# One risk unit per idea

Each distinct thesis gets one predefined risk unit (max loss in sleeve terms) — do not stack correlated tickets that quietly multiply the same idea’s risk. Pair with size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope, max-open-positions-per-sleeve, one-strategy-one-sleeve, no-averaging-down-without-new-thesis, write-go-before-scale-up. Agent Lane does not place trades, hold wallets, or invent broker UI.

Canonical HTML: https://agentlane.net/guides/one-risk-unit-per-idea/

## Answer first

Before you place (or let an agent propose size): name the thesis, assign one risk unit in sleeve terms, and map correlated tickets to that same unit. Size so if the idea fails, total loss stays inside the unit — not several “small” tickets that quietly stack. Enforce at review in the official venue UI.

## One risk unit in plain terms

1. **Idea / thesis** — written plan: direction, instruments, invalidation, kill rules — [name-the-strategy-before-connect.md](./name-the-strategy-before-connect.md).
2. **Risk unit** — predefined max loss for that thesis in sleeve terms — [size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope.md](./size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope.md), [one-strategy-one-sleeve.md](./one-strategy-one-sleeve.md).
3. **Correlated tickets share the unit** — same sector, catalyst, or underlying via different symbols/legs unless each has a distinct written thesis.
4. **Not a new unit** — averaging down, “one more name in the theme,” or splitting across legs without a new thesis — [no-averaging-down-without-new-thesis.md](./no-averaging-down-without-new-thesis.md).

## Why stacking correlated tickets is the failure mode

- **Several “small” tickets = several units** — [size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope.md](./size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope.md), [max-open-positions-per-sleeve.md](./max-open-positions-per-sleeve.md).
- **Theme stacking without a new thesis** — [no-averaging-down-without-new-thesis.md](./no-averaging-down-without-new-thesis.md), [name-the-strategy-before-connect.md](./name-the-strategy-before-connect.md).
- **Blurred P&L across sleeves** — [one-strategy-one-sleeve.md](./one-strategy-one-sleeve.md).
- **Scale-up by stacking without GO** — [write-go-before-scale-up.md](./write-go-before-scale-up.md).

## Shield stack

1. [name-the-strategy-before-connect.md](./name-the-strategy-before-connect.md) — thesis map.
2. [one-strategy-one-sleeve.md](./one-strategy-one-sleeve.md) — isolate cash and stops.
3. [size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope.md](./size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope.md) — ticket size under current rules.
4. [max-open-positions-per-sleeve.md](./max-open-positions-per-sleeve.md) — concurrent-open ceiling.
5. One risk unit per idea (this page) — one max loss per distinct thesis; correlated tickets share it.
6. [no-averaging-down-without-new-thesis.md](./no-averaging-down-without-new-thesis.md).
7. [write-go-before-scale-up.md](./write-go-before-scale-up.md).

## How to run one risk unit per idea

1. Name the thesis on the named plan — [name-the-strategy-before-connect.md](./name-the-strategy-before-connect.md), [one-strategy-one-sleeve.md](./one-strategy-one-sleeve.md).
2. Assign one risk unit in sleeve terms — [size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope.md](./size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope.md), [cap-daily-loss-before-session.md](./cap-daily-loss-before-session.md); no invented UI.
3. Map correlated tickets to the same unit.
4. Size so the idea’s max loss stays inside the unit — [max-open-positions-per-sleeve.md](./max-open-positions-per-sleeve.md), [no-averaging-down-without-new-thesis.md](./no-averaging-down-without-new-thesis.md).
5. Enforce at review — [never-skip-review-before-place.md](./never-skip-review-before-place.md), [confirm-fills-in-broker-not-chat.md](./confirm-fills-in-broker-not-chat.md), [two-person-rule-for-large-places.md](./two-person-rule-for-large-places.md).
6. Journal overrides; scale only with GO; honor session end — [journal-every-override.md](./journal-every-override.md), [write-go-before-scale-up.md](./write-go-before-scale-up.md), [log-session-end-checklist.md](./log-session-end-checklist.md).

## Practical checklist

- Thesis named on the plan before place.
- One risk unit written in sleeve terms for that thesis.
- Correlated tickets mapped to the same unit.
- Size so max loss stays inside the unit — not hope.
- Open-position cap honored.
- No averaging down without a new written thesis.
- Scale-up only with written GO if units or stacking rise.
- Review enforces in the official venue UI.
- Official paths only — no invented broker UI.

Related: [Write max loss before entry](./write-max-loss-before-entry.md), [One order per idea until fill](./one-order-per-idea-until-fill.md), [No scale-in without GO](./no-scale-in-without-go.md), [Reject duplicate place same thesis](./reject-duplicate-place-same-thesis.md), [Write invalidation before entry](./write-invalidation-before-entry.md), [size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope.md](./size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope.md), [max-open-positions-per-sleeve.md](./max-open-positions-per-sleeve.md), [one-strategy-one-sleeve.md](./one-strategy-one-sleeve.md), [no-averaging-down-without-new-thesis.md](./no-averaging-down-without-new-thesis.md), [write-go-before-scale-up.md](./write-go-before-scale-up.md), [name-the-strategy-before-connect.md](./name-the-strategy-before-connect.md), [cap-daily-loss-before-session.md](./cap-daily-loss-before-session.md), [never-skip-review-before-place.md](./never-skip-review-before-place.md), [journal-every-override.md](./journal-every-override.md), [stop-adding-size-after-loss-day.md](./stop-adding-size-after-loss-day.md), [flatten-before-news-unknown.md](./flatten-before-news-unknown.md), [log-session-end-checklist.md](./log-session-end-checklist.md).

## FAQ

**What does one risk unit per idea mean?**
Each distinct thesis gets one predefined risk unit (max loss in sleeve terms). Do not stack correlated tickets that quietly multiply the same idea’s risk. Pair with size-from-sleeve, max-open-positions, one-strategy-one-sleeve, no-averaging-down, write-go-before-scale-up.

**Do I invent a risk-unit broker UI?**
No. Official venue positions/balances and your written unit + thesis map. Agent Lane does not invent UI or set your numbers.

**Does this replace size from sleeve or max open positions?**
No. Size-from-sleeve is ticket size under sleeve rules; max-open-positions is concurrent-open ceiling; this page caps how much total loss one thesis may consume. You need the stack.

## Sources

- Canonical HTML: https://agentlane.net/guides/one-risk-unit-per-idea/
- Related shelf: https://agentlane.net/resources/
- Site index: https://agentlane.net/llms.txt

Agent Lane publishes checklists. We do not place trades, hold wallets, invent broker UI, or set your risk units.