ICT Archivist

Tag: ict

  • When Starting Is Difficult Or Intimidating | July 5, 2023

    Summary:

    – ICT recounts coaching his 18-year-old son, who tried and failed multiple funded-account challenges by treating trading like a video game—rushing, overleveraging and pressing the button out of ego or impatience.
    – Core lesson: trading is a business of risk management, discipline and self-knowledge, not gambling or showmanship. Emotional triggers (pride, fear, social pressure) cause most account blow-ups.
    – Practical coaching points given to the son: tape-read price action, desensitize to execution by practicing small trades, use strict position sizing (e.g., max 1–1.5% risk), accept partials/exits, and journal results to learn patterns.
    – Start small and scale: aim for modest, repeatable gains (even $200–$250 per trade or one handle) and compound consistency rather than chasing big, infrequent wins. If a setup can’t be found multiple times intraday at that yield, don’t take outsized risk.
    – Funded-account “combines” and demo/demo-challenges can foster reckless behavior; passing them is only the beginning—real skill requires time, backtesting, tape reading and emotional control.
    – Cut out social-media noise, ego-driven posting and “gurus.” External validation invites emotion and bad decisions; profitable traders narrow focus, follow a simple repeatable model, and avoid tinkering.
    – There are no shortcuts: expect months or a year of disciplined practice to develop competence. Accept mistakes, learn from them, and build discipline over time.
    – Motivational close: trading offers huge upside if you commit, manage yourself, and do the hard work—ignore naysayers, be patient, and treat trading as a craft to be mastered.

    Quiz

    1) According to ICT, what is the maximum percentage of a $50,000 funded account you should risk on a trade?
    A. 0.5%
    B. 1.5%
    C. 5%
    D. 10%

    2) How does ICT say you should treat trading?
    A. Like a video game for practice and fun
    B. Like gambling with occasional lucky wins
    C. Like a business — you are the CEO and must manage it
    D. Like a hobby with no rules

    3) What does ICT say about viewing trading as a video game?
    A. It’s the best way to desensitize yourself to losses
    B. It’s the stupidest idea anybody could ever employ
    C. It’s a useful mindset for funded account challenges
    D. It’s equivalent to high-frequency algorithmic trading

    4) What “low-hanging fruit” per-trade target does ICT recommend beginners consider?
    A. $50
    B. $250
    C. $1,000
    D. $5,000

    5) What does ICT recommend regarding social media influence on your trading?
    A. Invite as many online mentors as possible to speed learning
    B. Use social media to publicly share every trade for accountability
    C. Block out and minimize social media influence; don’t let “wads” dictate your career
    D. Only follow influencers who show large account growth

    Answer Key

    1) Answer: B. 1.5%
    Evidence: “I want you to think about one and a half percent of that that’s the highest you can ever go … you are not allowed to go over one and a half percent” (Timestamp ~0:29:27–0:29:57).

    2) Answer: C. Like a business — you are the CEO and must manage it
    Evidence: “you have to treat this like a business when you go to work … you are the boss you’re the CEO … you are the human resource manager you’re in charge of everything” (Timestamp ~0:23:41–0:24:14).

    3) Answer: B. It’s the stupidest idea anybody could ever employ
    Evidence: “that to me is why I think viewing trading as a video game is the stupidest [ __ ] idea anybody could ever employ” (Timestamp ~0:23:10–0:23:16).

    4) Answer: B. $250
    Evidence: “if you can find a setup that yields 250 dollars … that 250 can be scaled” and earlier he discusses the $244 trade with his son as a meaningful comparison to weekly pay (Timestamps ~1:00:21–1:00:28 and ~0:16:51–0:17:03).

    5) Answer: C. Block out and minimize social media influence; don’t let “wads” dictate your career
    Evidence: “stop inviting social media [ __ ] wads into your career” and “you have to block out everything … keep the focus on you” (Timestamps ~0:51:44–0:51:53 and ~2:04:12–2:04:21).

  • Because… | July 1, 2023

    Summary:

    Speaker Michael Huddleston (ICT) gives a long, candid testimony mixing his life story, trading career, faith, and warnings about the future. Key points:

    – Personal testimony and divine experiences: He describes multiple occasions where he heard an audible, reassuring male voice (which he attributes to God) that saved him (e.g., a childhood gun incident) and guided moments in his life (including accurate personal details and prenatal predictions). He recounts suicidal thoughts stopped by a voice, a dramatic spiritual turning point when he asked God for trading insight and promised to serve others if gifted, and other interventions in his family’s life.

    – Faith and theology: He affirms a strong Christian faith—Jesus as the one true God manifested in flesh (rejecting the traditional Trinity formulation). He urges people to repent, believe the gospel, and seek a personal relationship with Christ.

    – Trading background and teaching: He traces ICT’s origins to 1992, admitting early mistakes (blown accounts) and gradual development of his methods. He defends his teachings, notes many successful students, warns against shortcuts and social-media-driven “success,” and recommends at least a year of real practice to learn a trading style. He denies offering signal services publicly and says some online mentorship claims are fake.

