Strategy #49
Triple EMA Alignment (9/20/50)
Entry Logic
- Entry trigger: The 9 EMA is above the 20 EMA, and the 20 EMA is above the 50 EMA (for longs), or the 9 EMA is below the 20 EMA, and the 20 EMA is below the 50 EMA (for shorts).
- Confirmation: A pullback to the 9 or 20 EMA with a confirmation candle.
- Timeframe: 15-minute chart.
- Location context: All three EMAs are pointing in the same direction.
- Market condition: A strong, established trend.
Exit Logic
- Profit target: 2R or the next significant support/resistance level.
- Scaling out: Scale out 50% at 1R.
- Trailing stop: Trail the stop below the 20 EMA (for longs) or above the 20 EMA (for shorts).
- Signal failure: Exit if the EMAs start to cross.
- Opposite signal: Exit on a confirmed reversal signal.
- Time expiration: None.
- Momentum loss: Exit if momentum fades.
Stop Loss Structure
- Hard stop: 1 ATR below the 50 EMA (for longs) or above the 50 EMA (for shorts).
- Soft stop: A close on the wrong side of the 20 EMA.
- Max dollar loss: $150 per trade.
- Max percent loss: 1.5% of account.
- Structural stop: Below the most recent swing low (for longs) or above the swing high (for shorts).
Risk Management Framework
- Risk per trade: 1% of account.
- Daily limit: 3 losing trades.
- Weekly limit: 5% drawdown.
- Max drawdown: 15%.
- R:R requirement: Minimum 1.5:1.
Position Sizing Model
- Sizing approach: Fixed fractional (1% of account).
- Volatility adjustment: Adjust size based on ATR.
- Conviction sizing: A+ setups get 1.5% risk.
- Scaling in: Not recommended.
- Scaling out: At 1R and 2R.
Trade Filtering
- Market conditions: Avoid non-trending markets.
- Setups: Only take trades when all three EMAs are aligned.
- Instruments: Any liquid instrument.
- Time restrictions: None.
- Chop/news avoidance: Avoid trading around major news.
Context Framework
- Trend direction: The trend must be clearly established and confirmed by the three EMAs.
- VWAP relationship: Trade in the direction of VWAP.
- MA relationship: The 9, 20, and 50 EMAs are all aligned.
- Range location: The trade should be taken in the direction of the overall range expansion.
- Higher TF alignment: The higher timeframe chart should confirm the trend direction.
Trade Management Rules
- Breakeven: Move stop to breakeven after a 1R move.
- Scale out: At 1R and 2R.
- Add size: Not recommended.
- Fast vs slow moves: Let the trade run in a strong trend.
Time Rules
- Optimal window: Any time during a strong trend.
- Times to avoid: Choppy, non-trending periods.
- Session notes: Works well in all sessions.
Setup Classification
- A+ setup: A perfect pullback to the 9 or 20 EMA with a strong confirmation candle and all EMAs aligned.
- A setup: A decent pullback with a good confirmation candle.
- B setup: A pullback with a weak confirmation candle.
- C setup: Avoid.
Market Selection Criteria
- Instruments: Any liquid instrument.
- Volume: High.
- Volatility: Moderate.
Statistical Edge Metrics
- Win rate: 60%.
- Avg win: 1.5R.
- Avg loss: 1R.
- Profit factor: 1.4.
- Expectancy: 0.4R.
Failure Conditions
- The strategy fails when the trend ends or the market becomes choppy.
- Avoid taking trades if the EMAs are not aligned.
Psychological Rules
- Trust the trend and the alignment of the EMAs.
- Do not get shaken out by minor pullbacks.
Advanced Components
- Regime detection: Use the ADX to confirm the trend strength.
- Filters: Only take trades if the ADX is above 25.
- Correlation: Be aware of market correlations.
- MTF alignment: Check the higher timeframe trend.
Location
- Strongest: In a strong, established trend.
- Weakest: In a choppy, non-trending market.