The Chart Trader

@ChartTraderCT

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Pre-Trade Checklist

A simple gate before you click buy or sell. Work top to bottom. If any critical box fails, the default answer is no trade.

Date

Session

Instrument

Bias

Before the open

I am rested, sober, and emotionally steady enough to follow rules. If angry, revenge-minded, or distracted — stop. Trading can wait.
Platform, data, and internet are stable; hotkeys and order types confirmed.
I know today’s economic calendar / known catalysts for my market. High-impact news windows: avoid or reduce size unless that is part of a tested plan.
Daily loss limit and max trades for the session are written down.
Max loss: Max trades:

Higher timeframe first

I have marked key levels: prior day high/low, overnight range, obvious support/resistance.
I can state the prevailing bias in one sentence (trend, range, or unclear).
Bias:
Volatility and average range look tradable for my strategy — not dead, not chaotic beyond my plan.
I am only looking for setups that match today’s context — not forcing yesterday’s playbook.

A+ only

This setup is one I have defined in writing (entry criteria are clear, not “vibes”).
Setup name / type:
Location is favourable: near a planned level, not mid-range noise.
Trigger is present (break, reclaim, pullback hold, pattern complete — per my rules).
I am not chasing; the entry still offers a defined risk vs. reward.

Hard numbers

Stop location is set where the trade idea is wrong — not where it “hurts less.”
Stop:
Position size is calculated from stop distance and max $ risk per trade.
Risk $: Size:
Planned target(s) and minimum R multiple meet my rules before entry.
Target: Planned R:
This trade’s risk fits inside my daily loss limit if stopped out.

When I’m wrong

I know the price or condition that cancels the thesis immediately.
Invalidation:
I will not move the stop farther away to “give it room” after entry.
Time stop / if-nothing-happens rule is set (optional but useful for day trades).

How I’ll manage it

Order type and entry method are decided (limit, stop, market — per plan).
Scale-out / trail / all-out rules are clear before I am filled.
I will not add to a loser. Adds only if my written plan allows and risk is recalculated.
Screenshot or note ready for journal after the trade (win or loss).

Permission to sit

Go / No-go: If risk, setup, and psychology are not all green, do not enter. Sitting out is a valid professional decision.

After exit