144 Free Articles · 320-Term Glossary · Data-Driven

Free Forex Course: From Basics to Risk Management

Learn how the market works, calculate position risk and build a trading process. Free lessons, practical tools and clear definitions — without signals or promises of profit.

Risk warning: Historical ESMA analyses (2018): 74–89% of retail CFD accounts lost money (ESMA). Educational content only – not investment advice. Full disclaimer ↓

Data from BIS, ESMA, CFTC
Written & reviewed by Jarosław Wasiński · financial markets since 2004
16 Sections, Beginner to Advanced
100% Free Access
Last reviewed: September 2026

What would you like to do?

Calculate before you trade

Use your broker's contract specifications and current exchange rates. Results are estimates, not trading recommendations.

All calculators · Preview the trader toolkit

Find a Forex term

Definitions, related concepts and worked examples for selected terms.

Leverage · Pip · Margin call · Risk of ruin

Browse all 320 glossary terms →

Learn in four stages

144 lessons across 16 modules. Estimated reading: 60–90 hours; practice takes longer. No broker account or email signup required.

  1. Stage 1 · Modules 1–4Understand the marketRead currency pairs, recognise participants and understand trading sessions.Explore stage 1
  2. Stage 2 · Modules 5–8Learn to analyseConnect charts, economic releases and market relationships.Explore stage 2
  3. Stage 3 · Modules 9–12Manage your processWork through risk, psychology, platforms and broker checks.Explore stage 3
  4. Stage 4 · Modules 13–16Apply and reviewBring safety, records and a repeatable workflow together.Explore stage 4

View the full course syllabus →

Show all 16 course modules
Section 1
Introduction to Forex
What forex is, how it emerged, and how an OTC market with no central exchange works.
6 articles
Section 2
Core concepts & mechanics
Currency pairs, pips, lots, leverage, order types, and costs – the language of every trade.
8 articles
Section 3
Market participants
Central banks, dealer banks, hedge funds, HFT, and where retail fits in the food chain.
6 articles
Section 4
Trading hours & time
Sessions, overlaps, calendar events, gaps, and when liquidity dries up.
6 articles
Section 5
Technical analysis
Charts, patterns, indicators, Fibonacci, Elliott, multi-timeframe, and automation.
12 articles
Section 6
Fundamental analysis
Macro drivers, monetary policy, NFP/CPI/GDP, carry trade, COT, and valuation models.
9 articles
Section 7
Intermarket & sentiment
Bonds, commodities, equities, VIX, DXY, risk-on/off, and cross-asset frameworks.
8 articles
Section 8
Trading strategies
Scalping, day trading, swing, position, trend, breakout, news, and algo strategies.
10 articles
Section 9
Risk management
Survival, risk of ruin, stop loss, sizing, R:R, drawdown, portfolio heat, and VaR.
11 articles
Section 10
Trader psychology
Biases, emotions, tilt, journal, reset protocols, FOMO, sleep, and process over outcome.
11 articles
Section 11
Platforms & tools
MT4/MT5, cTrader, FIX API, VPS, economic calendars, backtesting, and platform choice.
10 articles
Section 12
Choosing a broker
Broker types, A/B-Book, execution quality, spreads, red flags, and comparison framework.
12 articles
Section 13
Regulations & safety
FCA, CySEC, ASIC, leverage caps, client money, compensation, and offshore risks.
8 articles
Section 14
Taxes & record-keeping
How forex profits are taxed, cross-border reporting, record-keeping, loss carry-forward, and tax myths.
6 articles
Section 15
Practical trader's workshop
The full trader process: desk, plan, strategy, backtesting, workflow, journal, audit, and capital scaling.
11 articles
Section 16
Synthesis & career
Final exam, the systems graveyard, career paths, track record, certifications, business structures, and continuing education.
10 articles
Your practical toolkit

From lessons to your desk

Preview two tools you can use in your browser or print. Open the full version to fill it in.

Checklist preview · 3 of 8 steps

Pre-market card

  • Macro calendar for the day
  • Regime diagnosis
  • D1/H4 levels

An excerpt from the full pre-market checklist.

Build a repeatable routine

Four interactive checklists: pre-market, pre-trade, end-of-day and weekly review.

Open checklists

Contact card preview · selected fields

Prepare for an outage

Broker duty phone
Blank in this preview
Last successful number test
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Backup connection
Blank in this preview

Fill in and print the complete card on the tool page.

Keep a backup plan within reach

A contact card, incident form and procedures for platform or connection failures.

