You can profit both ways, even against the trend, because the distance to target is short and realistic. And here’s an extra advantage most traders ignore: markets range about 70% of the time and trend only 30%. That means setups that require huge trending moves (1:2, 1:3, etc.) automatically have fewer chances. A 0.5R setup, however, thrives in both conditions – ranging or trending – giving you far more opportunities simply because your target is closer and hits faster. The Trading Unicorn stands in the middle, keeping both bull and bear under control – that’s the real power of the 0.5R concept. Leverage and the “Close Target Paradox” Many dismiss 0.5R targets as “not worth it” because they look close on the chart. But here’s the paradox: • Thanks to leverage, even a small target can equal meaningful percentage gains. • On a 10k account, 1% = $100. That can be made in a few minutes – sometimes seconds – with a single 0.5R trade. • Whether the market is quiet or volatile, the math still works. This means you don’t need to wait for “the perfect market.” With ATR-based sizing and proper leverage, the 0.5R concept can be applied to crypto, metals, forex, or stocks – anytime, anywhere. Strategy in Action For me, the 0.5R system works best in: • Quick breakouts • Break of structure followed by a pullback to a key level • Confluences stacking at support/resistance • Then targeting a 1 ATR move out of that zone It doesn’t matter if I trade 1m charts, 1h, or 4h. The principle is the same. Here’s another recent trade hitting target: The Psychological Trap But let’s be real. This strategy has a dangerous side: it’s too tempting. • If you can make 1% in 3 minutes, your brain immediately wants to repeat it. • “Just one more quick trade” becomes the thought that destroys consistency. • Survival instinct takes over. Ego wants more. • Soon, rules are broken. This is why discipline and rules are non-negotiable. And why, many times, a mentor is necessary – to keep us from breaking our own system for the hope of more gains. The Wine Analogy Think of 0.5R like a glass of wine: • One or two? It relaxes you, maybe even healthy. • Ten glasses? You lose control, do things you regret. The concept itself is not dangerous. The problem is how you use it. With moderation and rules, it becomes a consistent tool. Without them, it can become self-destruction. The Hidden Cost of Chasing Big R Trading is not just about money. It’s also about emotional capital. • Every missed big-R target eats away at confidence. • Every time you intervene because you “couldn’t hold,” you reinforce bad habits. • Eventually, you’re not just losing money – you’re losing trust in yourself. This is why so many traders sabotage themselves. The targets they set are beyond their psychological tolerance. AI sanity-check (do it yourself) You don’t have to take my word for it. Anyone with an AI in their pocket can sanity-check this: Inputs: • Winrate: 80%+ • Outcomes (in R): +0.5R on wins, –1R on losses • Risk per trade: 1% of current equity (compounded) • Pace: max 4 trades/day • Sample size: 100–1000 trades • Market: BTCUSD, 1-minute • Profiles: (A) 2 ATR stop / 1 ATR target, (B) 3 ATR stop / 1.5 ATR target • Entry filter: only confluences & high-probability breakouts • Include: compounding Prompt to any AI: “Run a Monte Carlo with the above inputs and return the median equity curve, drawdown distribution, and percentiles.” Final Thoughts The 0.5R ATR system is not a holy grail. But it challenges the dogma of chasing huge R multiples at all costs. • It shows that winrate × probability can be just as powerful as high reward multiples. • It adapts across instruments, timeframes, and lifestyles. • It doesn’t care about ego. It cares about results. Trading is personal. For some, 1:3 works. For others, 0.5R unlocks the consistency they’ve been searching for. Don’t be the elephant trying to climb a tree just because everyone else says it’s “the way.” Find what works for you. Hope this perspective gave you some value. Cheers, Trading Unicorn