The Evaluation Reset Strategy

When it actually makes sense to pay for a reset — and when you should walk away instead.

1. What a Reset Really Does

A reset gives you:

  • a clean account balance
  • a fresh trailing drawdown
  • a new chance at the profit target

It does NOT fix your behavior.

This connects to Overtrading in Evaluations because 90% of resets come from tilt, not bad setups.

2. When You *Should* Reset (Correct Situations)

There are only THREE legit reset scenarios:

Scenario 1: You Broke a Rule on Day 1–3

  • little time invested
  • no real progress
  • cheapest time to reset

This is the best-case reset. If you violated trailing drawdown early, this is where you fix it using Daily Loss Limits & Resets.

Scenario 2: You Went -$500 to -$800+ in a Big Account

If you're down so much that reaching breakeven takes 5–10 trading days, resetting is smarter than grinding back.

Scenario 3: You Realize You Used the Wrong Strategy

  • Used 3–6 contracts too early
  • Random risk sizing
  • No fixed daily loss
  • No structure

Resetting and switching to the One-Contract Evaluation Strategy is usually cheaper than continuing the mess.

3. When You Should NOT Reset

These are the traps beginners fall into:

Trap 1: You’re Down Only $100–$200

Resetting at this level wastes money. You can fix it in 1–2 days of clean trading.

Trap 2: You Hate the Idea of “Starting Over”

Your emotions are dictating the reset, not logic.

Trap 3: You Reset After Every Losing Day

This is an addiction cycle — and resets become a tax on emotional trading. Fix the strategy first using Prop Evaluation Game Plan.

4. The Math Behind Resetting

Resets make sense ONLY if:

  • Reset cost + time saved < profit target value

Example:

  • Reset costs: $40
  • You are down: -$600
  • Time to recover: 1–2 weeks
  • Time to re-pass after reset: 1 week

Reset → correct choice.

But if you're down only -$150? Resetting is just paying a penalty for a small mistake.

5. The 3-Trade Reset Rule

If you break ALL THREE of these in one day:

  • You exceed personal daily loss
  • You break the 3-trade max rule
  • You take a revenge trade

→ That evaluation is poisoned. Reset immediately and start fresh with discipline.

6. Reset Timing Strategy

Best time to reset:

  • End of the trading session
  • End of the week

You start fresh with clean psychology.

Worst time to reset:

  • Right after a losing trade
  • Mid-session

You will tilt-reset-tilt-reset in a loop.

7. Reset Frequency Rule

If you need more than 3 resets in a month → STOP trading and rebuild your rules from scratch.

Tighten your system using Overtrading Guide.

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