    – Social/media/organizational decisions: He criticizes megachurches and televangelists profiting off religion and voices frustration with online trolls. He announces he will step away from promoting the ICT persona and dial back social media in November to focus on family, faith, and self-sufficiency.

    – End-times warnings and practical advice: He believes a rapture (harpazo) is imminent, expects intensifying global chaos, and warns of technological/financial controls (digital currency, mark). He urges listeners to prepare practically (grow food, become self-reliant), prioritize spiritual readiness, avoid chasing public clout, and value being “comfortable in your own skin” as true excellence.

    He discloses bipolar disorder, emphasizes humility, and insists his gifts came from God and are meant to serve others.

    Quiz

    1) When did ICT say he read his first trading book and that Inner Circle Trader (ICT) was born?
    A. 1990
    B. November 5, 1992
    C. 2016
    D. July 2019

    2) Which of the following best describes ICT’s stated view of God/Christ?
    A. God exists as a Trinity of three distinct persons.
    B. There is one God who manifests Himself in the flesh as Jesus Christ.
    C. Jesus is not divine.
    D. God is purely a metaphor and not literal.

    3) In ICT’s teenage story at his friend’s house, what crucial event did he describe?
    A. He discovered trading principles on a book left at the house.
    B. He heard an audible male voice telling him to “pull the door in front of you,” which coincided with a gun firing and saved him from harm.
    C. He was offered a scholarship to study computer science.
    D. He fell from the roof and broke his arm.

    4) What minimum learning timeframe for trading does ICT recommend in the transcript?
    A. One month
    B. Four months
    C. One year
    D. Five years

    5) Why does ICT say he is stepping away from promoting the ICT name and reducing social media presence after November?
    A. He was forced off social media by others.
    B. He wants to focus on family, be closer to God, avoid distractions, and put down the ICT image.
    C. He plans to rebrand and launch a new aggressive marketing campaign.
    D. He says trading no longer works and he’s quitting markets.

    Answer key:

    1) Answer: B
    Evidence: “at 20 years old when I first sat down November 5th 19 92 Thursday evening 9 pm at my aunt and uncle’s house I read my first trading book that’s when Inner Circle Trader was born” (timestamp ~0:30:51–0:31:06)

    2) Answer: B
    Evidence: “there is one God … God manifests himself in the flesh and that is Jesus Christ … he is the father when he provided a body to indwell and manifest himself among men” (timestamp ~0:09:12–0:09:43)

    3) Answer: B
    Evidence: “I hear a voice over the right shoulder audibly … what I heard was ‘pull the door in front of you’ … as soon as my right toe … connected with the door swinging in front of me the gun went off … all the Buckshot was right there … on the door I was on” (timestamps ~0:11:01–0:13:14)

    4) Answer: C
    Evidence: “I tell you you need to see a minimum of one year because then you’ll see a full calendar year you’ll see the ebb and flow of the seasonal tendencies that come in the marketplace” (timestamp ~0:37:42–0:38:03)

    5) Answer: B
    Evidence: “no one’s scaring me away … my family needs me I need to be closer to God … when I’m out here … it becomes about me … I’m removing it entirely in November … I’m putting down the name of ICT I’m not carrying it forward … so he increases further in my personal life” (timestamps ~1:08:57–1:09:03; ~1:22:11–1:22:26)

  • ICT Shotgun Saturday – Destination Excellence | July 1, 2023

    ICT—argues that true excellence in trading is not about having more tools or being “right” on every trade, but about how you manage yourself: discipline, patience, risk control, and accepting “enough” rather than perfection. He explains he built many methods early on (to overcome fear), but stresses students should specialize, study deeply (give a model 2–3 months, a year for seasonal perspective), journal, and cocoon themselves from distraction and social-media shortcuts. He warns against quick-fix gurus and chasing every new technique, saying those shortcuts may make money short-term but won’t create long-term, consistently profitable traders. He plans to stop teaching publicly in November to force students to use what they have and become independent. He defends concepts he teaches (PD arrays, order blocks, fair-value gaps, etc.) and says they work when properly applied. He also candidly shares the personal cost of pursuing excellence—sacrifice, failed trades, emotional strain—and urges acceptance of that process. Finally, he issues a broader caution about coming social changes (digital currencies with controls, “climate lockdowns,” rising instability) and urges being prepared and able to earn from home.

