diff --git a/lib/live/engine.js b/lib/live/engine.js
index a7e817d..f46e2d4 100644
--- a/lib/live/engine.js
+++ b/lib/live/engine.js
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import crypto from 'crypto';
 
 /**
  * Live Trading Engine — real money on Kalshi.
- * Uses fill_or_kill orders with buy_max_cost for safety.
+ * Uses IOC (Immediate-or-Cancel) orders for thin-book safety.
  * All amounts in CENTS internally.
  */
 export class LiveEngine {
@@ -152,12 +152,20 @@ export class LiveEngine {
       return null;
     }
 
+    if (priceCents <= 0 || priceCents >= 100) {
+      console.log(`[Live] Invalid price ${priceCents}¢ — skipping`);
+      return null;
+    }
+
     const priceInDollars = priceCents / 100;
     const contracts = Math.max(1, Math.floor(sizeDollars / priceInDollars));
 
     const clientOrderId = crypto.randomUUID();
     const side = signal.side.toLowerCase();
 
+    // Build order with IOC (Immediate-or-Cancel) instead of FoK via buy_max_cost.
+    // IOC partially fills whatever is available and cancels the rest,
+    // so thin order books won't cause a hard 409 rejection.
     const orderBody = {
       ticker: signal.ticker,
       action: 'buy',
@@ -165,7 +173,7 @@ export class LiveEngine {
       count: contracts,
       type: 'limit',
       client_order_id: clientOrderId,
-      buy_max_cost: costCents,
+      time_in_force: 'ioc',
     };
 
     if (side === 'yes') {
@@ -175,7 +183,7 @@ export class LiveEngine {
     }
 
     try {
-      console.log(`[Live] Placing order: ${side.toUpperCase()} ${contracts}x @ ${priceCents}¢ ($${sizeDollars}) | ${signal.reason}`);
+      console.log(`[Live] Placing IOC order: ${side.toUpperCase()} ${contracts}x @ ${priceCents}¢ ($${sizeDollars}) | ${signal.reason}`);
 
       const result = await kalshiFetch('POST', '/trade-api/v2/portfolio/orders', orderBody);
       const order = result?.order;
@@ -185,6 +193,16 @@ export class LiveEngine {
         return null;
       }
 
+      const fillCount = order.taker_fill_count || 0;
+      const fillCost = order.taker_fill_cost || 0;
+      const status = (order.status || '').toLowerCase();
+
+      // IOC with zero fills means nothing was available at our price
+      if (fillCount === 0 && (status === 'canceled' || status === 'cancelled')) {
+        console.log(`[Live] IOC got 0 fills — no liquidity at ${priceCents}¢ for ${signal.ticker}`);
+        return null;
+      }
+
       const orderRecord = {
         orderId: order.order_id,
         clientOrderId,
@@ -192,30 +210,28 @@ export class LiveEngine {
         ticker: signal.ticker,
         side,
         priceCents,
-        contracts,
-        costCents,
+        contracts: fillCount || contracts,
+        costCents: fillCost || costCents,
         reason: signal.reason,
-        status: order.status || 'pending',
+        status: fillCount > 0 ? 'filled' : (order.status || 'pending'),
         createdAt: Date.now(),
         settled: false,
         result: null,
         pnl: null,
-        fillCount: order.taker_fill_count || 0,
-        fillCost: order.taker_fill_cost || 0,
+        fillCount,
+        fillCost,
         marketState: {
           yesPct: marketState.yesPct,
           noPct: marketState.noPct
         }
       };
 
-      if (order.status === 'executed' || order.status === 'filled') {
-        orderRecord.status = 'filled';
+      if (fillCount > 0) {
         this.totalTrades++;
-      } else if (order.status === 'canceled' || order.status === 'cancelled') {
-        orderRecord.status = 'cancelled';
-        console.log(`[Live] Order cancelled (likely FoK not filled): ${order.order_id}`);
-        return null;
-      } else {
+      }
+
+      // Only track as open if we actually got fills that need settling
+      if (fillCount > 0) {
         this.openOrders.set(order.order_id, orderRecord);
       }
 
@@ -225,7 +241,7 @@ export class LiveEngine {
         console.error('[Live] DB write error:', e.message);
       }
 
-      const msg = `💰 LIVE [${signal.strategy}] ${side.toUpperCase()} ${contracts}x @ ${priceCents}¢ ($${sizeDollars}) | ${signal.reason}`;
+      const msg = `💰 LIVE [${signal.strategy}] ${side.toUpperCase()} ${fillCount}x @ ${priceCents}¢ ($${(fillCost/100).toFixed(2)}) | ${signal.reason}`;
       console.log(`[Live] ${msg}`);
       await notify(msg, `Live: ${signal.strategy}`, 'high', 'money_with_wings');