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Expert ZZLWA Strategy

Overview

This strategy is a StockSharp high-level port of the original ExpertZZLWA MetaTrader 5 expert advisor. The EA offered three distinct operating modes and optional martingale position sizing. The port keeps the structure of the original expert while adapting it to StockSharp candles and indicators:

  1. Original mode – alternates between long and short trades on every completed bar as long as there is no open position.
  2. ZigZag Addition mode – recreates the behaviour of the "ZigZag LW Addition" custom indicator by tracking fresh swing highs and lows through rolling highest/lowest values.
  3. Moving Average Test mode – mirrors the smoothed MA (150) vs simple MA (10) crossover logic from the MQL code.

All modes use configurable protective stop loss and take profit offsets expressed in price points. The strategy supports optional martingale sizing where a new trade is increased by a multiplier after a realised loss, capped by a maximum volume.

Trading Logic

Original Mode

  • Works with finished candles only.
  • When no position is open, the strategy alternates between long and short market orders on each new bar.
  • Stop loss and take profit are registered through the built-in StartProtection helper.
  • Once a trade closes (either at stop or target), the opposite direction becomes active for the next bar.

ZigZag Addition Mode

  • Subscribes to the selected candle series and maintains rolling Highest and Lowest indicators.
  • Detects a swing high when the candle high touches the current highest value while the previous swing direction was not upward. This recreates the buy/sell buffer signals from "ZigZag LW Addition".
  • Detects a swing low when the candle low touches the rolling lowest value in the opposite manner.
  • Generates a market order in the signalled direction immediately after the candle closes.

Moving Average Test Mode

  • Builds a smoothed moving average with length 150 and a simple moving average with length 10 (matching the MQL implementation).
  • Produces a long signal when the smoothed MA crosses above the simple MA from the previous bar to the current bar.
  • Produces a short signal when the smoothed MA crosses below the simple MA.
  • Signals are processed on closed candles only.

Martingale Handling

  • After every own trade is received, the strategy tracks the net position and the average entry price.
  • When a position is fully closed, the realised profit of the last trade is recorded.
  • If the trade closed with a loss and martingale is enabled, the next order volume becomes last_volume * MartingaleMultiplier (capped by MaximumVolume).
  • If the trade closed with profit or martingale is disabled, the strategy falls back to the base volume.

Parameters

Parameter Default Description
StopLossPoints 600 Distance to the protective stop in price points.
TakeProfitPoints 700 Distance to the take profit in price points.
BaseVolume 0.01 Default order size used when martingale is not applied.
UseMartingale false Enables martingale sizing when set to true.
MartingaleMultiplier 2 Multiplier applied to the last trade volume after a loss.
MaximumVolume 10 Maximum allowed volume for martingale sizing.
Mode Original Operating mode: Original, ZigZagAddition, or MovingAverageTest.
ZigZagTerm LongTerm Sensitivity preset for ZigZag mode (ShortTerm, MediumTerm, LongTerm).
SlowMaPeriod 150 Period of the smoothed MA used in MA Test mode.
FastMaPeriod 10 Period of the simple MA used in MA Test mode.
CandleType 15-minute time frame Candle type subscribed for processing.

Notes

  • Stop/take offsets are multiplied by the instrument PriceStep, matching the _Point behaviour from MetaTrader.
  • The strategy uses StockSharp high-level API (SubscribeCandles + indicator binding) exclusively.
  • The ZigZag sensitivity presets map to Highest/Lowest lengths of 12 (Short), 24 (Medium), and 48 (Long). Adjust them if a different swing width is required.
  • The martingale tracker relies on own trade notifications; ensure the strategy runs in an environment where fills are reported correctly.

Conversion Differences vs MQL

  • The MQL version interacted with a compiled ZigZag LW Addition indicator. In StockSharp we approximate the buffers using rolling highs/lows, which delivers similar signals without external binaries.
  • Order placement relies on BuyMarket / SellMarket and the managed protection helper instead of manual order tickets.
  • Historical lot calculation in the original expert used the terminal deal history. The port replicates this behaviour by analysing own trades in real time and storing the last closed trade volume and profit.
  • Slip and magic number inputs from MQL are omitted because StockSharp does not need them for market orders in this context.
using System;
using System.Linq;
using System.Collections.Generic;

using Ecng.Common;
using Ecng.Collections;
using Ecng.Serialization;

using StockSharp.Algo.Indicators;
using StockSharp.Algo.Strategies;
using StockSharp.BusinessEntities;
using StockSharp.Messages;

namespace StockSharp.Samples.Strategies;