Open emergency plan

Explore the complete trader toolkit →

Primary sources & data

Check the data behind the course. These primary sources explain the measures, periods and limitations:

Market size & structure → BIS Triennial Central Bank Survey 2025: about $9.51 trillion average daily OTC FX turnover in April 2025
Retail loss rates & leverage caps → ESMA 2018 CFD intervention evidence: 74–89% of retail accounts lost money; this is not a current loss rate for every broker
US retail forex rules → CFTC and NFA
UK regulation & client money → FCA
Monetary policy → Federal Reserve, ECB
Citation policy → how we source and review every article: Methodology

Featured articles

Recently Updated Lessons
Bid/ask spread & cross rates · updated Nov 2, 2026
Weekly cycles & gap risk · updated Nov 2, 2026
Economic calendar & data impact · updated Nov 2, 2026

Read the course in 13 languages

English Español Deutsch Italiano Português Русский العربية Bahasa Indonesia Tiếng Việt Türkçe 日本語 ไทย Polski

Who writes this

Jarosław Wasiński

Editor-in-chief, ForexMechanics.com • Macro & FX analyst

Independent analyst and practitioner with over 20 years of experience in financial markets. Actively involved in Forex since 2007, with a focus on fundamental analysis, OTC market structure, and disciplined capital risk management.

  • Creator and editor-in-chief of MyBank.pl, providing reliable financial education since 2004.
  • Author of hundreds of in-depth market commentaries, structural analyses, and educational materials for traders and investors.
  • Advocate for market transparency, promoting education grounded in hard data and institutional reports (BIS, ESMA, CFTC).

All content is educational and informational only – it does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation. Remember: leveraged trading (Forex/CFD) carries a high risk of rapid capital loss.

Every article on this site is written or reviewed by the editor against primary regulatory sources (BIS, ESMA, CFTC, FCA, Federal Reserve, ECB). Full credentials and editorial policy on the About and Methodology pages. Content last reviewed: September 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is this Forex course really free?

Yes. All 144 articles and the 320-term glossary are free, with no paywall, no email gate, no upsells. The site has no advertising and accepts no broker affiliate commissions. The cost of running it is covered out of pocket as a long-term educational project.

Who writes the content and why should I trust it?

Articles are written by a single editor with 20+ years of market experience and reviewed against primary regulatory sources (BIS, ESMA, CFTC, FCA, Federal Reserve). Every quantitative claim cites a primary source. See the About page for full credentials, methodology and editorial policy.

Is Forex trading risky?

Yes – severely. ESMA reported in 2018 that analyses across EU jurisdictions found 74–89% of retail CFD accounts lost money. This historical range is not the current loss rate of every broker. Leverage amplifies both gains and losses. The course exists to explain the mechanics honestly so you can make an informed decision; it is not an endorsement of trading. Section 9 (Risk management) and section 16 (Synthesis & career) cover survival mathematics and the realistic capital required.

How long does it take to go through the course?

Estimated reading time is 60–90 hours across all 144 articles. Practical application – building a plan, journaling 100+ trades, completing a strategy audit – takes 6–18 months. There is no fast track.

Do I need a broker account to follow the course?

No. The course is broker-agnostic and includes a dedicated section on choosing a broker (section 12) and the regulatory landscape (section 13). Demo accounts and paper trading are sufficient for the bulk of the material.

Is there a glossary of Forex terms?

Yes – a 320-term glossary covering market mechanics, execution, technical and fundamental analysis, risk, psychology and regulation. Key terms include worked examples with real numbers and an FAQ. Terms are highlighted across all articles – hover or tap one for an instant definition.

Is the content available in other languages?

Yes – the full course and glossary are published in 13 language editions: English, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Turkish, Russian, Arabic, Japanese, Thai, and Polish. Use the language switcher in the top right or the language list above.

Ready to see how the machine actually works?

144 articles. 320 glossary terms. Zero hype. Start with the first lesson – it takes 15 minutes.

Investment Risk Warning
Forex and leveraged CFD trading carries a high risk of rapid capital loss. In its 2018 intervention evidence, ESMA reported that 74–89% of retail CFD accounts lost money. This historical range varies by provider and period; check the current warning of the specific broker. Leverage amplifies both gains and losses. EU negative balance protection exists but does not eliminate the risk of losing your entire deposit. Do not invest money you cannot afford to lose.

The content in this course is purely educational. It does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation, or an incentive to trade any financial instrument. Consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions.