Weekend Update: MES Trading Lessons & Week in Review
Sat AM Briefing: Inside the Micros Room: ES & MES Trade Plans and Price Zones
MES Micros Trading Lessons Of The Week
A detailed review of market behavior, trading psychology, and risk management lessons from George's AM briefings, including analysis of the June 9–13 trading week.
1. Core Trading Philosophy and Principles
Discipline and Trade Planning Are Paramount
Without a written plan, you're winging it—and winging it fails. George reminds traders, “If it is not written out you are winging it and you will not be a professional trader if you are winging it.” Journaling is the backbone of the improvement process: “Journal journal journal adjust your trade plan as needed.”
Patience and High-Probability Setups
Traders are encouraged to wait for mapped-out setups. “Welcome to waiting for a trade… It’s a waiting game.” The rule “no level, no trade” is emphasized, along with: “Do not chase a move. Let price do what it’s going to do.”
Risk Management: “Stay Green” and “Cut Losers”
Preserve capital above all else. Use the “Exit all” button when the trade doesn’t align. The three-contract system is favored to ensure funded runners and low-risk entries. “Stay green over trying to get more.”
Bias Toward Longs, Caution on Shorts
George prefers long setups, especially in ES: “I believe you don’t ever need to short ES.” When shorts are taken, they are small and fast — “microwave trades.”
Trader Psychology and Mental Game
Mindset is fundamental. Joshua 1:9 is quoted frequently: “Be strong and courageous... the Lord your God is with you.” The goal shifts from daily profit to discipline: “You could be red and I’m okay with that... The real daily goal is to stay in your discipline.”
2. Market Analysis and Key Levels
Strong Levels and Bull/Bear Line
These serve as magnets or bounce points. “As long as we’re under this line the bears are in control.”
VWAP Bands and Yellow Dot System
Yellow dots = 20–30 pts from VWAP. These exhaustion zones are used to trail stops or avoid entries.
Session-Specific Levels
RTH low, high, halfback, and overnight levels are vital for planning entries and exits. “Get back above RTH low and a squeeze is likely.”
Fair Value Gaps and Backside Continuation
When price leaves behind gaps and ladders beyond them, the trend is often strong and valid.
Volatility via ATR
The 3-min ATR should ideally be 5–10 points. Below 5 = slow, above 10 = too volatile — reduce size accordingly.
Intermarket Divergence
Use NQ or Russell to confirm ES moves. If ES lags while Russell “is on fire,” sentiment may shift.
All-Time Highs and Price Rejection
Near ATH, avoid aggressive shorting. George marks both back-adjusted (6237) and actual ATH (6166.50).
3. Key Events and Market Conditions
Major Economic Events
CPI, PPI, FOMC, and OPEX weeks are flagged as “Level 10.” Consider not trading at all: “Next week’s a good week to not open your DOM.”
Contract Rollover
End-of-rollover weeks bring odd price behavior. George suggests smaller size or sitting out.
News-Driven Market Shifts
International and political headlines can instantly change market character. Stay adaptive.
Disgusting Price Action
Triple taps, muddy candles, and no follow-through dominate RTH. Overnight sessions often perform “so much more beautifully.”
Bullish Dominance Despite Chop
Even when RTH is messy, George reminds us: “Nothing about this is bearish.”
4. Practical Application and Tools
Battle Plans
Shared daily in YouTube community posts. Trade plan is simple: “Longs above, shorts below.”
System Indicators
Strong Level Indicator and Bull/Bear Scorecard use 20+ data points to assess momentum.
Trade Journaling Tools
“Trader Meditations” software lets traders tag mistakes (e.g., prediction trading), journal goals, and evaluate performance around news events like CPI.
Session & Risk Management
Avoid first 6 minutes of RTH. Adjust contract size in afternoons. Focus on fewer trades with better setups.
Account Types & Risk Profiles
Differentiate trailing drawdown vs. static accounts. “You can blow a prop account while you’re in profit.” George favors static models for risk consistency.
Weekly Summary: June 9–13
The week was marked by slow, muddy, and “disgusting” RTH action with limited follow-through. Despite that, ES and NQ hovered within 3% of all-time highs. London session often offered cleaner opportunities. Next week was anticipated as a “Level 10” due to rollover, OPEX, and FOMC — prompting George to suggest a mental reset or outright vacation.
- ✅ Monday: Missed short by a tick; long failed to fund a runner. Caution advised on shorts. Bulls 17–0 on scorecard.
- ✅ Tuesday: Strong overnight long worked. Caution again: “Do not short near ATH.” Use “Exit all” button when unsure.
- ✅ Wednesday (CPI): Livestream day. ATR down to 4.8. George took small long and exited fast. Emphasis on journaling.
- ✅ Thursday (PPI): Red day due to over-leverage. Revised trade plan. Bears gained control via scorecard.
- ✅ Friday: Opened in vomit range. One long stopped out by a tick. Market “ugly ugly ugly.” Longs still favored.
Final Thoughts
George’s briefings this week reinforced the idea that true trading success stems from internal mastery — not just setups or tools. When in doubt: trade smaller, journal deeply, and stay green. “One good trade can make your week.”
1. Core Trading Philosophy and Principles
Discipline and Trade Planning Are Paramount
A central theme is the critical importance of a written trade plan. Without it, traders are said to be “winging it”—a fatal approach in professional trading. Statements such as “If it is not written out you are winging it and you will not be a professional trader if you are winging it” reinforce this. Journaling is presented as the engine for ongoing improvement: “Journal journal journal adjust your trade plan as needed.”
Over-leveraging is directly cited as a mistake, prompting guidance to “restrict the number of contracts” and adhere to a written plan, especially during volatile periods.
Patience and High-Probability Setups
Patience is a recurring virtue. Traders are taught to wait for setups that match their mapped-out plans: “Welcome to waiting for a trade you map out your trade doesn't happen There's nothing to do. It's a waiting game.” The mantra “no level, no trade” is reinforced repeatedly, as is avoiding the urge to chase price: “Do not chase a move. Let price do what it's going to do.”
Risk Management: “Stay Green” and “Cut Losers”
Capital preservation is prioritized. Quotes like “No sense in taking a loss here” and “I'm prioritizing staying green over trying to get more” exemplify the conservative risk posture. The use of the “Exit all” button is encouraged: “Ever entered a trade and it's not going exactly how you want it to go? Exit all.” The “three contract system” is praised as a way to secure a financed runner while managing risk effectively.
Bias Toward Longs, Caution on Shorts
There's a clear long-side bias, particularly in ES: “I believe you don't ever need to short ES.” Shorts, when taken, are done cautiously—“small, always small”—and usually as “microwave trades.” ES is described as “too well-behaved” to justify frequent shorting.
Trader Psychology and Mental Game
Mindset is a key pillar. Scripture such as "Haven't I commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." is quoted often to reinforce resolve. Traders are advised to “learn to say no to the chart.” A shift from P&L tracking to discipline metrics shows the move toward process-driven performance: “The real daily goal is to stay in your discipline.” Personal context (e.g., family distractions) is acknowledged as a significant performance variable.
2. Market Analysis and Key Levels
Strong Levels and Bull/Bear Line
“Strong levels” are identified zones that should be on every trader's chart. These act as bounce zones or magnets for price. The bull/bear line marks key market sentiment boundaries: “As long as we're under this line the bears are in control.”
VWAP Bands and Yellow Dot System
The yellow dot system marks price zones 20 to 30 points from VWAP. These areas are typically where price movement exhausts. The strategy involves moving stops behind these zones to protect profits.
Session-Specific Levels
Levels such as RTH low, RTH halfback, and overnight highs/lows are monitored closely. For example: “Can we get back above the RTH low? If it does, we should have a really nice squeeze.”
Fair Value Gaps and Backside Continuation
Fair value gaps and backsides serve as trend continuation markers. Bullish or bearish trends are validated when they “leave behind a string of fair value gaps and ladder beyond it.”
Volatility via ATR
The 3-minute ATR is used to assess trade conditions. Ideal range is 5–10 points. ATR above 10 requires reduced size; below 5 signals choppy or slow market conditions.
Intermarket Divergence
Comparing ES with indices like Russell or NQ helps validate setups. Example: if Russell is “on fire” while ES is sluggish, sentiment is questioned.
All-Time Highs and Price Rejection
Trading near all-time highs requires caution, especially on shorts. Distinction is made between “back-adjusted all-time high” and actual high print (e.g., 6166.50).
3. Key Events and Market Conditions
Major Economic Events
Traders are warned about CPI, PPI, FOMC, and OPEX weeks due to increased volatility. Quote: “You're looking for a week to take a vacation? Next week's a good week to not open your DOM.”
Contract Rollover
End-of-rollover weeks are described as “weird” and “tough.” Reduced trade frequency is advised.
News-Driven Market Shifts
International headlines (e.g., Middle East, US-China talks) can cause irrational price shifts and change market character quickly.
Disgusting Price Action
RTH often brings “muddy” and “triple-tapping” price action. In contrast, overnight sessions are described as more tradable: “The overnight sessions have performed so much more beautifully.”
Bullish Dominance Despite Chop
Even in messy sessions, a bullish lean is often emphasized: “Nothing about this is bearish. Bulls control. When bulls control, shorts double and triple quadruple tap.”
4. Practical Application and Tools
Battle Plans
Pre-market trade maps are shared via YouTube Community posts. These include clearly defined scenarios: “Longs above, shorts below.” They guide execution and discipline.
System Indicators
Members receive access to a strong level indicator and bull/bear scorecard that aggregates 20+ data points to gauge market control. It can signal high-momentum risk scenarios before they unfold.
Trade Journaling Tools
"Trader Meditations" software is used for daily journaling. It includes tagging for "special days" like CPI, error tracking, and journaling structured thoughts post-trade. Examples of errors include “prediction trading,” “multitasking,” and “failing to take break-even exits.”
Session & Risk Management
Recommendations include avoiding the first 6 minutes of RTH, focusing on high-quality hours, and adjusting risk in the afternoon due to fatigue and lower conviction price action.
Account Types & Risk Profiles
The briefings distinguish between different account structures: cash, funded, LEAP, and prop accounts with trailing drawdowns. A key warning: “You can blow a prop account while you're in profit. It’s absolutely ridiculous.” Static accounts are preferred for consistent risk management.
Conclusion
These briefings drive home one consistent message: successful futures trading requires more than setups and indicators. It demands personal discipline, thoughtful preparation, and structured journaling. With a clear focus on long setups, protective risk strategy, and the mental game, the system provides a holistic model for navigating both chaotic and calm market environments. Mastery of trading begins with mastery of self.
Weekly Overview
This week presented challenging trading conditions, often described as "disgusting" due to a notable lack of follow-through in price action roughly 90% of the time. Despite this, market sentiment was not bearish. The ES and NQ indices hovered within 3% of all-time highs. Interestingly, the London session frequently showed cleaner price action than the Regular Trading Hours (RTH) session. Looking ahead, the next week was anticipated as a “Level 10 week,” involving contract rollover, FOMC, and OPEX — a trifecta of difficulty. Traders were encouraged to consider taking a vacation, with specific days like Wednesday afternoon, Thursday, and Friday flagged as "solid don't trade this" days.
Monday
Trading Conditions:
Being the final week of the contract, Monday and Tuesday were expected to be light aside from possible US-China headlines during the London session. The Russell index was noted to be ahead of the other indices. Although market sentiment wasn't bearish, the price action was extremely choppy — described as "disgusting" and full of "triple taps". The Bulls held firm control, leading 17–0 on the internal scorecard. This typically means that short trades will get tested repeatedly. The 3-minute ATR stood at 5.1, which is ideal (target range: 5–10).
Trades:
A mapped-out short trade was missed by a tick. The initial plan involved shorting the first push up, but there was growing sentiment to focus only on longs — "you don’t ever need to short ES." Shorts were advised to be small. A long trade was taken but failed to produce enough profit to fund a runner.
Lessons:
Success hinges on waiting for mapped trades to align. Earning "badges" within the group system helps reinforce discipline and adherence. Even red days require following the rules.
Tips & Philosophy:
- “Nothing aligns with your mapped out trade? Well, you wait for it.”
- “Don’t chase moves.”
- “No level, no trade period. Make price come to you. No prediction trading.”
- “One good trade today can make your whole week.”
- Avoid the first 6 minutes of RTH.
Tuesday
Trading Conditions:
With CPI scheduled for Wednesday, the morning session was expected to be good, but the afternoon might present irrational movements, especially overnight. ES and NQ remained within 3% of all-time highs.
Trades:
A morning battle plan trade worked out. Overnight, a short didn’t trigger, but a long order executed as per plan. Caution was advised when shorting near all-time highs.
Lessons:
Traders were reminded: if the trade’s not working or you’re over-leveraged, “Hit the exit all button.”
Tips & Philosophy:
- “Follow your rules. Be safe today. Trade small. Tomorrow's CPI.”
- “Stay green my friends.”