/// <summary>
/// Port of the ExpertZZLWA MetaTrader strategy with three operation modes.
/// </summary>
public class ExpertZzlwaStrategy : Strategy
{
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _stopLossPoints;
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _takeProfitPoints;
	private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _baseVolume;
	private readonly StrategyParam<bool> _useMartingale;
	private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _martingaleMultiplier;
	private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _maximumVolume;
	private readonly StrategyParam<StrategyModes> _mode;
	private readonly StrategyParam<TermLevels> _termLevel;
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _slowMaPeriod;
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _fastMaPeriod;
	private readonly StrategyParam<DataType> _candleType;

	private Highest _highest;
	private Lowest _lowest;
	private SmoothedMovingAverage _slowMa;
	private SimpleMovingAverage _fastMa;

	private bool _pendingBuySignal;
	private bool _pendingSellSignal;
	private bool _originalBuyReady;
	private bool _originalSellReady;
	private int _zigZagDirection;
	private decimal _prevSlow;
	private decimal _prevFast;

	private decimal _trackedPosition;
	private decimal _averageEntryPrice;
	private decimal _lastClosedVolume;
	private bool _lastTradeLoss;

	/// <summary>
	/// Operation modes reproduced from the original expert.
	/// </summary>
	public enum StrategyModes
	{
		Original,
		ZigZagAddition,
		MovingAverageTest,
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// ZigZag sensitivity presets available in addition mode.
	/// </summary>
	public enum TermLevels
	{
		ShortTerm,
		MediumTerm,
		LongTerm,
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Protective stop size in price points.
	/// </summary>
	public int StopLossPoints
	{
		get => _stopLossPoints.Value;
		set => _stopLossPoints.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Profit target size in price points.
	/// </summary>
	public int TakeProfitPoints
	{
		get => _takeProfitPoints.Value;
		set => _takeProfitPoints.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Base order volume used by the strategy.
	/// </summary>
	public decimal BaseVolume
	{
		get => _baseVolume.Value;
		set => _baseVolume.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Enable martingale style position sizing.
	/// </summary>
	public bool UseMartingale
	{
		get => _useMartingale.Value;
		set => _useMartingale.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Multiplier applied after a losing trade when martingale is active.
	/// </summary>
	public decimal MartingaleMultiplier
	{
		get => _martingaleMultiplier.Value;
		set => _martingaleMultiplier.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Maximum allowed order volume.
	/// </summary>
	public decimal MaximumVolume
	{
		get => _maximumVolume.Value;
		set => _maximumVolume.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Selected trading mode.
	/// </summary>
	public StrategyModes Mode
	{
		get => _mode.Value;
		set => _mode.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// ZigZag term preset for addition mode.
	/// </summary>
	public TermLevels ZigZagTerm
	{
		get => _termLevel.Value;
		set => _termLevel.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Period of the slow smoothed moving average used in MA test mode.
	/// </summary>
	public int SlowMaPeriod
	{
		get => _slowMaPeriod.Value;
		set => _slowMaPeriod.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Period of the fast simple moving average used in MA test mode.
	/// </summary>
	public int FastMaPeriod
	{
		get => _fastMaPeriod.Value;
		set => _fastMaPeriod.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Candle type processed by the strategy.
	/// </summary>
	public DataType CandleType
	{
		get => _candleType.Value;
		set => _candleType.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="ExpertZzlwaStrategy"/> class.
	/// </summary>
	public ExpertZzlwaStrategy()
	{
		_stopLossPoints = Param(nameof(StopLossPoints), 600)
		.SetGreaterThanZero()
		.SetDisplay("Stop Loss (points)", "Protective stop in points", "Risk");

		_takeProfitPoints = Param(nameof(TakeProfitPoints), 700)
		.SetGreaterThanZero()
		.SetDisplay("Take Profit (points)", "Profit target in points", "Risk");

		_baseVolume = Param(nameof(BaseVolume), 0.01m)
		.SetGreaterThanZero()
		.SetDisplay("Base Volume", "Default order volume", "Trading");

		_useMartingale = Param(nameof(UseMartingale), false)
		.SetDisplay("Use Martingale", "Enable martingale sizing", "Trading");

		_martingaleMultiplier = Param(nameof(MartingaleMultiplier), 2m)
		.SetGreaterThanZero()
		.SetDisplay("Martingale Multiplier", "Multiplier applied after a loss", "Trading");

		_maximumVolume = Param(nameof(MaximumVolume), 10m)
		.SetGreaterThanZero()
		.SetDisplay("Maximum Volume", "Upper cap for order size", "Trading");

		_mode = Param(nameof(Mode), StrategyModes.MovingAverageTest)
		.SetDisplay("Mode", "Operating mode", "General");

