Top Tips To Win A Forex Trading Contest

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How to win a Forex demo contest:

  • 1

    Create your account on the platform, where the contest is held

  • 2

    Pick the contest. Choose one of the contests, that works for you

  • 3

    Plan out your trading strategy. Choose what trading strategy to use

  • 4

    Use trading journal. Journaling your trades can help you improve your profitability

  • 5

    Follow news related to the market

Nothing sharpens your skills like a friendly competition. For aspiring Forex traders looking to put their strategies to the test, demo contest provide the perfect low-risk environment to prove yourself against peers. Whip out your trading journals and study up - it's time to put theory into practice and show the world what you're made of. From choosing the right contest to developing disciplined habits, this guide covers all the insider tips needed to boost your chances of victory. Keep your emotions in check as the pressure mounts, and stay focused on the plan. Remember, it's not solely about the prizes - every trade lived and learned makes you sharper still for the next challenge. So dust off those demo accounts and get ready to duel.

Key points from the article:

  • Develop and test a consistent trading strategy before competing. Going into a contest with a clear plan and approach will serve you better than improvising.

  • Manage your emotions and stick rigidly to your strategy during live competition. Fear and greed can sabotage results if you abandon your plan due to price movements.

  • Choose the right contest based on your schedule, abilities and prize structure. Opting for an event that fits your experience level and timeframe improves your preparation and odds of success.

What is a Forex demo contest?

A Forex demo contest is a risk-free competition that puts Forex traders’ skills and strategies to the test in a virtual trading environment. Using a demo trading account, entrants compete to make the most profit in a fixed timeframe, with real prizes given to the winners.

Forex demo contests are a great way for beginner traders to get hands-on experience and have an opportunity to kickstart their Forex trading career with an injection of prize money and practical, indispensable experience.

Entering the world of Forex demo contests can be pretty daunting. Going from demo trading to live competitions is a big jump, so it’s vital to know what contests involve, and how to succeed when competing. There are several steps traders can take to ensure a better chance of coming out on top when participating in a Forex trading contest.

How do Forex trading contests work?

People over the age of 18 who own an e-wallet and demo account on whichever platform the contest is on are allowed to compete. Contestants must first register for the competition – some registration periods finish before the competition starts while others allow you to register even after the contest has begun.

Once the contest begins, entrants have a specific amount of time to trade and meet the winning criteria– the time limit can range anywhere from 24 hours to a few weeks. A live leaderboard displays competitors’ stats such as total profit, daily change, number of trades etc.

Rules differ between contests so each one works differently. The winner could be determined by who has the highest trading volume, the highest profit margin or highest equity. Some may have other required conditions such as a minimum profit margin or a minimum number of trades executed.

At the end of the contest period, the winners are declared – the number of winners depends on the contest’s own rules. Most competitions offer prizes to the top five or ten traders, with the prize pool split amongst them. Some even offer prizes for the lowest total gains.

How can I win a Forex demo contest?

There’s no guaranteed way to win a contest, but you can increase your chances by following these tips:

  • 1

    Pick the contest that’s right for you - With so many contests out there, it’s important to choose one that works for you. Prizes will differ vastly between competitions, as will rules and regulations. Make sure to read specific details about a contest before picking one and entering

  • 2

    Plan out your trading strategy - Before you begin, you should decide on what trading strategy to use. Will you adopt something simplistic like the Moving Averages (MA) strategy, go the technical route with a Breakout Strategy approach, or make small incremental gains using a scalping method? Knowing how you will operate throughout the competition is vital. See TU’s list of Day Trading Strategies for guidance

  • 3

    Practice - You wouldn’t enter a competitive sports tournament without first knowing the sport well – the same goes for Forex trading. Use demo accounts to practice trading and get familiar with how to execute your strategy under different market conditions before undertaking a real contest

  • 4

    Use a trading journal - Keeping track of trades you make is an effective way to develop your skills and recognize patterns in strategies that do or don’t work for you. Keeping a trading journal for contests gives you something to analyze and improve upon before competing again. If you opt for using trading journal software, see TU’s list of the Best Trading Journal Software

  • 5

    Follow news related to the market - An integral part of Forex trading is staying up to date with market news – this is no different with trading contests. Political events, budget announcements, trade deals – these are just some of the news events that could affect the market. Keep an eye on Traders Union’s newsfeed for up-to-date market news

  • 6

    Keep your cool - Fear, greed and anxiety can be the biggest barrier to successful trading, leading to poor decision making. Trader psychology often determines the likelihood of winning. Stick to your strategy and avoid making choices based on how you feel. Avoid impulsive trades and don’t get too emotionally attached to specific trades

  • 7

    Persevere - The chances of winning a contest on your first time are pretty low - though not impossible. Forex trading is a numbers game, as are contests. The more times you compete, the higher your odds of winning. Try not to be disheartened if you don’t win – you’ll get better with each attempt and so increase your likelihood of winning

Are Forex trading contests worth it?