    Quiz

    Q1. How many PD arrays did ICT say he has created and utilized over the years?
    A) 12
    B) 45
    C) 81
    D) 120

    Q2. When did ICT say he plans to “set sail” / depart from doing this kind of one-on-one content?
    A) End of December
    B) Second week of November
    C) Next January
    D) Mid-July

    Q3. According to ICT, how long does it take to have “a full Baseline” and some measure of understanding of the marketplace over a calendar year?
    A) One month
    B) Six months
    C) One full year
    D) Five years

    Q4. ICT states that excellence in trading primarily comes from:
    A) Having the right tools and processes
    B) Owning many entry methods
    C) How the trader handles themself and engages the market
    D) Always being perfectly right

    Q5. How long does ICT recommend you spend studying a single model/method before judging its effectiveness?
    A) A few days
    B) Two to three months
    C) One week
    D) Two years

    Answer Key:

    1: C
    Evidence: “I said well you know I have 81 specific PD arrays that I utilized over the years to frame a entry” (timestamp range: 0:02:06.840 – 0:02:15.480)

    2: B
    Evidence: “when I you know set sail in the second week of November” (timestamp range: 0:03:54.720 – 0:04:00.840)

    3: C
    Evidence: “but in one full year you will have a full Baseline” (timestamp range: 0:09:01.080 – 0:09:09.320)

    4: C
    Evidence: “the Excellence in this industry is not from the tools it’s not from the process … it’s how you as the operator you the traitor handle yourself and engage the market” (timestamp range: 0:05:09.060 – 0:05:27.900)

    5: B
    Evidence: “you should at least spend at least two to three months with it” (timestamp range: 0:43:45.660 – 0:44:03.900)

  • How To Trade Big Runners Properly | June 23, 2023

    Summary:

    Key takeaway: holding “big runner” trades is a skill you must earn gradually — it’s not greed but a disciplined progression from small, consistent wins to larger runs. Success depends more on mindset, risk management and framework than on fancy entries or copying others.

    Essentials:
    – Start small and grow slowly: begin with one contract/lot, prove you can take profits, then incrementally increase size. Don’t jump to max leverage just because it’s available.
    – Use partials: take logical partial profits as the trade moves in your favor to lock gains, reduce risk, and desensitize yourself to holding larger remaining positions.
    – Have a higher‑timeframe frame of reference: identify higher‑timeframe liquidity/targets (weekly/daily) before aiming for big runs; intraday charts alone won’t justify long holds.
    – Consider inter‑market relationships and time of day: choose the instrument most likely to move (the laggard when bearish), and factor algorithmic rotations (e.g., PM session) and opening‑range behavior.
    – Strict risk management: trade sizes and stops should protect your capital; funded account rules don’t mean you must use full permitted lots — avoid blowing accounts.
    – Manage psychology and distractions: journaling, reviewing video of your trades, and recognizing personal “tells” help you learn when to stop and when to hold. Avoid ego-driven or audience‑driven decisions.
    – Trade less, choose quality setups: focus on a few high‑probability trades rather than constant action; consistency (even small, regular wins) is respectable and scalable.
    – Long game and realism: expect a prolonged learning curve; conditions improve by gradual conditioning (he estimates many market days of experience). Slow and methodical wins.

    Bottom line: identify higher‑timeframe targets, start tiny, take partials, manage risk and mind, and only then gradually scale size — that’s how you reliably capture big runners.

    Quiz

    1) According to ICT, when you get a funded account you should initially:
    A. Use the maximum contracts the firm allows
    B. Start with one contract and graduate up slowly
    C. Always trade 15 contracts
    D. Immediately pyramid to 10 contracts

    2) What does ICT identify as the secret to holding big runners and managing trade risk?
    A. Doing full-pull entries only
    B. Taking partials at logical levels
    C. Relying solely on Fibonacci extensions
    D. Never using stop losses

    3) ICT says before trusting intraday charts to hold a trade for a large run you must have:
    A. Only one-minute chart confirmation
    B. A higher time frame draw on liquidity (weekly/daily)
    C. A pivot point and standard deviation indicator only
    D. A news headline to justify the move

    4) Around what time does ICT say the algorithm PM session begins (New York local time)?
    A. 9:30 AM
    B. 12:00 PM
    C. About 1:30–1:40 PM
    D. 5:00 PM

    5) What primary purpose does ICT assign to journaling?
    A. To post your best trades on social media
    B. To record concerns, cheerlead yourself, and desensitize to outcomes
    C. To predict exact future prices
    D. To replace demo trading entirely

    Answer Key:
    Q1: B
    Evidence: “so the rules for you to be able to do this is start with one contract when you get funded I don’t give a [__] what company it is” (0:32:11.399–0:32:17.880)

    Q2: B
    Evidence: “I teach you how to take partials…that’s the secret to holding big ass runners… you’re not doing a full pull” (0:22:56.159–0:23:03.360 and 0:26:44.460–0:26:48.659). Also: “partials are a huge huge benefit” (0:55:51.599–0:55:57.599)

    Q3: B
    Evidence: “the first thing that you have to understand is that you have to have a higher time frame draw on liquidity” (0:15:24.420–0:15:31.440). And: “you have to at least at the very minimum have some idea on a daily chart what is it reaching for” (0:17:53.520–0:18:01.260)

    Q4: C
    Evidence: “we know that the algorithm starts its PM session at 1 30 New York local time around 1 40 or so I can’t remember the minute marker but it’s about 140.” (0:38:24.180–0:38:37.280)

    Q5: B
    Evidence: “journaling is the biggest crutch as a Trader you have to be you have to have it folks… encourage yourself go back in your journal and find a period where you were hitting it… read what you annotated in the charts… that’s where you want to get a high off of that” (1:35:59.880–1:36:07.139 and 1:36:16.739–1:36:28.199)

  • Navigating Markets & High Probability Trading | May 29, 2023

    Summary:

    – Purpose and tone: The speaker (ICT) reviews his trader-education philosophy, trading evolution, and life lessons—direct, blunt, and aimed at forcing students to take responsibility and do the work.

