Most forex traders get confused between buy stop and buy limit orders. Here's the quick breakdown:

**Buy Stop** = waiting for price to break ABOVE current level, betting it'll keep going up. Useful for breakout trading.

**Buy Limit** = setting a lower entry price, hoping the dip comes before it bounces. Classic "buy the dip" move.

Same logic for sells:
- **Sell Stop** = protection when price drops below support
- **Sell Limit** = selling into strength at higher prices

The key difference? Stop orders execute AT market when triggered (can slip), while limit orders guarantee execution ONLY at your set price or better.

Pending orders = game-changer for automated trading:
✓ Set it and forget it (no need to stare at charts)
✓ Remove emotion from decisions
✓ Lock in risk/reward ratios with SL/TP

BUT watch out for:
✗ Market gaps during news (order won't fill)
✗ Missing moves if price never hits your level
✗ Over-leveraging kills accounts fast

Real talk: Most losing traders either forget stop-losses or use too much leverage. Set your risk per trade, stick to the plan, and let pending orders do the work.