Open Trade Equity (OTE) is an important concept in trading that represents the amount of unrealized gains or losses on open positions before they are closed out. OTE allows traders to get a better understanding of their overall performance and can be used as a form of risk management.In order to calculate OTE, one must first determine the current market value for each open position, then subtract any associated margin requirements from that number. This will give you the total equity available for trading purposes without taking into account any realized profits or losses yet incurred by closing out trades. By keeping track of this figure over time, traders can gain insight into how well they are managing their risk and whether adjustments need to be made in order to achieve desired returns on investment.Finally, it is also important for traders to keep track not only of their own individual performance but also how it compares with other investors in terms of portfolio size and composition as well as overall return on investments achieved through various strategies employed at different times throughout the year. Knowing your OTE provides valuable information about where you stand relative both yourself and others which can help inform future decisions when making trades going forward so that maximum profitability may be achieved while minimizing downside risks wherever possible.