diff --git a/.env b/.env
index 9dd9c68..eb26dfc 100644
--- a/.env
+++ b/.env
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ TRAILING_STOP_PERCENT=0.5
 TRAILING_STOP_ACTIVATION=0.4
 MIN_SIGNAL_QUALITY_SCORE=91
 MIN_SIGNAL_QUALITY_SCORE_LONG=90  # Nov 23, 2025: Longs have 71.4% WR at quality 90-94 (+$44.77 on 7 trades)
-MIN_SIGNAL_QUALITY_SCORE_SHORT=95  # Nov 23, 2025: Shorts toxic at quality 90-94 (28.6% WR, -$553.76 on 7 trades)
+MIN_SIGNAL_QUALITY_SCORE_SHORT=80  # Nov 23, 2025: Shorts toxic at quality 90-94 (28.6% WR, -$553.76 on 7 trades)
 # Adaptive Leverage System (Nov 24, 2025)
 USE_ADAPTIVE_LEVERAGE=true
 HIGH_QUALITY_LEVERAGE=15
diff --git a/app/api/trading/execute/route.ts b/app/api/trading/execute/route.ts
index ef29975..3df77ea 100644
--- a/app/api/trading/execute/route.ts
+++ b/app/api/trading/execute/route.ts
@@ -184,12 +184,14 @@ export async function POST(request: NextRequest): Promise<NextResponse<ExecuteTr
     console.log(`📊 Signal quality score: ${qualityResult.score} (calculated early for adaptive leverage)`)
     
     // Get symbol-specific position sizing with quality score for adaptive leverage
+    // ENHANCED Nov 25, 2025: Pass direction for SHORT-specific leverage tiers
     const { getActualPositionSizeForSymbol } = await import('@/config/trading')
     const { size: positionSize, leverage, enabled, usePercentage } = await getActualPositionSizeForSymbol(
       driftSymbol,
       config,
       health.freeCollateral,
-      qualityResult.score // Pass quality score for adaptive leverage
+      qualityResult.score, // Pass quality score for adaptive leverage
+      body.direction // Pass direction for SHORT-specific tiers (Q90+=15x, Q80-89=10x)
     )
     
     // Check if trading is enabled for this symbol
diff --git a/config/trading.ts b/config/trading.ts
index eb160fc..ac0bcff 100644
--- a/config/trading.ts
+++ b/config/trading.ts
@@ -322,13 +322,15 @@ export function calculateActualPositionSize(
 /**
  * Get actual position size for symbol with percentage support
  * Now supports adaptive leverage based on quality score (Nov 24, 2025)
+ * ENHANCED Nov 25, 2025: Direction-specific leverage for SHORTs
  * This is the main function to use when opening positions
  */
 export async function getActualPositionSizeForSymbol(
   symbol: string,
   baseConfig: TradingConfig,
   freeCollateral: number,
-  qualityScore?: number // NEW: Optional quality score for adaptive leverage
+  qualityScore?: number, // Optional quality score for adaptive leverage
+  direction?: 'long' | 'short' // NEW: Direction for SHORT-specific leverage tiers
 ): Promise<{ size: number; leverage: number; enabled: boolean; usePercentage: boolean }> {
   let symbolSettings: { size: number; leverage: number; enabled: boolean }
   let usePercentage = false
@@ -367,10 +369,21 @@ export async function getActualPositionSizeForSymbol(
   )
   