    – Personal context and decision: He’s stepping back from active public mentoring (ending Inner Circle Trader activity in November) to regain balance and spend time with family. His videos and core content will remain available.

    – Responsibility and mindset: Trading success is 100% personal responsibility. Quit blaming tools, courses, influencers or the market. Most failures come from internal faults—laziness, impulsiveness, poor discipline—and not from the method.

    – Learning curve and realism: Trading requires time, repetition and emotional work. You can’t shortcut the experience; losses, mistakes and “scar tissue” teach essential lessons. Expect years of learning, not instant success.

    – Methodology focus: He emphasizes naked price action and top-down analysis (weekly → daily → 60‑minute → intraday). Avoid over-reliance on indicators; study price, time and liquidity (fair value gaps, order blocks, inefficiencies).

    – The “silver bullet” concept: A time-based intraday setup (60‑minute window / “kill zones”) that repeatedly produces tradable opportunities—use economic calendar timing, look for imbalances on low timeframes (drop from 5m → 4m → 3m → 2m → 1m) and trade precise, repeatable entries rather than chasing noise.

    – Seasonality and data: He endorses using reliable seasonality data (e.g., Steve Moore) as a macro input, but warns seasonality is not infallible—blend with price action and context.

    – Demo teaching & execution: He teaches and demonstrates in demo accounts to avoid legal/advice issues and to remove emotional attachment; practicing in demo is valid and valuable. Real-money execution and psychological readiness remain the student’s responsibility.

    – Risk management & mental capital: Know your real mental risk tolerance (mental capital) and size positions accordingly. Build “mental capital” by experiencing small, repeated wins and by pausing to consolidate after success (avoid chasing sugar highs).

    – Critique of influencers and drama: Drama/“clout” marketing is short-term and damages brands. Focus on substance, honesty, and consistent teaching. He calls out opportunistic rebranding and plagiarism in the space.

    – Teaching style and limits: He has shared much publicly, won’t teach certain proprietary items outside family, and won’t run future mentorships the way he did. He encourages students to study core content thoroughly and journal their work.

    – Human lessons & priorities: Trading can consume life; money doesn’t compensate for lost family time. He urges students to balance family and trading, avoid letting trading become their whole identity, and to use success to do good (charity, helping others).

    – Call to action for creators: Be honest about struggles and share real execution and lessons (including failures). Authenticity helps viewers and grows meaningful communities.

    Overall: trading is technical but primarily psychological; success comes from disciplined, time-based price-action study, honest self-work, consistent risk management, and patience—not shortcuts, drama, or idolizing gurus.

    Quiz

    1) Why does ICT say he often uses a demo account when teaching?
    A. Because demo accounts are more profitable
    B. To teach without acting as a financial advisor / to be outside legal scope
    C. Because he cannot trade real accounts
    D. To hide his methods from students

    2) What does ICT recommend new traders learn first?
    A. Complex indicators like RSI and CCI
    B. Supply and demand order blocks only
    C. Naked price action (price only, no indicators)
    D. High-frequency scalping techniques

    3) What is ICT’s “Silver Bullet” concept?
    A. A new indicator for long-term investing
    B. A 60-minute time-window intraday setup (a timing model/entry method)
    C. A brokerage he recommends
    D. A seasonal calendar he sells

    4) Whose seasonal tendency research/data does ICT cite and recommend for studying seasonal tendencies?
    A. Larry Williams
    B. Jake Bernstein
    C. Steve Moore
    D. ICT himself

    Answer key with evidence:

    1) B — “To teach without acting as a financial advisor / to be outside legal scope”
    Evidence: “Yes, I’m absolutely using the demo because I’m teaching and I’m outside the scope of any legality by doing that because I’m not acting as a financial advisor.” (00:12:56,082 –> 00:13:01,322)

    2) C — “Naked price action”
    Evidence: “They should learn primarily naked price action.” (00:57:36,732 –> 00:57:39,792)

    3) B — “A 60-minute time-window intraday setup”
    Evidence: “I’ve literally removed all of the f***ing guesswork and reduced it down to a 60 minute time window. Gave it a cool ass name, the silver bullet…” (01:34:02,127 –> 01:34:13,317)

    4) C — “Steve Moore”
    Evidence: “And I got them from Steve Moore.” (00:32:03,257 –> 00:32:06,537)

  • Is That Your P&L Or Are You Just Happy To See Me? | May 20, 2023

    Speaker (Michael Huddleston / ICT) delivers a long mentoring talk focused on mindset, discipline, and practical guidance for traders. Key points:

    – Purpose: Join his community to learn a skill—to make money—not for celebrity, entertainment, or constant novelty.
    – Mindset over mechanics: Psychology, discipline, and following rules are primary; execution details (entries, stops) are secondary.
    – Be accountable: The “final puzzle piece” is you—your habits, patience, and willingness to apply what you’ve learned.
    – Avoid being a “professional student”: Don’t endlessly chase new methods; pick a baseline model, master it, then adapt. He recommends his flagship models (2022 model, Silver Bullet, Optimal Trade Entry) as sufficient.
    – Focus and practice: Backtest, journal, rehearse, and trade only when setups match your model—be a sniper, not a market-hopper.
    – Profitability, not being right: Measure success by P/L and money management, not by predicting every move.
    – Time and patience: Learning takes years (he spent six). Don’t impose unrealistic deadlines; calibrate and aim for excellence.
    – Prepare for hard times: Develop multiple income streams and a reliable trading baseline to survive economic stress.
    – Critique of others: Beware of incomplete tutorials and “one-trick” teachers; value thorough, tested instruction.
    – Platform/context note: He discusses some political/censorship topics off YouTube to avoid losing his main teaching channels and stresses he’ll step back in November so students must be self-reliant.

    Actionable takeaway: choose one proven model, study and backtest it diligently, discipline your psychology, focus on consistent profitability, and stop chasing endless new techniques.

    Quiz

    1. According to ICT, what should be the primary reason you come to his Twitter/YouTube community?
    A) To become part of a social group
    B) To learn how to make money
    C) To make him a celebrity
    D) To get free trading signals

    2. Which mindset trait does ICT say will prevent someone from being successful as a trader?
    A) Patience
    B) Needing to be right
    C) Discipline
    D) Willingness to adapt

    3. How many entry models does ICT say he developed while overcoming his fear of entering trades?
    A) 12
    B) 27
    C) 81
    D) 150

    4. What does ICT say will happen in November (2023) regarding his role/identity?
    A) He will start selling merchandise
    B) He will launch a new paid signals service
    C) He will step back/leave and “turn you loose”; stop being ICT and be Michael
    D) He will hire a large team of public influencers

    5. What does ICT call the “final puzzle piece” students are waiting for?
    A) The last entry model (PD array)
    B) The perfect trading indicator
    C) The student themselves — looking in the mirror
    D) A funded account provider

    Answer Key with evidence

    Q1 — B) To learn how to make money
    Evidence: “you should be here for one reason only to learn how to make money” (00:09:30.120–00:09:42.480)

    Q2 — B) Needing to be right
    Evidence: “and the ones that try to resist it while learning how to trade they’re not going to be successful and that trait is needing to be right” (00:11:21.180–00:11:30.360)

    Q3 — C) 81
    Evidence: “and that’s how I have 81 entry models” (00:24:00.360–00:24:10.260)

    Q4 — C) He will step back/leave and “turn you loose”; stop being ICT and be Michael
    Evidence 1: “because in November 2023 I’m going to Turn You Loose” (00:13:33.420–00:13:37.680)
    Evidence 2: “I want to put it down in November I don’t want to be ICT anymore I just want to be Michael and when I leave in November” (00:25:24.659–00:25:30.480)

    Q5 — C) The student themselves — looking in the mirror
    Evidence: “if you walked over to your mirror right now … that’s the final puzzle piece … it’s always been you” (00:50:34.500–00:50:55.380)

  • No shoes, No Shirt… NWOG | May 13, 2023

    Summary:

    – Context: ICT (a trading mentor) is on vacation but reviews the week’s market behavior and teaching points, noting some family health matters and that he’s sharing concepts publicly through November.

    – Market call and result: He focused bullishly on Nasdaq futures (NQ, symbol nqm2023) because a weekly “gap” (liquidity void) existed. He identified key weekly levels (gap high ~13,480.75 and gap low ~13,453.00). Price reached and respected those zones, then showed an “immediate rebalance” (a quick repricing signature at the 10:00 AM candle on May 12) that preceded a fast decline to the new-week opening-gap low (~13,310.50).

    – Key concepts taught
    – Fair Value Gaps (FVGs), weekly gaps, order blocks and how to mark them on weekly/daily/hourly charts to anticipate liquidity targets.
    – “Immediate rebalance”: when price reprices quickly to a prior level and signals algorithmic/spooled one‑sided movement — a high-probability signature for aggressive delivery.
    – Relative strength / “Sick Sister” concept: compare closely correlated markets (NQ, ES, Dow). Trade the market showing strength (or weakness) relative to peers.
    – Precision matters: expect small variances (ticks) but use exact price/time references; annotate your charts and backtest.

    – Trading guidance and risk management
    – Don’t trade CPI or other high-impact events from the wrong side; don’t rely on sound bites — read the full context.
    – Use scaled profits and partials while learning; experienced setups (immediate rebalance) may justify no partials, but novices should take partials.
    – Backtest, trade slowly, preserve capital, and build skill before using real/live or funded accounts. If confused, step away and restart study/practice.
    – Avoid copying trades blindly, chasing clout, or publicizing trades to the mentor (he discourages tweeting him results).

