ES/NQ Trading - looking for solutions

I think you contradicted yourself here....

No, you stopped reading there and didn't put the pieces together. Intuition is simply something we know so well we no longer have to think actively about it. "Subjectivity," intuition," "art" are all words we use to cover our ignorance or our ineptitude, or both.
 
to daytrade the ES is not easy..you are competing against the best trading professionals in the world..who spend millions on algo programming ( remember it is not their own money which is why they can do it)..so..in order to try and get a slice of the cake..or maybe a few crumbs would be more appropriate..
I am well aware of this fact. The algos just love to take-out stops...and also "gun and run" the market.
We had two days of that last week...where we went to HOD's in ES until 3:50 pm when the market reversed sharply....with no news...for no reason. That was an eye-opening experience....luckily I took advantage of one of those reversals. I was up $450 in 11 seconds...I'll never forget that trade.
BTW: For the most part with my scalping I am getting the crumbs. I am trying to morph more into short-term swing trades with a duration of 5-15 minutes. Currently, my average-time-in-trade is only 3-5 minutes....with some of my stops being taken out in seconds....as they are sometimes too tight.

one needs to step back and learn all about patience and waiting..it also helps to be able to see the key levels at a glance and if the last price is going off at the bid or the ask..as for multiple contracts..well..it is all relative to how much you have..as the golden rule of trading..no matter what or how you trade..is to never risk too much on any one trade..adding to winning positions is far better than risking too much from the start..
I put them in this order: Guts, Patience, Discipline, Intuition

but again..when to add is the key..this is the hard part that very few ever grasp..mostly due to inexperience with reading charts!
Well versed here.....standard tech analysis i.e. double bottoms, tops, trend lines, support/resistance, etc. as well as candlestick patterns and Elliott Wave analysis. I'm on a forum during the trading day with some very talented traders who support each other.
 
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No, you stopped reading there and didn't put the pieces together. Intuition is simply something we know so well we no longer have to think actively about it. "Subjectivity," intuition," "art" are all words we use to cover our ignorance or our ineptitude, or both.

I have to agree with you here..intuition should not be allowed when trading.. it's a numbers game..simple maths..but the powers that be put every obstacle in the way so that cannon fodder is maintained..at any cost!

an inexperienced trader..with good discipline and good basic math skills..can outperform the fool who has been tinkering around in the financial markets for years..learning about everything..and really getting nowhere!

the world is full of gamblers..but how many make it to the top..those who have all sing from the same hymn sheet..most of the time when they are playing they are really doing nothing..they wait for the opportunity to present itself..that is when they bet big..but never all in..as no matter how good they get at "reading others"..there is always Lady Luck..or should I say Lady Unlucky..to deal with!

a little knowledge is a very dangerous thing.. especially when it comes to trading..much better to know that you really know nothing and the best bet is to play the odds..of course..in order to maximize one has to be some bit clever..it is not for those who are not able to think for themselves!
 
I am well aware of this fact. The algos just love to take-out stops...and also "gun and run" the market.
We had two days of that last week...where we went to HOD's in ES until 3:50 pm when the market reversed sharply....with no news...for no reason. That was an eye-opening experience....luckily I took advantage of one of those reversals. I was up $450 in 11 seconds...I'll never forget that trade.
BTW: For the most part with my scalping I am getting the crumbs. I am trying to morph more into short-term swing trades with a duration of 5-15 minutes. Currently, my average-time-in-trade is only 3-5 minutes....with some of my stops being taken out in seconds....as they are sometimes too tight.


I put them in this order: Guts, Patience, Discipline, Intuition


Well versed here.....standard tech analysis i.e. double bottoms, tops, trend lines, support/resistance, etc. as well as candlestick patterns and Elliott Wave analysis. I'm on a forum during the trading day with some very talented traders who support each other.

you sound like me years ago..and..fwiw..I made some good money..but just gave it all back again..many times over

support and resistance. .yes..definitely..as for the rest..not in my book anyway

candles..bar charts are better I think..there is a reason why and it has to do with something called "balance"..ask your trading buddies about this..it will be interesting to see what they say:)

