What is expected pay-off in MT5 strategy tester optimization result? how to read it? how to interpret it? and how to find the best parameter of my EA (expert advisor) using expected pay-off?

📘 What is Expected Payoff in MT5 Strategy Tester?

Expected Payoff in MetaTrader 5 is a key performance metric found in the Strategy Tester after optimization or backtesting. It measures:

💡 The average profit or loss per trade over the entire test.

✅ Formula:

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Expected Payoff = Total Net Profit / Total Number of Trades

So if your EA made:

• $1,000 net profit
• Over 200 trades,
  Then:

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Expected Payoff = 1000 / 200 = $5

It means on average, your EA earns $5 per trade (after losses are factored in).

📖 How to Read & Interpret Expected Payoff

🧠 How to Use Expected Payoff to Find the Best Parameters

📍 During Optimization:

1. In the MT5 Strategy Tester, optimize your EA with various input parameters.
2. After the test completes, sort the result by Expected Payoff.
   • Click on the "Expected Payoff" column to sort from highest to lowest.
3. Look for parameter sets with:
   • High Expected Payoff
   • Reasonable Drawdown
   • Solid Profit Factor (> 1.3 is usually a good baseline)

🚩 Caution: Don't Use Expected Payoff Alone

A high Expected Payoff can be misleading if:

• The number of trades is too small (less statistical confidence).
• The maximum drawdown is too high (risky).
• It results from just one big winner (not consistent performance).

🔍 Best Practice: Combine with Other Metrics

When choosing the best parameters:

🔧 Tip for Robust EA Optimization:

• Avoid optimizing solely for maximum profit.
• Use Expected Payoff + Low Drawdown + High Profit Factor.
• Check how the EA behaves on out-of-sample forward testing afterward.