   // NEW (Nov 24, 2025): Apply adaptive leverage based on quality score
+  // ENHANCED (Nov 25, 2025): Direction-specific thresholds
   let finalLeverage = symbolSettings.leverage
   if (qualityScore !== undefined && baseConfig.useAdaptiveLeverage) {
-    finalLeverage = getLeverageForQualityScore(qualityScore, baseConfig)
-    console.log(`📊 Adaptive leverage: Quality ${qualityScore} → ${finalLeverage}x leverage (threshold: ${baseConfig.qualityLeverageThreshold})`)
+    finalLeverage = getLeverageForQualityScore(qualityScore, baseConfig, direction)
+    
+    // Log SHORT-specific leverage decisions
+    if (direction === 'short') {
+      if (qualityScore >= 90) {
+        console.log(`📊 Adaptive leverage (SHORT): Quality ${qualityScore} → ${finalLeverage}x leverage (Tier 1: Q90+)`)
+      } else if (qualityScore >= 80) {
+        console.log(`📊 Adaptive leverage (SHORT): Quality ${qualityScore} → ${finalLeverage}x leverage (Tier 2: Q80-89)`)
+      }
+    } else {
+      console.log(`📊 Adaptive leverage: Quality ${qualityScore} → ${finalLeverage}x leverage (threshold: ${baseConfig.qualityLeverageThreshold})`)
+    }
   }
   
   return {
@@ -652,16 +665,37 @@ export function getMinQualityScoreForDirection(
 
 // Get leverage based on signal quality score (Nov 24, 2025)
 // Data-driven: v8 quality 95+ = 100% WR (4/4 wins), quality 90-94 more volatile
+// Get leverage based on signal quality score (Nov 24, 2025)
+// ENHANCED Nov 25, 2025: Direction-specific thresholds for adaptive leverage
+// Data-driven: 
+//   LONGs: Quality 95+ = 100% WR (4/4 wins), quality 90-94 more volatile → 90/95 split
+//   SHORTs: Quality 80+/RSI 33+ = 100% WR (2/2 wins), quality 90+ safer → 80/90 split
 export function getLeverageForQualityScore(
   qualityScore: number,
-  config: TradingConfig
+  config: TradingConfig,
+  direction?: 'long' | 'short'
 ): number {
   // If adaptive leverage disabled, use fixed leverage
   if (!config.useAdaptiveLeverage) {
     return config.leverage
   }
   
-  // High quality signals get maximum leverage
+  // Direction-specific quality thresholds for leverage
+  // SHORTs are riskier, use lower threshold (80 vs 90) but still tier by quality
+  if (direction === 'short') {
+    // Quality 90+ SHORTs → Full leverage (when combined with RSI 33+)
+    if (qualityScore >= 90) {
+      return config.highQualityLeverage
+    }
+    // Quality 80-89 SHORTs → Reduced leverage (more conservative)
+    if (qualityScore >= 80) {
+      return config.lowQualityLeverage
+    }
+    // Below 80 shouldn't execute (filtered out), but return minimum if it does
+    return config.lowQualityLeverage
+  }
+  
+  // LONGs use original threshold (95+ for high leverage)
   if (qualityScore >= config.qualityLeverageThreshold) {
     return config.highQualityLeverage
   }
diff --git a/lib/trading/signal-quality.ts b/lib/trading/signal-quality.ts
index 6ca430a..20107d8 100644
--- a/lib/trading/signal-quality.ts
+++ b/lib/trading/signal-quality.ts
@@ -130,6 +130,17 @@ export async function scoreSignalQuality(params: {
         score -= 10
         reasons.push(`RSI oversold (${params.rsi.toFixed(1)})`)
       }
+      
+      // CRITICAL (Nov 25, 2025): Data-driven SHORT filter
+      // Analysis of 14 SHORT signals showed:
+      //   - All 4 disasters had RSI < 33 (avg RSI 28.3, lost -$665.70)
+      //   - All 2 winners had RSI >= 33 (RSI 33.9, 66.3, won +$59.37)
+      //   - RSI < 33 = shorting into oversold = catching falling knives
+      // This penalty drops quality below 80 threshold, blocking the signal
+      if (params.rsi < 33) {
+        score -= 25
+        reasons.push(`🚨 SHORT oversold trap: RSI ${params.rsi.toFixed(1)} < 33 → BLOCKING (-25 pts)`)
+      }
     }
   }