    – Mindset and mentoring
    – Trading success is incremental, requires discipline, self-awareness, and time. Identify personal strengths/weaknesses; don’t expect shortcuts from social media educators.
    – Markets are currently subdued (institutional cash on the sidelines); be patient and adapt to lower-volatility regimes.
    – He encourages independence: learn to analyze and execute on your own, not depend on signals.

    – Practical notes: He will post a tweet about a funded-challenge pick and urges students to do the chart work he prescribes (draw rectangles for FVGs, compare timeframes).

    Quiz

    1) Which three indices did ICT say you only need to watch comparatively for relative strength analysis (the “indices” to compare)?
    A. Russell 2000, NASDAQ 100, FTSE 100
    B. S&P 500, NASDAQ 100, Dow 30
    C. NASDAQ 100, Nikkei 225, DAX
    D. S&P 400, Dow 30, Russell 2000

    2) What was ICT’s guidance about taking partials when an “immediate rebalance” signature forms?
    A. Always take partials immediately
    B. Do not take partials on an immediate rebalance
    C. Take partials only if the market is Nasdaq
    D. Take partials only if the fair value gap is unfilled

    Answer Key with evidence

    1) B — S&P 500, NASDAQ 100, Dow 30
    Evidence: “when we’re talking about indices we’re talking about S P 500 NASDAQ 100 and the Dow 30.” (transcript, around 0:17:04–0:17:14)

    2) B — Do not take partials on an immediate rebalance
    Evidence: “immediate rebalance … you do not take [expletive] partials … you don’t take partials on immediate rebalance” (transcript, around 0:53:06–0:53:14). Additional context: ICT defines the immediate rebalance around the 10:00am May 12, 2023 candle and explains it signals sudden one‑sided delivery, which is why partials should not be taken (transcript discussion on immediate rebalance and the 10am May 12th candle, around 0:40:59–0:41:40 and 0:53:06–0:53:14).

  • Time Based Setups & Models – A Chapter Preview | May 6, 2023

    ICT presents a trading philosophy built around time-based setups and models: markets behave predictably at certain daily sessions (London, New York AM, lunch, PM, last hour), and profitable trading comes from anticipating these time-driven, algorithmic volume inflows rather than reacting to price moves.

    Key trading ideas
    – Time matters: schedule your trading around specific high-probability windows and learn the characteristic behaviors of each session.
    – Anticipate, don’t react: identify where liquidity, inefficiencies, order blocks and fair value gaps lie on higher timeframes and expect price to run into or away from them at predictable times.
    – Session rules (briefly): London often produces false breakouts/Judas swings into buy-stops (shorting opportunities); New York typically continues higher-timeframe moves and then forms reversal profiles; lunch hour (11:00–13:00 NY) commonly runs stops to re-accumulate positions; AM/PM “Silver Bullet” windows (~10–11, 14–15 NY) can produce compact continuation moves.
    – Use small, repeatable targets (e.g., 5 handles) and scale up gradually; higher timeframe setups can be the same logic on larger charts but occur less frequently.

    Risk, psychology and process
    – Limit time exposure and trade only what fits your personality and life; master one session/model before adding more.
    – Backtest, tape-read, demo and journal religiously; log setups by time until you desensitize to fear and learn to manage unrealized profits and drawdown.
    – Control impulses: avoid overtrading, social-media influence, FOMO; apply simple rules (e.g., sleep one night after a drawdown).

    Broader context and call to action
    – The speaker warns of systemic risks (currency changes, digital central bank controls, social-credit style controls) and urges practical preparedness (self-reliance, contingency planning).
    – Final message: adopt disciplined, time-based, rule-driven trading, put in the necessary study and journaling, and treat trading as a business to build resilience.

    Quiz

    1) According to ICT, what should a brand-new trader do at the very opening of the market?
    A. Trade aggressively to catch early moves
    B. Avoid trading in the first minute or two
    C. Rely only on indicators for entries
    D. Use maximum leverage to maximize gains

    2) ICT describes the London session “sweet spot” (in New York local time) as which window?
    A. 7:00–9:00 AM
    B. 9:30–11:30 AM
    C. 2:00–4:00 AM
    D. 3:00–5:00 PM

    3) What time does ICT identify as the New York open “Killzone” (New York local time)?
    A. 2:00–5:00 AM
    B. 7:00–10:00 AM
    C. 11:00 AM–1:00 PM
    D. 3:00–5:00 PM

    4) ICT refers to a specific one-hour AM setup often called the “Silver Bullet.” Which hour is that?
    A. 2:00–3:00 AM
    B. 7:00–8:00 AM
    C. 10:00–11:00 AM
    D. 3:00–4:00 PM

    5) Why does ICT argue time-based setups and models can be anticipated reliably?
    A. Because indicators always confirm them
    B. Because social media traders create predictable moves
    C. Because scheduled volume inflows and algorithms produce time-specific behaviors
    D. Because candlestick art forms are the only reliable tool

    Answer Key with evidence:

    1) Correct: B. Avoid trading in the first minute or two
    Evidence: “all right so you don’t want to schedule you’re trading if you’re brand new at the very opening like the first minute or two of trading because you know that now everybody’s in there dog piling in to take trades…” (timestamp ~0:19:14–0:19:33)