		_termLevel = Param(nameof(ZigZagTerm), TermLevels.LongTerm)
		.SetDisplay("ZigZag Term", "Sensitivity preset for ZigZag", "Indicators");

		_slowMaPeriod = Param(nameof(SlowMaPeriod), 150)
		.SetGreaterThanZero()
		.SetDisplay("Slow MA Period", "Smoothed MA length", "Indicators");

		_fastMaPeriod = Param(nameof(FastMaPeriod), 10)
		.SetGreaterThanZero()
		.SetDisplay("Fast MA Period", "Simple MA length", "Indicators");

		_candleType = Param(nameof(CandleType), TimeSpan.FromHours(1).TimeFrame())
		.SetDisplay("Candle Type", "Time frame to analyse", "General");
	}

	/// <inheritdoc />
	public override IEnumerable<(Security sec, DataType dt)> GetWorkingSecurities()
	{
		return [(Security, CandleType)];
	}

	/// <inheritdoc />
	protected override void OnReseted()
	{
		base.OnReseted();

		_highest = null;
		_lowest = null;
		_slowMa = null;
		_fastMa = null;
		_pendingBuySignal = false;
		_pendingSellSignal = false;
		_originalBuyReady = true;
		_originalSellReady = true;
		_zigZagDirection = 0;
		_prevSlow = 0m;
		_prevFast = 0m;
		_trackedPosition = 0m;
		_averageEntryPrice = 0m;
		_lastClosedVolume = BaseVolume;
		_lastTradeLoss = false;
	}

	/// <inheritdoc />
	protected override void OnStarted2(DateTime time)
	{
		base.OnStarted2(time);

		StartProtection(
		stopLoss: new Unit(StopLossPoints * GetPriceStep(), UnitTypes.Absolute),
		takeProfit: new Unit(TakeProfitPoints * GetPriceStep(), UnitTypes.Absolute));

		_originalBuyReady = true;
		_originalSellReady = true;
		_pendingBuySignal = false;
		_pendingSellSignal = false;
		_trackedPosition = 0m;
		_averageEntryPrice = 0m;
		_lastClosedVolume = BaseVolume;
		_lastTradeLoss = false;

		var subscription = SubscribeCandles(CandleType);

		switch (Mode)
		{
			case StrategyModes.Original:
				subscription.Bind(ProcessOriginalCandle).Start();
				break;

			case StrategyModes.ZigZagAddition:
				_highest = new Highest { Length = GetZigZagDepth(ZigZagTerm) };
				_lowest = new Lowest { Length = GetZigZagDepth(ZigZagTerm) };
				subscription.Bind(_highest, _lowest, ProcessAdditionCandle).Start();
				break;

			case StrategyModes.MovingAverageTest:
				_slowMa = new SmoothedMovingAverage { Length = SlowMaPeriod };
				_fastMa = new SimpleMovingAverage { Length = FastMaPeriod };
				subscription.Bind(_slowMa, _fastMa, ProcessMovingAverageCandle).Start();
				break;

			default:
				throw new NotSupportedException($"Unsupported mode {Mode}.");
			}

			var area = CreateChartArea();
			if (area != null)
			{
				DrawCandles(area, subscription);

				switch (Mode)
				{
					case StrategyModes.ZigZagAddition:
						DrawIndicator(area, _highest);
						DrawIndicator(area, _lowest);
						break;
					case StrategyModes.MovingAverageTest:
						DrawIndicator(area, _slowMa);
						DrawIndicator(area, _fastMa);
						break;
				}

				DrawOwnTrades(area);
			}
		}

		private void ProcessOriginalCandle(ICandleMessage candle)
		{
			if (candle.State != CandleStates.Finished)
			return;

			if (Position == 0)
			{
				if (_originalBuyReady)
				{
					ExecuteTrade(Sides.Buy);
					_originalBuyReady = false;
					_originalSellReady = true;
				}
				else if (_originalSellReady)
				{
					ExecuteTrade(Sides.Sell);
					_originalSellReady = false;
					_originalBuyReady = true;
				}
			}
		}

		private void ProcessAdditionCandle(ICandleMessage candle, decimal highest, decimal lowest)
		{
			if (candle.State != CandleStates.Finished)
			return;

			if (!_highest.IsFormed || !_lowest.IsFormed)
			return;

			// Detect fresh ZigZag pivots similar to the original indicator buffers.
			if (candle.HighPrice >= highest && _zigZagDirection != 1)
			{
				_pendingSellSignal = true;
				_pendingBuySignal = false;
				_zigZagDirection = 1;
			}
			else if (candle.LowPrice <= lowest && _zigZagDirection != -1)
			{
				_pendingBuySignal = true;
				_pendingSellSignal = false;
				_zigZagDirection = -1;
			}

