My high school summer job: trading the NQ

Quote from startraitor:

Good to hear. Getting laid and trading are very similar. Calculating probabilities, limiting risk and control your emotions at all times.
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Wow, I never thought about it that way... how interesting. I don't think you need to control you emotions at ALL times though, and you would have a lot of trouble doing that in bed with a hot chick you know
 
not to sound like a prude. But honestly we all know that objectifying women and treating them like shit really doesn't bring anyone happiness in the end. If that is all life is about is money and getting laid it really isn't worth living.
 
Interesting thread. By the way, 20 NQ pts is hardly enough breathing room even if you were profitable and had traded before. Since you're new, don't have a very solid system, don't stick to your system 100%, and are dealing with emotions (all normal, might I add), you can expect to lose way more than that before it starts looking sunny.

I suggest, as others have, that you check out the YM. Also, from looking at your chart, don't chase the market. If you miss a trade, oh well. Have defined a take profit, even if it's dynamic (you could say t/p at 5 points, or... at failure of first s/r on the way).

If the trade doesn't prove right, get out. Read The Phantom of the Pits; it's free, and a wonderful read. Even if you bust out, I suggest that you keep paper trading. Make it real to you.
 
Actually, when I started paper trading futures I initially did it with the YM. But then I took a look at the NQ, and, I don't know, maybe at the time I thought that it seemed less choppy, more directional, and just overall smoother, if you know what I mean. Maybe I should look at the YM again, but I've become so familiarized with the NQ it's like, why stop now ?

Goddamitt I hope I make money tomorrow. URGH. Why can't the real deal be just as easy as the virtual deal, it's just not fair :mad:
 
For most there is a strong correlation between money and age. Right now you are trading with scared money and scared money is dea dmoney in this game. When you are young and have more time than money and very little earning power , then 100 dollars means quite a bit to you, as you grow older and are able to earn more then that same 100 becomes the emotional equivalent of a 10 when it is lost. What you lack right now it emotional maturity and capital. There is no difference in sim trading and real trading as far as the motions. The market does not care about your emotions. It is simply a tool that can either bring you money or let you give your money away. I highly suggest that you buy this book before you ever trade again. It helped me turn the corner to managing my emotions. It will help you face and conquer the demons that everyone faces at some point and time.


http://www.traderslibrary.com/moreinfo.asp?item=2121&SID=2588946162974583QGVGHHBYLONDIOSE
 
If it makes you feel any better, I had my nuts served up to me on a silver platter today going short ES. The past week we sold off and guess what....today we did not.

Tommorow is a nutha' day of fun and games!

good trading!

el surdo
 
Quote from Surdo:

If it makes you feel any better, I had my nuts served up to me on a silver platter today going short ES. The past week we sold off and guess what....today we did not.

Tommorow is a nutha' day of fun and games!

good trading!

el surdo
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Haha it really doesn't make me feel any better. Your loss isn't putting any money in my pocket now does it?

And volente, I was just venting. I think I really do have my head as straight as I can make it, and, I'm feeling good about tomorrow. These two days have taught me how to control fear on one day, and greed on the other. Hopefully, these will be the biggest lessons that I will have to learn seeing as my system itself is in order, now I just have to get ME in order,
 
I think just about every trader can tell you their going broke stories. The trick is to learn from them. Even some of the best have blown out multiple times.
 
Quote from zdawg164:

OK, so after getting a PM from a wise NQ trader, who claims to have been trading for years, I have rethought my strategy on a small scale. Like I said, I trade breakouts and bounces off new highs and lows, and strong points of S/R. I realized I needed to do two major things in my strat. One, I need to expand my stop to 2-2.5 points instead of 1.5, as this market can and does get "bouncy".

However, I think the biggest thing I needed to do was fine tune my entry points. Like I said, I trade bounce offs and break outs. I you look at my first day chart you will see (in my opinion) the S/R point was 48. You see that I would always short at about 46.5, because I always told myself that I need to wait for a bounce of at least 1.5 points. Now I'm thinking I should stick closer to home, and open up the trade at a bounce of .5 or 1 point.

So had I gone short at 47, or 47.5, there would be much more money made. Also on the first trade I completely ignored the setup by shorting at 47.75, but that was psyche issues.

So, what do you guys think of my strat?

Also, I would like to note that my batting average is very high to begin with (usually %70 right every day)
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You may want to review my post on your chart.

Previously, I pulled a post here that had some pertinent q's. Don't worry I won't post again.
 
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