Long and short without the jargon
Long means you benefit when price rises. Short means you benefit when price falls. Everything else is detail.
By Dr. Elena Voss
Direct answer
A long position profits when price rises. A short position profits when price falls. Cash with no open trade means you have no directional exposure.
Direction is the first vocabulary of trading. Until you can state your exposure in one sentence, you should not size a position.
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Learn this properly in a structured lesson
Guides give you context. The course gives you order, objectives, and a quiz so you know what stuck.
Foundations · Understanding positionsEducational content only — not financial advice. Trading involves risk of loss. See our risk warning and editorial policy.