Forex trading contests have their benefits and downsides, so whether it’s worth doing is up to you. Let’s look at some of the major pros and cons of Forex trading contests.

👍 Pros

1. Gain experience in trading
Taking part in a contest in a highly competitive trading environment gives you invaluable, hands-on experience. Each contest you take part in will teach you vital skills and allow you to flesh out your own approach and strategies

2. Risk-free
Because most contests are free to enter, you can participate at no financial cost to yourself. This allows you to keep entering competitions and building up your skills for free

3. Win real prizes
Prize pools, which are split up amongst winners, can range from a few hundred dollars all the way up to six-figure numbers. Sometimes winners receive gifts or gift cards instead. The opportunity to win real prizes in a free competition means a beginner trader could go from having zero capital to winning actual money that they can then use to make real investments

👎 Cons

1. Demo contests favor high-risk strategies
As Forex demo contests are highly competitive environments with no risk to traders, participants may be more likely to engage in high-risk strategies. While this may lead to a positive outcome for a contest, it differs from a realistic market environment

2. Participants may pick up bad trading habits
Demo contest participants can end up winning by making more risky trades – making a risky trade with a high payoff can lead to skyrocketing profits and an overall win. But if this strategy repeatedly works out, the winning trader may fall into the habit of making risky trades, leading to problems later down the line when they trade in real markets

Best Forex demo contests in 2024

In this section, we are going to briefly discuss the most exceptional Forex demo contests available in the market, according to Traders Union experts.

1. RoboForex Demo Account Competition

Open an account
Your capital is at risk.

The RoboForex Demo Account Competition is a monthly event open to all registered clients, providing an opportunity to win a total prize of $3000, which will be distributed among the top 10 participants with the highest account balance at the conclusion of the contest. To join, clients must complete verification in the Members Area, choose a unique nickname, and open an MT4 Demo Fix account with an initial deposit of $5000 and a leverage of 1:100. It is important to note that the Stop Out level is set at 20%, and the Hedge Margin is 25%.

During the competition, each participant is allowed a maximum of 10 orders, with a transaction volume not exceeding 0.1 lots. While all trading instruments are available, the use of Expert Advisors is strictly prohibited. In the event of multiple traders achieving the same results, the prize will be divided among them based on their final rankings. Winners can claim their prize money in various trading accounts, including Fix-Cent, Pro-Cent, Fix-Standard, and Pro-Standard. To claim the prize, winners must send a private message containing their account number to ContestFX on the RoboForex message board. However, participants should be aware that if a suspension occurs during the contest period, the prize money will be deducted from the account.

2. Traders Union Monthly Forex Demo Contests

For novice traders interested in participating in the monthly Forex demo contest, Traders Union (TU) offers a user-friendly platform. To get started, simply visit the Traders Union rebate service website, select the hosting broker running the contest, and open a demo account. Follow the guidelines provided in the broker's contest section to join the competition and stand a chance to win from the enticing prize fund. The Top 10 winners will be rewarded based on their profits, making it an excellent opportunity for those who secure a spot among the leading traders.

TU Forex contests are held on demo accounts, which not only allow participants to compete but also provide an opportunity to thoroughly test the broker's services. Winners of the contests receive real cash prizes to support their trading journey. To participate in Traders Union contests, you need to be a registered member of the Union and have access to your personal account. The contest runs from 10.05 p.m. CET to 3.55 p.m. CET and is open to all verified members of the Traders Union.

3. VantageFX Demo Contest

Open an account
Your capital is at risk.

By participating in the exciting VantageFX Demo Contest and showcasing your trading skills, you can stand a chance to win attractive cash prizes using virtual money. This risk-free competition allows traders to compete for the top spot and secure the grand prize of $2000 USD. The second and third-place winners also stand a chance to win $1000 USD and $500 USD, respectively, while the fourth and fifth-place participants can earn $100 USD each. This monthly contest is open for registration until December 31, 2023, exclusively for MT4 STP accounts denominated in USD. Traders can access a wide range of financial instruments with leverage of up to 1:40.

