> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.marks.finance/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Reduce a Hedge

> Remove notional from an open Hedge, keeping the same maturity.

Reducing is the mirror of [adding](/guides/add-to-a-hedge): it removes notional from your open Hedge on a market and side while keeping the same `maturity_at`. The reduction is proportional - the margin backing the position scales down with it - so the rest of the position is unchanged. Reducing is asynchronous and fills the same way an open does.

If the amount you remove covers roughly the whole position, the Hedge closes fully. To deliberately exit a position, [close it](/guides/close-and-settle) instead.

## Request

Reducing is by market and side. Marks resolves your open Hedge on that side server-side.

| Field                 | Type   | Required | Description                                             |
| --------------------- | ------ | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| `market`              | string | No       | Defaults to `USDTNGN`.                                  |
| `side`                | string | Yes      | `buy` or `sell` - the side of the open Hedge to reduce. |
| `reduce_notional_usd` | number | Yes      | Notional to remove, greater than 0.                     |

<Info>
  Pass an `Idempotency-Key` so the reduction is safe to retry. See [API Conventions](/guides/api-conventions#idempotency).
</Info>

```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST "$BASE_URL/hedges/decrease" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $MARKS_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Idempotency-Key: $(uuidgen)" \
  -d '{"market":"USDTNGN","side":"sell","reduce_notional_usd":50000}'
```

Returns `404 no_open_hedge` if you don't have an open Hedge on that side.

## The response

The response returns `status: "submitted"` with an `order_tx_hash`; the reduction fills shortly after. `hedge_id` is unchanged - the reduction nets out of the same position. `reduced_notional_usd` is what you removed, `new_notional_usd` is the position's total after the reduction, and `maturity_at` is unchanged.

<Tip>
  To grow a position instead, see [Add to a Hedge](/guides/add-to-a-hedge). To exit completely, see [Close & Settle](/guides/close-and-settle).
</Tip>