> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.leap.trade/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Simple Trading

> Place a long or short with the essential controls visible and the extra terminal noise removed.

Simple mode is the quickest way to place a trade on Leap.

It keeps the market, chart, direction, amount, leverage, margin, and order settings on one screen without asking you to work through a full professional terminal.

## The market panel

At the top of the page you will see the selected market, current price, and recent price movement.

The main chart is intentionally simple. You can switch the time range to get a broader view without changing the trading flow.

Use **Market stats** when you want more context before placing the order.

## Choose your direction

The trade panel has two clear choices:

* **Buy** to purchase an asset in a spot market; **Long** to open a perpetual position that benefits if the price rises
* **Sell** to dispose of an asset you hold in a spot market; **Short** to open a perpetual position that benefits if the price falls

A long can lose money if price falls. A short can lose money if price rises. Check whether the selected market is spot or perpetual before submitting.

## Enter the trade amount

Enter the amount you want to trade in the amount field.

When your account is funded, the quick controls let you size the trade using a percentage of your available balance.

Before submitting, Leap shows the key numbers created by your settings:

* **Estimated margin**
* **Position value**
* **Estimated quantity**

Those three numbers are worth checking every time.

## Leverage and margin

Simple mode shows the leverage and margin mode directly in the trade panel.

For example, a **$500 position at 5x leverage** uses roughly **$100 of initial margin** before fees, funding, price movement, and other account effects.

That does not mean the trade is only worth $100. Your market exposure is still $500.

> **Risk:**
> Higher leverage means less margin is needed for the same position value, but it also increases liquidation risk. Do not choose leverage based only on how large a position it lets you open.

## Order settings

Open **Order settings** to review execution settings such as order type and slippage.

A higher slippage tolerance can make an order more likely to execute in a fast-moving or thin market, but it can also result in a worse fill.

## Review before you trade

Before selecting the final trade button, check:

1. the correct market
2. long or short
3. trade amount
4. leverage
5. margin mode
6. order settings
7. estimated margin and position value

A few seconds here can prevent the most common sizing mistakes.

## After the order

Below the chart you can switch between:

* **Positions**
* **Open orders**
* **History**

You will also find sections for **Market activity** and **About this market** when you want more context.

## Need more control?

Switch to **Pro** from the top of the trading page. Your account stays the same; only the interface changes.