With its simplicity and easy registration process, the contest appeals to both seasoned and new traders. Interested participants only need to follow three simple steps: register an account, verify their profile, and actively participate in the demo contest. The winner will be determined based on the highest profit achieved during the contest period. One unique feature that sets this contest apart is the ability to withdraw all earned profits, provided that the participant completes at least three closed trades. This attractive aspect enhances the appeal of the competition, making it an excellent opportunity for traders looking to maximize their rewards.

4. OctaFX demo contests

Open an account
Your capital is at risk.

OctaFX presents two thrilling demo contests that provide clients with an opportunity to refine their trading skills and win exciting cash prizes. The first contest is the OctaFX cTrader weekly demo contest, which is open to all clients who can vie for a portion of the $400 prize pool. The top five traders with the highest account balance at the contest's conclusion will be generously rewarded. Trades must be executed on the cTrader platform or its browser-based version, and participants must open a cTrader Weekly Demo Contest Account to join. Accounts are equipped with a $1000 virtual deposit, 1:50 leverage, with conditions akin to OctaFX ECN accounts. Furthermore, traders are allowed to use Expert Advisors, and the minimum trading volume is set at 0.01. In the event of ties, the prize shares will be evenly distributed among the winners, ensuring fairness and excitement.

The broker’s Champion Demo Contest is the second, it takes place monthly and is open to all clients. Participants have a chance to claim their share of the $900 prize pool, with an additional $100 prize awarded to the last-place holder. To enter this contest, traders need to register a Demo Trading Account with verified information. This contest has similar conditions as the first, but one noteworthy feature of the OctaFX Champion Demo Contest is that there is no maximum limit for trading volume, providing traders with ample room to demonstrate their trading prowess.

5. InstaForex demo trading contests

Open an account
Your capital is at risk.

InstaForex presents an array of captivating demo trading contests, providing traders with a risk-free environment to test their skills and strategies while vying for lucrative cash prizes. These contests encompass the Great Race, Sniper, FX-1 Rally, Lucky Trader, and Real Scalping, catering to various preferences. Participants can enter using demo accounts, honing their trading abilities without any real financial risk.

Of all these thrilling contests, the InstaForex Forex Sniper Contest stands out as one of the most popular demo trading competitions offered by the broker, offering weekly opportunities for traders to showcase their skills. The contest runs from January 1 to December 31, 2023, with traders registering using unique nicknames, and competing for the highest profit. As the contest concludes, the top five winners will be handsomely rewarded with cash prizes, with the first-place winner securing an enticing $500 USD reward. It's important to note that while the bonus amount cannot be withdrawn, all earned profits from the contest bonus can be withdrawn, further enhancing its appeal.

Glossary for novice traders

  • 1 Broker

    A broker is a legal entity or individual that performs as an intermediary when making trades in the financial markets. Private investors cannot trade without a broker, since only brokers can execute trades on the exchanges.

  • 2 Trading

    Trading involves the act of buying and selling financial assets like stocks, currencies, or commodities with the intention of profiting from market price fluctuations. Traders employ various strategies, analysis techniques, and risk management practices to make informed decisions and optimize their chances of success in the financial markets.

  • 3 Forex Trading

    Forex trading, short for foreign exchange trading, is the practice of buying and selling currencies in the global foreign exchange market with the aim of profiting from fluctuations in exchange rates. Traders speculate on whether one currency will rise or fall in value relative to another currency and make trading decisions accordingly.

  • 4 Scalping

    Scalping in trading is a strategy where traders aim to make quick, small profits by executing numerous short-term trades within seconds or minutes, capitalizing on minor price fluctuations.

  • 5 Leverage

    Forex leverage is a tool enabling traders to control larger positions with a relatively small amount of capital, amplifying potential profits and losses based on the chosen leverage ratio.

Team that worked on the article

Jason Law
Contributor

Jason Law is a freelance writer and journalist and a Traders Union website contributor. While his main areas of expertise are currently finance and investing, he’s also a generalist writer covering news, current events, and travel.

Jason’s experience includes being an editor for South24 News and writing for the Vietnam Times newspaper. He is also an avid investor and an active stock and cryptocurrency trader with several years of experience.

Dr. BJ Johnson
Dr. BJ Johnson
Developmental English Editor

Dr. BJ Johnson is a PhD in English Language and an editor with over 15 years of experience. He earned his degree in English Language in the U.S and the UK. In 2020, Dr. Johnson joined the Traders Union team. Since then, he has created over 100 exclusive articles and edited over 300 articles of other authors.

Mirjan Hipolito
Cryptocurrency and stock expert

Mirjan Hipolito is a journalist and news editor at Traders Union. She is an expert crypto writer with five years of experience in the financial markets. Her specialties are daily market news, price predictions, and Initial Coin Offerings (ICO).