USE
How To Use This Console
STEP 01 · PRE-OPEN
Set bias
Look at your /MES chart. Click each cell ↑ or ↓ to record what you see. All 4 same direction = trade that side only.
STEP 02 · SETUP FORMS
Run checklist
When a setup appears, tick off all 6 boxes. Only "TAKE THE TRADE" if every box is green. Otherwise WAIT.
STEP 03 · BEFORE ENTRY
Size position
Enter your stop in points. Calculator tells you how many contracts to buy so you risk only X% of account.
STEP 04 · EXECUTE
Take the trade
Place market entry + bracket (stop + target) in Tradovate. Console doesn't trade for you — it disciplines you.
STEP 05 · AFTER TRADE
Log + check DD
Log the trade in the journal. Update Apex drawdown with new balance. Watch room left until bust line.
WHAT THIS IS
A pre-trade discipline tool for /MES day trading on a $50K Apex account. It does NOT connect to a broker or place trades. You still trade in Tradovate (or whatever platform). This console makes you slow down, confirm bias, run a checklist, size correctly, and journal every trade — the boring stuff that separates the 10% who survive from the 90% who don't.
WHEN TO USE EACH SECTION
- 01 BIAS — once at session open, then update if conditions change. If 4 cells don't agree → don't trade.
- 02 CHECKLIST — every time you think a setup is forming, before clicking buy/sell.
- 03 SIZE — before entering. Tells you # contracts based on your stop distance.
- 04 DRAWDOWN — after each trade close, update "Current". Always know room left to bust.
- 05 JOURNAL — after every trade closes. Be honest about "Did I follow plan? Y/N".
EVERYTHING IS LOCAL
Your data lives in your browser only — never sent anywhere. Clear browser storage = data gone. Use Export CSV regularly for journal backups.
A TYPICAL TRADING SESSION
- 09:00 ET — open console, look at chart, set 4 bias cells
- 09:30 — market opens, watch for setup
- 09:45 — setup appears → run checklist (all 6?)
- If GO → size in calculator → place trade in Tradovate with stop + target
- Trade closes → log it in journal → update drawdown current balance
- If 2 losses today → SESSION TELEMETRY warns "STAND DOWN" → close platform, you're done
01
Bias Check
HOW Look at your chart. For each filter, click the cell to cycle ↑ UP (favors longs) → ↓ DOWN (favors shorts) → · NEUTRAL. When all 4 match, you have a directional bias and should only trade that side.
SET BIAS
CLICK A CELL TO CYCLE: ↑ UP / ↓ DOWN / · NEUTRAL · ALL 4 SAME = DIRECTIONAL BIAS
·
02
Entry Checklist
HOW When you think a setup is forming, click each box that's true. Only execute when all 6 turn green. Missing any one = WAIT.
✓
Bias confirmed01
Long or short bias from Section 01 — not chop
✓
Pullback to EMA02
Price has pulled back to 9 or 21 EMA
✓
Confirmation candle03
Closed in trade direction off the EMA
✓
MACD aligned04
MACD line agrees with trade direction
✓
Volume above avg05
Entry candle volume ≥ 20-bar average
✓
Time window OK06
Not 11:30am–1:30pm ET lunch chop
WAIT
CONFIRM ALL 6 CRITERIA TO RECEIVE GO SIGNAL
0/6
05
Trade Journal
HOW After each trade closes, fill out the form and click + Log Trade. P&L auto-calculates ($5/point × contracts). "Plan? Y/N" = were you honest about following your rules. Export CSV regularly to back up.
Side
Entry
Exit
Contracts
Setup
Plan?
Reason / Trigger
Notes
| Time | Side | Entry | Exit | Qty | Setup | P/L | Run | Plan | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — NO TRADES LOGGED — | |||||||||
REF
Setup Library
▶ SETUP A EMA Pullback PRIMARY · TREND
LONG VERSION
- 1 · Above VWAP, 9 EMA above 21 EMA
- 2 · Price pulls back to 9 EMA
- 3 · Bullish candle closes back above EMA
- 4 · MACD line still above signal
- 5 · Volume on entry ≥ 20-bar avg
ENTRY
close
STOP
<21 EMA
TARGET
1.5–2R
SHORT VERSION
- 1 · Below VWAP, 9 EMA below 21 EMA
- 2 · Price pulls up to 9 EMA
- 3 · Bearish candle closes back below EMA
- 4 · MACD line still below signal
- 5 · Volume on entry ≥ 20-bar avg
ENTRY
close
STOP
>21 EMA
TARGET
1.5–2R
▶ SETUP B VWAP Reclaim REVERSAL
LONG VERSION
- 1 · Price has been below VWAP all session
- 2 · Pushes up and breaks above VWAP
- 3 · Pulls back to test VWAP from above
- 4 · Holds above; bullish confirmation candle
- 5 · MACD crosses up through signal
ENTRY
close
STOP
5–10t<VWAP
TARGET
PD high
SHORT VERSION
- 1 · Price has been above VWAP all session
- 2 · Falls and breaks below VWAP
- 3 · Pulls back to test VWAP from below
- 4 · Holds below; bearish confirmation candle
- 5 · MACD crosses down through signal
ENTRY
close
STOP
5–10t>VWAP
TARGET
PD low
▶ SETUP C Opening Range Breakout OPENING HOUR
- 1 · Mark high/low of first 15 minutes (9:30–9:45 ET)
- 2 · Wait for break of either side with momentum
- 3 · Volume confirms the break ≥ avg
- 4 · Stop = opposite end of opening range
- 5 · Target = 1.5–2× the range size
SYS
Quick Reference
CONTRACT MONTHS · /MES
H · M · U · Z = MAR JUN SEP DEC · ROLL ~8 DAYS BEFORE EXPIRY
INDICATORS · LOAD ORDER
VWAPSESSION
EMA9 / 21 · CLOSE
MACD12 / 26 / 9
VOLUMEDEFAULT
TIME WINDOWS · ET
Prime open
09:30 — 11:00
LUNCH CHOP — STAND DOWN
11:30 — 13:30
Afternoon trend
14:00 — 15:30
Close approach — caution
15:30 — 16:00
/MES MATH
1 TICK
$1.25
0.25 PT
1 POINT
$5.00
4 TICKS
NOTIONAL
~$30K
PER CTRT
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