Gold pullback stops sit beyond the retracement extreme plus a spread buffer — typically $4 to $9 on XAUUSD — with position size derived from that distance rather than the reverse.
Deep retracements beyond 61.8% warrant half size because trend structure is less certain, and staged entries are valid only as a pre-planned split with one combined risk and a single structural stop.
One re-entry is permitted after a stopped pullback if trend structure remains intact, with total gold exposure capped at 2% of equity across all XAU symbols.