Setup Definition
Name the pattern, required context, invalid examples, and exact conditions that must appear.
Strategy validation
A setup is not a strategy until it has rules, evidence, and review.
Use this checklist before adding any trade model to your playbook. It protects students from turning attractive examples into untested systems.
Market Conditions
Define trend, range, volatility, session, news, liquidity, and timeframe filters.
Entry Rules
Write the trigger, confirmation, limit/market order logic, and no-trade conditions.
Exit Rules
Define target logic, partials, time stop, failed follow-through, and manual exit rules.
Stop Rules
Place stops at invalidation, not comfort. Define when stops can and cannot move.
Risk Model
Set risk per trade, daily loss limit, max open exposure, and drawdown pause rules.
Testing Evidence
Collect sample size, screenshots, market condition tags, R results, and execution notes.
Review Loop
Track rule adherence, common mistakes, expectancy, emotional tags, and improvement actions.