I gave up trading some time ago..but have decided to return shortly..when I started to look at the charts again I was surprised how much I had forgotten..took me good few hours to just get the basics even sorted..the micro emini contracts are going to be very handy for getting back into the swing of things..as it does take a while to get into good form..as..it is all about YOU..not the markets!
 
you sound like me years ago..and..fwiw..I made some good money..but just gave it all back again..many times over
Simple question: how did that happen ? What was your big mistake ?
I gave up trading some time ago..but have decided to return shortly..when I started to look at the charts again
Why come back ?

it is all about YOU..not the markets!
I understand that...I have great technology, but the major issue is managing what's between my ears.
That trumps everything...trading platform, data feed, custom indicators, etc, etc.
 
Simple question: how did that happen ? What was your big mistake ?

Why come back ?


I understand that...I have great technology, but the major issue is managing what's between my ears.
That trumps everything...trading platform, data feed, custom indicators, etc, etc.

overtrading

for one reason and one reason only..make some money to supplement retirement income..and..to keep the brain active

after risk management..the most important thing is discipline..easier said than done..which is why I am waiting for the micro e-minis next month..I know only too well the pitfalls of trading the e-minis..once you are in good form it really just becomes a matter of time!

I pay no heed to what others post anywhere..unless they are genuine and make sense..which the majority are not..or do not..be careful trading with others..been there and done that..unless it makes perfect sense and the reason can be clearly identified as repeatable enough to limit risk substantially..then..forget it..most confuse luck with skill.. especially those who use TA such as fibs.. stochs..Elliot..CCI..and the rest of the silly mathamatical equations

P.V.T is what matters most!
 
Answer 2)

If you're using any kind of risk:reward or profit target...

As soon as you reach your goal, take the profit (exit the position) and do not then become "Sheriff Hindsight Analysis" via becoming frustrated if you had stayed longer you could have grabbed a bigger profit.

Simply, know your destination target before departure and don't bitch about it after you reach your goal. Stay focus and stay happy when you reach your profit targets...bank the profit and move on...don't dwell on that you could have gotten more. Those that dwell on profitable trades that had reach the goal that was designated...it sets them up for future trade problems (discipline problems).
wrbtrader,

Thanks

I swear this is the best post of last week. Atleast for me, because for every trade I take and make profit, I always play Sheriff Hindsight Analysis and it really gets annoying.
 
Started about 3 months ago and what a learning experience.
Solving the hardware, software, data feed, broker problems were EASY.
First 2 months were a disaster with a 25-30% win rate.
Obviously my entries sucked. Every time I entered I trade, I was immediately down.....soon to be stopped out. I was always buying into resistance and selling into strength. The other big problem that I finally solved was revenge trading.....where after a loss, I would immediately go in the other direction only to be stopped out....again due to choppy conditions.
Well, I got much better and now I'm at 50-60% win rate. I maintain rigorous stops and never lose a lot.
However, there are still many issues I need to resolve: Any helpful comments greatly appreciated....

1) determining size...how many contracts to place in the trade
Right now I'm constantly trading 4 ES and 3 NQ....that's huge (for me)....and very risky.
Should I use a volatility indicator for this ? Which one ? I know for 1 thing, the first hour is brutal and I've got to trade with less size. Later in the day, I can increase size.

2) staying in profitable trades longer or until my indicators say to get out
This is a huge problem with many traders. I constantly get out too early...it's killing me.
However, I hate trailing stops....in the volatile futures markets, they take you out of the trade only to continue in your intended direction....which REALLY SUCKS.
%%
Huge problem getting out to early?? Ok.Too much size+ to little dividends+ to little chart study.Its a bull market you know; do you know that+ if you really knew that= you would not enter exit so much??

I got out + back in with MAR weak , weak sell off,; so when we are wrong make an adjustment. Size?? Try SPY...... Syswize+ by the way its up more than 15%+ dividends YTD. SQQQ pays a good dividend-that may not help much until it keeps closing above 50 dma/OCT-DEC 2018 .NOT a prediction, not an action addict.

PS; that does mess with your mind when you exit/stop + it keeps going up again= but uptrending bull markets do that all the time/mostly LOL. When all else fails, do like Rich Dennis does- cut back on size when losing, or better yet ,study monthy , money making charts.
 
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