Adding contracts to an open position is a tool that cuts both ways. Done into strength, it's pyramiding — concentrating size where the trade is working. Done into weakness, it's averaging down — throwing more money at a losing idea to feel better about the average. Same button, opposite outcomes.
Scaling in (the disciplined version)
You add as the trade confirms: enter a starter at your level, and add only when price moves in your favor and the thesis strengthens — a reclaim holds, the next level breaks, momentum builds. Your winners get bigger, your losers stay small, and each add is justified by fresh evidence, not hope. The stop moves up to protect the growing position.
Averaging down (the trap)
You add as the trade goes against you, buying more at a worse price to lower your average and “need a smaller bounce to get out.” On a decaying 0DTE option this is how small losses become account-enders: you're increasing size on a position the market is telling you is wrong, with a clock running against you. It feels like conviction; it's usually denial.
Add to trades the market is confirming, never to trades it's rejecting. Pyramiding builds winners; averaging down funds losers.
The rules
Three: only add to a position that's green and confirming; keep total risk within your plan (adds count toward your size limit, and move the stop up so the bigger position isn't bigger risk); and never add to a loser to fix your average — if it's wrong, scale out or stop, don't scale in. If you can't tell which one you're doing, you're averaging down.