Fractional Kelly

Betting a fraction, typically 25-50%, of the full Kelly criterion amount to reduce variance while retaining most of the growth benefit.

Like driving at 80% of top speed -- you get there almost as fast with much less crash risk.

Why it matters

Fractional Kelly dramatically reduces drawdown risk while only slightly reducing long-term growth rate.

How DMP uses this

DMP recommends fractional Kelly for users applying systematic bet sizing to +EV plays.

Common mistake

Using full Kelly because it is optimal -- quarter Kelly captures 75% of the growth with far less volatility.