Orders and execution
The order types day traders use, how IBKR routes them, what happens in the pre-market, during halts and on a partial fill, and how to measure what each fill really cost you.
Day trading order types: what scalpers actually useDay trading order types: market, limit, marketable limit, stop, stop-limit and time in force, with a worked example and what scalpers really use on IBKR.April 6, 2026, 15 min read
Why IBKR rejected your order: the common messages and fixesIBKR order rejected? The common Interactive Brokers rejection messages, from buying power to outside RTH and price checks, with the exact fix for each.October 5, 2026, 8 min read
LULD trading halts: what happens to your orders and your stopLULD halt rules explained: price bands by tier, the 15 second limit state, 5 minute pauses, 2025 halt counts, and what happens to your orders and stop.September 18, 2026, 8 min read
Slippage in day trading: how to measure it and cut itSlippage in day trading: how to measure it from your fills, express it in R, find where it comes from on small caps, and cut it with a simple log.August 31, 2026, 8 min read
Partial fills in day trading: why they happen and what to doA partial fill means only part of your order executed. Why it happens on small caps, what it costs on IBKR, and what to do with the rest and your stop.August 6, 2026, 9 min read
IBKR extended hours: pre-market, after-hours and overnight tradingIBKR extended hours explained: pre-market from 04:00, after hours to 20:00 and overnight trading, which orders each session takes, and the TWS settings.July 13, 2026, 8 min read
IBKR SmartRouting vs direct routing for day tradersDoes IBKR give direct market access? How SmartRouting picks venues, why fills differ by venue, what direct routing costs and when day traders should use it.June 19, 2026, 10 min read
Market order vs limit order in day trading: the small-cap costMarket order vs limit order in day trading small caps: what slippage costs in R on a thin book, why IBKR holds pre-market market orders, and what to use.May 18, 2026, 8 min read
Marketable limit order: the order type scalpers actually useA marketable limit order fills at once like a market order but caps your price. How it fills, how far through the ask to price it, and the TWS setup.April 27, 2026, 9 min read