BID — a resting offer to buy at a price. it waits on the left of the board until someone sells into it.

ASK — a resting offer to sell. it waits on the right.

THE GAP — the space between best bid and best ask. buy at one edge, sell at the other: the gap is a broker's living. traders call it the spread.

RESTING — an order on the board is a promise, backed in full. a bid locks up your silver, an ask locks up your rice, until it fills or you pull it.

TAKING — BUY NOW / SELL NOW crosses the gap and trades at once, at the other side's price. the house takes its cut from the impatient side only.

FIRST IN LINE — at the same price, whoever posted first fills first. the board honors the queue.

EMPTY RICE — selling rice you do not hold, to buy it back cheaper. dojima invented this. it can ruin you in either direction.

THE FUSE — the session ends when the cord burns out. whatever you still hold settles at the last price, less a carry discount. the watermen do not wait.