# Run strategy

> Test the active strategy on every market of its watchlist – Range, date windows and blind tests, Step 1 and Step 2 parameter sweeps, progress and ETA, and results in the Strategy Lab.

Updated: 2026-10-25T01:50:47.000Z · https://chartrider.com/docs/strategies/run-strategy/

**Run strategy** tests the active strategy on many markets, periods and parameter values in one go. You set it up in the Strategies panel (`F6`), below the strategy list; the results open in the [Strategy Lab](https://chartrider.com/docs/strategies/strategy-lab/).

## What one run is

A run is one backtest of the strategy on one market, over one period, with one set of parameter values. **Run strategy** creates a run for every combination of:

- every market of the strategy's **watchlist**,
- every value of **Step 1** × every value of **Step 2** (if you set them),
- every **date window** (if you add them) – otherwise one period, the **Range**.

All runs use the chart's current timeframe and the leverage set in the trading panel for the chart's market (unless you step **Leverage**). Each run starts with its own simulated account of 10,000 USDT; markets and windows don't share capital. How trades are simulated: [Backtest engine](https://chartrider.com/docs/strategies/backtest-engine/).

The panel shows the total before you start, for example `3 × 6 = 18 runs per market × 4 markets = 72 runs`.

## Watchlist

Run strategy only tests the markets on the watchlist of the active strategy – not the chart's market unless it is on the list. Star ☆ markets in the symbol table (`F2`) to add them, or use **+ Add** with the chart's symbol in the panel. See [Symbols and watchlist](https://chartrider.com/docs/charts/symbols-and-watchlist/).

## Range

**Range** sets how far back the runs go. The period always ends now. Each strategy keeps its own Range: it is saved when you change it or start a run, and comes back when you select the strategy again.

| Option | Period |
|---|---|
| **Last 24 hours** | 1 day |
| **Last 3 days** | 3 days |
| **Last 7 days** | 7 days |
| **Last 14 days** | 14 days |
| **Last 30 days** (default) | 30 days |
| **Last 90 days** | 90 days |
| **Last 6 months** | 182 days |
| **Last 12 months** | 365 days |
| **Last 2 years** | 730 days |

The choice is remembered in this browser.

## Date windows

**+ Date windows** splits the test into several periods of equal length, so you see whether a strategy holds up over time instead of a single result.

- **Windows**: the length of one window, its unit (**Hours**, **Days**, **Weeks**, **Months** – a month counts as 30 days) and the number of windows. When added, it starts with 6 windows of 1 month, counting backwards.
- **◀ Back** counts the windows backwards from now – the first window ends now, the others lie before it.
- **Fwd ▶** counts them forwards from the start of the Range.
- **Turning pt.** sets a date to count from instead: backwards, the windows end just before it; forwards, they start at it. **×** clears it.

A line below shows the resulting span and the number of windows, starting with **Tuning** or **Blind test** when a turning point is set. Windows that would start in the future are dropped.

### Blind test

A blind test checks whether the best parameters from the past still work on data they were not chosen on:

1. Set a **Turning pt.**, choose **◀ Back** and run – this is the tuning run on the windows before the turning point.
2. Switch to **Fwd ▶** with the same turning point and run again – the blind test on the windows from the turning point on.

The heatmap then compares both runs. See [Strategy Lab](https://chartrider.com/docs/strategies/strategy-lab/).

## Step 1 and Step 2

Steps vary one or two parameters of the strategy. **Step 1** becomes the columns of the heatmap, **Step 2** its rows; Step 2 appears once Step 1 has a parameter.

What you can step:

- **Leverage** – suggested from 5 to 25 in 5 values.
- **Gate values** of the Trade Setup, listed as `Gate 1 · EMA1 · center`.
- **Every numeric setting** of the strategy's indicators, listed as `RSI1 · Length` – for WickScript scripts these are their inputs.
- A test value that changes nothing (`Test value (not used by the template)`), for repeated runs.

For each step, the box shows the default value – the setting the chart and `F5` use – and the **values** row sets start **→** end **×** count. The values are spread evenly from start to end, whole-number settings are rounded and duplicates dropped; the list of values appears below. There is no upper limit on combinations, so keep an eye on the run count: every value multiplies the number of runs.

## Start and follow a run

Click **Run strategy** (or the play button next to a strategy in the list). The button is disabled while a run is going or the watchlist is empty.

The button shows `Running 42 %` with the estimated time left, and the info bar at the bottom of the chart shows **Running strategy** with a progress bar, the share of finished runs, `ETA 3:07` (or **estimating…** / **any moment**) and the time elapsed. Before that, the info bar reports preparing the runs and downloading the candles for each market.

The runs are computed in your browser, several at a time, so keep the tab open until the run has finished. There is no button to stop a run once it has started.

## Results

When all runs are done, the [Strategy Lab](https://chartrider.com/docs/strategies/strategy-lab/) opens on the **Heatmap** tab (or stays on **MAE / MFE** if you had that open). Click a cell of a window in the heatmap to open that run on the chart with its trades and key metrics.

Results are stored in your browser for 24 hours. A strategy in the list opens its latest run when you click it; run it again to recompute results after that. Only you can see your runs – see [Strategies](https://chartrider.com/docs/strategies/).