Relying on IB's servers on a heavy volume day. Bought 50 contracts on the QQQ's the Monday after Saddam was captured. Market started to tank fast and I couldn't get out fast because IB's servers went down.
I frequently have orders for 25-30 stocks at the close, and don't always get filled on all of them. I try work out of them afterhours or just hold and get out the next morning. Recently I was stuck short in a stock from 49.00. I came in the next day and it was at 70.00. Company got bought out over night.
Was a series of trades in CNXT back in Sept 2000. Thing was upgraded to a $1000 buy from $30. Opened around $60 on a triple witching Friday. Market was strong and the thing threatened to roll all day. It was a classic relative weakness play up on BS news that I'd made money short in countless times before. Not this day, was down $75k by the end ... my worst day ever. Dumbass. I believe something was said earlier about "not cutting your losses short".