Reverse an Open Position in Tradovate
Want out of a long and into a short in one click? Here's exactly how Tradovate's Reverse & Cxl button works, and the one thing that catches people out.
You're long two contracts, the trade turns against you, and you don't just want out. You want to be short. Closing the position and then placing a fresh sell order is two actions and a few seconds you might not have. Tradovate folds both into a single click with the Reverse & Cxl button. Here's exactly how it behaves and the one thing that catches people out.
What "Reverse & Cxl" Actually Does
Reverse & Cxl is short for Reverse and Cancel. Click it and Tradovate exits your current position at market and opens an equal position in the opposite direction, also at market, for whatever instrument is loaded in that module. Any working orders on that instrument are cancelled at the same time.
The mechanic is worth understanding before you rely on it. Say you're long 2 MNQ. The button doesn't send a 2-lot sell to flatten. It fires a market order for double your size, 4 contracts. Two of those close the long, the other two open a fresh 2-lot short. You go flat-then-short in one fill, same quantity, opposite direction.
Reverse a Position: Step-by-Step
Open the DOM for Your Instrument
Load the SuperDOM ladder, or a chart with trading turned on, for the exact contract you're holding. The Reverse button only touches the instrument loaded in that module, so make sure you're looking at the right one.
Confirm Your Open Position and Working Orders
Check that you actually have a live position on this contract and take note of any working orders sitting on it. Reversing cancels those orders, so anything you want to keep needs a second thought first.
Set the Action Button to Reverse & Cxl
Tradovate's order-entry panel has a configurable action button in the middle. Use its dropdown to switch it to Reverse & Cxl if it's currently set to Exit at Mkt & Cxl. The exact label and placement of this button can shift between platform versions, so confirm it before you're in a live trade.
Click Reverse & Cxl to Flip
One click sends the double-size market order. Your position closes and an equal position opens in the opposite direction, and Tradovate cancels the working orders on that instrument. Watch the fill confirm before you do anything else.
Re-attach Your Stop and Target
This is the part that trips people up. The new opposite position opens naked. Whatever bracket or ATM strategy protected your old position does not carry over. Set your stop-loss and take-profit on the new position right away, before you look at anything else on the screen.
What to Watch Out For
| Watch out for | What it means |
|---|---|
| Per-instrument scope | The button only affects the instrument loaded in that DOM. A ladder showing MNQ won't touch an open ES position. |
| Brackets don't follow | If your original position had an attached stop and target, the new position opens without them. Re-attach manually every time. |
| Two fills, not one | You pay commission on the closing contracts and the opening contracts, and you cross the spread twice. Reversing isn't free. |
| Prop firm limits | The double-size market order can push you against a max-position or contract limit, which varies by firm and account size. Check your firm's current rules. |
The Manual Alternative
If you'd rather not fire a double-size market order, do it in two moves instead: flatten the position, then place a new order in the other direction. It's a step slower, but you keep full control of your sizing and can attach a bracket to the new entry from the start rather than scrambling to add one after the fact.
One thing Tradovate doesn't do natively is an automatic stop-and-reverse, where a hit stop instantly flips you into the opposite trade. The Reverse & Cxl button is a manual action. You have to click it.
Automate This with PickMyTrade
Reversing by hand every time a signal flips gets old fast. If your entries come from TradingView, PickMyTrade can open and flip Tradovate positions automatically the moment your alert fires.
Let Your Signals Flip the Trade
Reversing by hand every time a signal flips gets old fast. PickMyTrade can open and flip Tradovate positions automatically the moment your TradingView alert fires.
Start Your Free 5-Day TrialThis guide is for educational and informational purposes only and is not financial, investment, or trading advice. Trading futures and other leveraged products carries a substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. PickMyTrade is an independent third-party automation platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Tradovate, Inc. "Tradovate" and all related names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Platform features and steps change over time, so always confirm the current process in the official Tradovate platform and documentation before acting.