2 contracts instead of 1

[Paroooni1]

I made a simple strategy with builder. It has only 4 set of conditions and it uses price and one indicator. 1: When price crosses above = go long. 2: When price crosses below = exit long. 3. When price crosses below = go short. 4: When price crosses above = exit short.
So basically, there should always be one contract active, either long or short.
But what this does, is that in many cases there is 2 contracts active (maybe 60% of the trades) and the rest is done with 1 contract.
I also made different strategies with other indicators, but the conditions were the same and seems that they do the same thing.
Are my conditions too simple to handle the amount of contracts or whats the problem?

[NinjaTrader_Jesse]

Hello Paroooni1,

Welcome to the NinjaTrader support forum.

What you have described is actually a common item to come up, this is because of two of the conditions happening at once.

If we assume that the position does not update between each set and requires 1 bar to update then we can see the problem based on what is being done. If you are long and your condition to exit the long is true it will become flat. The next set still thinks we are long so it also then enters short which both closes the position again and enters short creating an extra position.

To fix this you have a few options. If this is a reversal strategy you can simply remove the exits. Calling the opposite entry method will exit and enter into the opposite direction.
If you want exits you can make the condition more specific for the exit so that it does not become true at the same time as the entry.

Your assessment is basically correct, the condition is just a little too simple for the amount of actions you want to do. This is simple enough for a simple two condition reversal strategy but would require a little more for adding exits safely.

I look forward to being of further assistance.