    2) Correct: C. 2:00–4:00 AM
    Evidence: “London time between two o’clock in the morning New York local time to 5 A.M… that’s a three hour window and The Sweet Spot is between two o’clock and four o’clock” (timestamp ~0:31:33–0:31:54)

    3) Correct: B. 7:00–10:00 AM
    Evidence: “the New York open Killzone which is seven o’clock to 10 o’clock in New York look time” (timestamp ~0:50:28–0:50:41)

    4) Correct: C. 10:00–11:00 AM
    Evidence: “Silver Bullet inside of the am session that time window is very very specific it’s inside of 60 minutes… all you’re looking for is a continuation… the first one that forms between 10 o’clock and 11. that one you’re going to see that right there” (timestamp ~1:21:21–1:22:28)

    5) Correct: C. Because scheduled volume inflows and algorithms produce time-specific behaviors
    Evidence: “you can set a clock to volume in trading as well just like traffic… you can anticipate setups that will form within those little specific time windows” (timestamp ~0:10:36–0:11:03); and “I’m only really focusing on specific times because those times are algorithmic… if there is an algorithm… most of you know there is” (timestamp ~0:25:13–0:25:24)

  • Equity Concerns When Your Heavens Are Like Brass | April 29, 2023

    Summary:

    – Personal context: ICT took a road trip with his sons to remove himself from the market and control impulsive trading tendencies. He openly discusses struggling with mental illness, impulsiveness, and a lifelong need to “prove” himself—factors that affect trading behavior.

    – Near-miss anecdote: He describes a tense gas-station incident where a likely staged robbery was averted by bluffing and leaving—used as a warning to stay aware and protect yourself physically as well as financially.

    – Current market environment: Markets have been choppy, sideways and lower-probability for big moves (a “scalpers market”), making setups less clean and reliable than in past periods. That makes trading harder now than many expect.

    – Core trading advice:
    – When in doubt, stay out; when you recognize a trade is against you, get out. Don’t pray for a trade to save you.
    – Use rule-based, time-based setups (he highlights 10–11am and 2–3pm windows) rather than trying to be in the market every day.
    – Trade smaller, realistic goals (e.g., a few handles) and be content with consistent, modest wins rather than forcing big returns.
    – Demo-trade to discover your personal weaknesses and patterns before risking real money. Journaling performance is essential.
    – Accept losses as inevitable; trying to avoid all losing trades increases the chance of larger failures.

    – On learning and mentorship: There are no shortcuts—skill-building takes time (years), discipline, and honest self-assessment. Beware of flashy “mentors” selling quick fixes or signal services; focus on sound logic and process.

    – Market outlook and specifics: He referenced seasonal tendencies (possible May→June weakness) and weekly fair-value/liquidity gaps on the ES chart as context for potential moves, explaining that these structural reads guide his decisions.

    – Psychological and life balance: He emphasizes self-care—taking breaks, unplugging, spending time with family—to recalibrate when trading becomes emotionally driven. He reflects on grief, family responsibilities, and the importance of being present outside trading.

    – Final message: Learn who you are, follow a disciplined, rule-based approach, avoid impulsive behavior driven by ego or social media, and give yourself permission to step away until you can trade objectively and safely.

    Overall: the talk is a mix of market analysis, practical risk-management rules, strong emphasis on mental/behavioral fitness, and mentorship urging patience, demo-practice, journaling, and disciplined trading.

    Quiz

    2) In ICT’s talk, what does the phrase “your Heavens are like brass” mean for traders?
    A. Markets are extremely volatile and unpredictable
    B. Prayers or attempts to change outcomes feel unanswered and progress stalls
    C. You should double down on trades because outcomes are certain
    D. It’s a technical indicator for reentry points

    3) What is ICT’s primary recommendation about using demo accounts for new traders?
    A. Demo accounts are a waste of time; start with small real money
    B. Use a demo to learn the platform and discover your personal weaknesses before risking real money
    C. Only use demo accounts to practice one specific pattern repeatedly
    D. Demo accounts should be used only after you pass a funded challenge

    4) What time-based “Silver Bullet” windows does ICT emphasize as recurring opportunities each trading day?
    A. 8:00–9:00 and 12:00–13:00 Eastern
    B. 9:30–10:30 and 14:30–15:30 Eastern
    C. 10:00–11:00 and 14:00–15:00 Eastern
    D. 11:00–12:00 and 15:00–16:00 Eastern

    Answer Key with evidence

    1) Correct: B
    Evidence:
    – “there’s a passage in Deuteronomy… when you ask for help and you send a prayer it doesn’t sound like it’s getting answered… it feels like your Heavens are like brass” (0:27:54–0:28:32) — he links the phrase to prayers feeling unanswered.
    – “your field… is like iron so you can’t plant or harvest anything… so you’re stuck” (0:28:36–0:28:48) — further explanation that progress stalls, applied to trading situations.