			DispatchSignals();
		}

		private void ProcessMovingAverageCandle(ICandleMessage candle, decimal slow, decimal fast)
		{
			if (candle.State != CandleStates.Finished)
			return;

			if (!_slowMa.IsFormed || !_fastMa.IsFormed)
			return;

			// Reproduce cross checks from the MQL version.
			var crossDown = _prevSlow > _prevFast && slow < fast;
			var crossUp = _prevSlow < _prevFast && slow > fast;

			_prevSlow = slow;
			_prevFast = fast;

			if (crossUp)
			{
				_pendingBuySignal = true;
				_pendingSellSignal = false;
			}
			else if (crossDown)
			{
				_pendingSellSignal = true;
				_pendingBuySignal = false;
			}

			DispatchSignals();
		}

		private void DispatchSignals()
		{
			if (_pendingBuySignal)
			{
				ExecuteTrade(Sides.Buy);
				_pendingBuySignal = false;
				_pendingSellSignal = false;
			}
			else if (_pendingSellSignal)
			{
				ExecuteTrade(Sides.Sell);
				_pendingSellSignal = false;
				_pendingBuySignal = false;
			}
		}

		private void ExecuteTrade(Sides side)
		{
			var volume = GetOrderVolume();
			if (volume <= 0)
			return;

			if (side == Sides.Buy)
			BuyMarket(volume);
			else
			SellMarket(volume);
		}

		private decimal GetOrderVolume()
		{
			if (!UseMartingale)
			return BaseVolume;

			if (!_lastTradeLoss)
			return BaseVolume;

			var nextVolume = _lastClosedVolume * MartingaleMultiplier;
			return nextVolume > MaximumVolume ? BaseVolume : nextVolume;
		}

		private int GetZigZagDepth(TermLevels level)
		{
			return level switch
			{
				TermLevels.ShortTerm => 12,
				TermLevels.MediumTerm => 24,
				_ => 48,
			};
		}

		private decimal GetPriceStep()
		{
			return Security?.PriceStep ?? 1m;
		}

		/// <inheritdoc />
		protected override void OnOwnTradeReceived(MyTrade trade)
		{
			if (trade?.Order == null)
			return;

			var side = trade.Order.Side;
			var volume = trade.Trade.Volume;
			var price = trade.Trade.Price;

			var previousPosition = _trackedPosition;

			if (side == Sides.Buy)
			{
				if (previousPosition >= 0)
				{
					// Building or creating a long position.
					var newPosition = previousPosition + volume;
					_averageEntryPrice = newPosition == 0m
					? 0m
					: (_averageEntryPrice * previousPosition + price * volume) / newPosition;
					_trackedPosition = newPosition;
				}
				else
				{
					// Closing part or all of a short position.
					var closingVolume = Math.Min(volume, Math.Abs(previousPosition));
					var profit = (_averageEntryPrice - price) * closingVolume;
					var remaining = previousPosition + volume;

					if (remaining >= 0m)
					{
						RegisterClosedTrade(closingVolume, profit);
						if (remaining > 0m)
						{
							// Flip into a new long position with leftover quantity.
							_trackedPosition = remaining;
							_averageEntryPrice = price;
						}
						else
						{
							_trackedPosition = 0m;
							_averageEntryPrice = 0m;
						}
					}
					else
					{
						_trackedPosition = remaining;
						// Average price of the remaining short stays unchanged.
					}
				}
			}
			else
			{
				if (previousPosition <= 0)
				{
					// Building or creating a short position.
					var newPosition = previousPosition - volume;
					var absPrev = Math.Abs(previousPosition);
					var absNew = Math.Abs(newPosition);
					_averageEntryPrice = absNew == 0m
					? 0m
					: (_averageEntryPrice * absPrev + price * volume) / absNew;
					_trackedPosition = newPosition;
				}
				else
				{
					// Closing part or all of a long position.
					var closingVolume = Math.Min(volume, previousPosition);
					var profit = (price - _averageEntryPrice) * closingVolume;
					var remaining = previousPosition - volume;

					if (remaining <= 0m)
					{
						RegisterClosedTrade(closingVolume, profit);
						if (remaining < 0m)
						{
							_trackedPosition = remaining;
							_averageEntryPrice = price;
						}
						else
						{
							_trackedPosition = 0m;
							_averageEntryPrice = 0m;
						}
					}
					else
					{
						_trackedPosition = remaining;
						// Average entry price is preserved for the reduced long position.
					}
				}
			}
		}

		private void RegisterClosedTrade(decimal volume, decimal profit)
		{
			_lastClosedVolume = volume;
			_lastTradeLoss = profit < 0m;
		}
	}