Start from higher timeframes and work down to find confluence
🎯 Key Questions to Answer Daily
💡 Pro Tip: Don't force trades. The best setups align higher timeframe bias with lower timeframe entry patterns. If you can't clearly answer these questions, stay out of the market.
🧠 Core ICT Concepts
Order Blocks (OB)
Last up candle before bearish move (bearish OB)
Last down candle before bullish move (bullish OB)
Institutional buying/selling zones
Higher TF OBs are more significant
Fair Value Gaps (FVG)
Imbalance between 3 candles
Gap between candle 1 high and candle 3 low (bullish)
Market often returns to fill these gaps
Can act as support/resistance
Liquidity Pools
Equal highs/lows on charts
Stop losses cluster above/below
Smart money targets these areas
Look for "stop hunts" then reversals
Market Structure
Higher Highs + Higher Lows = Bullish
Lower Highs + Lower Lows = Bearish
Break of Structure (BOS) = continuation
Change of Character (ChoCh) = potential reversal
Premium/Discount
Above 50% of range = Premium (sell zone)
Below 50% of range = Discount (buy zone)
Use equilibrium for bias
Combine with trend direction
Breaker Blocks
Failed order block that reversed
Previous resistance becomes support (vice versa)
Often stronger than regular OBs
Indicates shift in institutional positioning
⚠️ Remember: No single concept works in isolation. Look for confluence of multiple ICT concepts aligning with your higher timeframe bias.
✅ Pre-Trade Checklist
Complete ALL items before entering a trade
Market Structure & Bias
Entry Criteria
Risk Management
Mental Preparation
Rule of Thumb: If you can't check off at least 10 of these items, the setup isn't strong enough. Wait for better confluence.
📝 Trade Journal
Track your trades to identify patterns and find your edge
0
Total Trades
0%
Win Rate
0
Avg R:R
Add New Trade
📊 Trade History
⏰ Trading Sessions & Kill Zones
What are Kill Zones? These are specific time windows when institutional players are most active, creating the best trading opportunities with clear directional moves.
London Kill Zone (High Priority)
02:00 - 05:00 EST07:00 - 10:00 GMT
The most volatile forex session. London banks and institutions enter the market. Expect strong directional moves, liquidity sweeps, and clear setups.
New York Kill Zone (High Priority)
08:00 - 11:00 EST13:00 - 16:00 GMT
US institutions enter the market. Often confirms or reverses London moves. Major news releases typically occur during this window.
Asian Kill Zone (Lower Priority)
20:00 - 23:00 EST01:00 - 04:00 GMT
Generally quieter with ranging price action. Can set up liquidity for London session. Best for pairs like AUD/JPY, NZD/JPY.
⚠️ Best Practice: Focus on London and NY Kill Zones when learning. These sessions provide the clearest price action and most reliable ICT setups. Avoid trading during session overlaps initially—wait for the kill zone to develop clear direction.
Session Trading Tips
First hour: Watch for liquidity sweeps (false breaks of highs/lows)
Second hour: True directional move often begins after sweep
Third hour: Follow-through or consolidation before next session
Avoid: Trading 1 hour before and after major news events
Best days: Tuesday-Thursday typically offer clearest setups