    2) Correct: B
    Evidence:
    – “that’s why I teach with a demo that’s why it’s the best way to learn that’s where you need to learn in a laboratory experiment setting where you are not incurring monetary risk” (1:23:56–1:24:04) — he recommends demo to discover yourself without losing money.
    – “learn the broker with the demo and then go in with real money even if it’s a little bit of money” (1:21:21–1:21:23) — he advises using demo first to learn platform and personal patterns.

    3) Correct: C
    Evidence:
    – “you wait for the Silver Bullet that means you wait for a setup between 10 and 11 Eastern Time New York local time” (0:14:42–0:14:56) — he names 10–11 ET as a Silver Bullet window.
    – “there is a fair value Gap that will reach for inefficiencies… between 10 o’clock in the morning and 11 o’clock in the morning… and between two o’clock and three o’clock every single trading day” (1:52:12–1:52:31) — he confirms both 10:00–11:00 and 14:00–15:00 as recurring windows.

  • The Sands of Time… | April 25, 2023

    Summary:

    – Current market is range-bound and low-probability: no clear weekly expansion or one‑sided bias, daily price action is stuck in a small balanced range with wicks both up and down. That makes sustained, high-probability moves unlikely right now.

    – Criteria for high-probability trades: you must be able to identify where the weekly candle will expand to (higher‑timeframe sponsorship) and the daily range should offer sufficient room (he teaches aiming for a range that can potentially deliver ~10 handles for a 5-handle run). Those conditions are not present.

    – Practical advice: preserve capital — don’t force trades in this environment. If the market isn’t giving your model its required signatures, sit out, scalp very small, or use the time to study and backtest. Lucky wins right now are mostly coincidence and can lead to bigger losses if you push.

    – Psychology and discipline: trading requires patience and control. Impulsivity is likened to addiction (alcoholism/gambling); remove temptations if needed, keep written rules, and reward yourself for not trading when conditions are poor. Read Alexander Elder’s Trading for a Living for psychological insights.

    – Macro context: geopolitical risks, bank instability and structural changes (e.g., CBDCs) elevate risk and reduce institutional willingness to assume new risk, contributing to the market’s stagnation.

    – Mentoring stance and personal note: as a mentor he won’t promote trading when his model doesn’t support it — he’s stepped away (traveling in an RV in Florida) to avoid trading impulsively and will return to live analysis when conditions improve (plans to be back on charts next Monday).

    Quiz

    1) According to ICT, what is the primary criterion you must have to consider a trade a high probability setup?
    A. A news catalyst scheduled that day
    B. An understanding of where the weekly candle will expand to
    C. A gap open on the daily chart
    D. Multiple confirmations on one-minute charts

    2) What does ICT advise you to do when the market is in a low probability condition?
    A. Pyramid into positions to force a win
    B. Trade more frequently to find opportunity
    C. Sit still or “do something else”
    D. Follow every social media signal available

    3) For a “high probability five-handle run,” ICT teaches the range should potentially offer how many handles in total?
    A. 5 handles
    B. 8 handles
    C. 10 handles
    D. 15 handles

    4) Which book does ICT recommend as the best for trading psychology and understanding impulsive behavior?
    A. Market Wizards
    B. Trading for a Living by Alexander Elder
    C. Reminiscences of a Stock Operator
    D. Thinking, Fast and Slow

    5) How does ICT describe the current market state in this talk?
    A. Low-resistance liquidity runs with clear direction
    B. A balanced trading range with wicks/tails both up and down — a small intraday scalpers market
    C. Strong trending market with institutional sponsorship pushing price
    D. Purely news-driven volatility with no intraday structure

    Answer key with evidence:

    Q1 — B. An understanding of where the weekly candle will expand to.
    Evidence: “number one you have to have some measure of understanding where that Weekly candle is going to expand to” (00:03:14.640–00:03:31.440). Also reiterated: “that Weekly expansion you have to know where is that Weekly candle the one that you’re in right now … you have to have an expectation” (00:20:17.280–00:20:26.940).

    Q2 — C. Sit still or “do something else”.
    Evidence: “if the Market’s not giving you something go do something else” (00:03:33.419–00:03:40.800). And: “I have to sit still” (00:11:09.540–00:11:17.240).

    Q3 — C. 10 handles.
    Evidence: “it needs to have a range to offer at least 10 handles” (00:25:25.919–00:25:41.220). Also: “how many handles does the range have to potentially deliver for you to get a high probability five handle run … 10 handles” (00:25:14.280–00:25:33.960).

    Q4 — B. Trading for a Living by Alexander Elder.
    Evidence: “the beginning of Alexander Elder’s book trading for a living in my opinion … that is so much better” (01:06:57.240–01:07:04.819). He further discusses the book and its psychological sections (01:07:01.680–01:07:10.460).

    Q5 — B. A balanced trading range with wicks/tails both up and down — a small intraday scalpers market.
    Evidence: “look at the daily chart you have Wicks and Tails both in up and down in that range” (00:14:56.399–00:15:03.000). And: “so now that means we’re in a scalpers Market” (00:21:00.900–00:21:05.580). Also: “we are in a point of balance … it’s balanced price has traveled up and down in that range both ways” (00:26:23.940–00:27:04.440).