Going Long vs Going Short
Why futures let you sell first — and what that really means.
Going long means you buy first because you expect price to rise. If price moves up after your entry, the position gains value. If price moves down, the position loses value. Long trades are the most familiar because they resemble buying an asset.
Going short means you sell first because you expect price to fall. Futures make this simple because every contract already has a buyer and a seller. You do not need to borrow shares or own the product first; you enter a sell order and later buy back to close the position.
Long and short are not opinions by themselves. They are directions tied to a plan. A strong trader can trade either side, but only when the setup, invalidation, and risk are clearly defined before entry.