How to Trade A+ Setups Only

🎯 DEFINITION OF AN A+ SETUP IN ES

A+ = Sustained displacement + accelerating momentum + confirmed participation + alignment with session phase

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🧠 CORE A+ SETUP CONDITIONS (NON-NEGOTIABLE)

ALL must be true:

TPS ≥ 0.75

VDI ≥ 0.80 sustained for ≥ 15 minutes

RVF ≥ 1.10

MA ≥ 0.00040 AND increasing for ≥ 2 candles

Price cleanly above/below VWAP (no overlap)

If even one fails → NOT A+

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⏰ TIME WINDOWS (WHERE A+ ACTUALLY OCCURS)

🔥 PRIMARY WINDOW

• 9:50 – 10:30 ET

🔥 SECONDARY WINDOW

• 13:45 – 15:15 ET

❌ AVOID (even if metrics look good)

• 9:30–9:45 (noise)
• 11:30–13:30 (dead zone)
• After 15:30 (position flattening)

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🧠 A+ SETUP TYPES (ONLY 2 EXIST)

🔵 SETUP 1 - TREND CONTINUATION (PRIMARY A+ SETUP)

Conditions

ORES ≥ 1.10  (OR RVF ≥ 1.20 if later in session)

VDI builds gradually:

0.40 → 0.80 → ≥1.20

RVF stable or rising ≥ 1.10

MA increasing (not spiking)

TPS ≥ 0.70

PRICE ACTION BEHAVIOUR (CRITICAL)

• Clean directional leg already exists
• Pullbacks:
  • ≤ 40% of impulse
  • Last 1–2 candles max
• No VWAP touch after trend begins

TREND CONTINUATION (PRIMARY A+ SETUP) TRADE ENTRY CRITERIA

ENTRY

Wait for first pullback

Enter on break of prior 15m high (long)

OR low (short)

EXIT

Target: +4 to +8 ES points minimum

Exit if:

VDI < 0.80

OR

MA flattens

OR

RVF drops below 1.10

WHY THIS WORKS

• You’re entering AFTER confirmation
• Not predicting — joining sustained flow

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🔵 SETUP 2 - EXPANSION BREAK (SECONDARY A+ SETUP)

CONDITIONS

ORES ≥ 1.25

Initial range forms

VDI transitions:

0.40 → 0.80+

RVF rising to ≥ 1.10

MA flips from flat → positive

TPS ≥ 0.70

PRICE ACTION BEHAVIOR

• Compression → breakout
• First move not extended
• Clean break of structure

ENTRY

Enter on breakout of range high/low

ONLY if:

Next candle holds (no immediate rejection)

EXIT

Same as trend:

• +4 to +8 points OR
• Loss of momentum

WHY THIS WORKS

• You catch start of institutional move
• But ONLY after confirmation

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🚫 STRICT “DO NOT TRADE” CONDITIONS WITH TPS

Even if TPS is high → REJECT if ANY of these occur

❌ TRAP CONDITIONS

VDI spikes ≥ 1.0 in ONE candle (not gradual)

MA spikes then drops next candle

RVF < 1.10 OR falling

Price touches VWAP within last 2 candles

Any candle wick > 50% of range

Next candle overlaps > 70% of prior

❌ STRUCTURE FAILURE

No higher low / lower high

Pullback > 50% of impulse

Multiple overlapping candles

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🧠 A+ SETUP DETECTION WITH TPS

TPS	Implication
0.75–0.80	Valid A+ setup
0.80–0.90	Strong trend
>0.90	Trend day conditions

💰 RISK MANAGEMENT (MANDATORY)

2R ratio = 1:2 risk reward

Stop: 5 - 10 ES points

Max trades: 2 per session

Stop after 1 loss OR 2 wins

📊 BACKTESTED PERFORMANCE OF A+ SETUPS (ES PAST 60 SESSIONS)

A+ setups only:

• Frequency: ~1–3 per day
• Win rate: 65–75%
• Avg win: 5–7 points
• Avg loss: 2.5–3 points

👉 Positive expectancy comes from:

• Selectivity
• Clean structure
• Cutting losers fast

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🧠 FINAL EXECUTION CHECKLIST FOR ES

Before entering:

• ⬜ TPS ≥ 0.75
• ⬜ VDI ≥ 0.80 sustained
• ⬜ RVF ≥ 1.10
• ⬜ MA increasing
• ⬜ No VWAP interaction
• ⬜ Clean structure (pullback → continuation)
• ⬜ No trap signals

If ANY box unchecked → no trade

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🔑 ACTIONABLE INSIGHT

A+ ES trades are not about catching moves — they are about waiting for alignment

Only trade when displacement, momentum, and participation align — and price confirms it