Wednesday (CPI Day)
Trading Conditions:
CPI days are high-risk, with potential for large market reactions. The price action again had little follow-through. Bulls stayed in control (17–0 scorecard). The 3-minute ATR dropped from 5.1 to 4.8, indicating slowing volatility. RTH was described as "disgusting."
Trades:
A perfect overnight short trade was caught. The plan was to go long after a push down to the bull/bear line. However, a long trade didn’t produce enough to run, resulting in an early exit and a small green day. The three-contract system was again highlighted for helping secure a financed runner. An "early adopter long" worked out well.
Lessons:
Excessive leverage on CPI day led to a red day. A new rule was introduced: limit contract size on high-volatility days. A written trade plan must be reviewed daily and updated through journaling. Journaling tools like "Trader Meditations" help track performance on key days. Avoid common errors like prediction trading short, ignoring break-even exits, trading outside your window, multitasking, and chasing counter trades.
Tips & Philosophy:
- “You do not have to trade.”
- “Take the L so you can see the next trade.”
- “What you do when no one is watching pays the greatest dividends.”
- “Trade management is a blunt instrument.”
- “One trade and done.”
- “Patience is paramount.”
Thursday
Trading Conditions:
The week continued its "disgusting" nature, lacking follow-through. Bulls maintained strong momentum. PPI data was more relevant than CPI to the FOMC.
Trades:
The speaker remained short in a LEAP account with tight stops. A small long was taken before PPI data with stops at break-even. A short trade lost 4 points — recognized as a case of "prediction trading short". Long setups were preferred, especially when the market appeared to be slingshotting north.
Lessons:
The speaker logged a red week. Recommendations included scaling back contract size and tightening daily loss limits. The importance of a written trade plan was reinforced, as was journaling to refine it. Distractions at home affected trade quality. For those close to eval passes, the advice was to "trade smaller and limp across the line."
Tips & Philosophy:
- “You do not have to trade.”
- “Best loser wins.”
- “Let runners run, cut losers without remorse.”
- “Never add to losers, only to winners.”
- “Take the gift of break-even.”
Friday
Trading Conditions:
Next week was set to be a "Level 10" week, thanks to rollover, FOMC, and OPEX. London continued to offer cleaner trades than RTH. The week ended with a theme of "triple taps" and no follow-through.
Trades:
Battle plans focused on longs above strong levels and shorts below. A long held overnight came back to entry — no profit. A short after the open was exited on news. An early adopter long off a trend line worked well. Another long missed the speaker by a tick. The three-contract system proved effective again, producing 10–20 point runners.
Lessons:
“You do not have to trade” was the biggest lesson. Prop accounts with intraday drawdown can be blown even while green. Static accounts are safer. Recognizing when not to trade is a high-level skill.
Tips & Philosophy:
- “Stay green my friends.”
- “Adjust afternoon risk.”
- “Trading requires the best you.”
- “Any time you can make 10 to 50 points is a solid day.”
Strategy • Psychology • Risk Management • Journaling
Micros Trader | Live Trading Room
📑 Table of Contents
- 1. Core Trading Principles & Philosophy
- 2. Market Analysis & Strategy
- 3. Tools & Resources
- 4. Self-Reflection & Continuous Improvement
- 5. Quiz + Answer Key
- 6. Glossary of Key Terms
1. Core Trading Principles & Philosophy
Mindset and Discipline
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." — Joshua 1:9
- Stay Green: End each session with a profit, no matter how small.
- Discipline Over P&L: Following your system is more important than a winning day.
- No FOMO: Missing an entry is better than forcing one.
- Patience: “Welcome to waiting for a trade.” No setup = no trade.
- “Trade at Your Own Caution”: Especially during volatile or “Level 10” weeks.
Trade Plan Development & Adherence
- Written Trade Plan: Without it, you’re winging it — and winging it fails.
- Journaling: Helps track decisions, adjust plans, and spot emotional trading.
- Adjust As Needed: Example — reduce contracts during high-volatility weeks.
- One Trade and Done: Ideal for CPI, FOMC, or overtrading tendencies.
- No Level, No Trade: Wait for price to reach a mapped level before acting.
Risk Management
- Know Where You're Wrong and Out: Always define your stop before you enter.
- Daily Loss Limits: If hit, stop for the day — no exceptions.
- “Small if at All”: During sloppy sessions, reduce size or sit out.
- Cut Losers Without Remorse: Exit early and live to trade the next move.
- Gift of Break Even: When offered, take it to eliminate downside risk.
- Financed Runner: Use a multi-contract strategy to secure risk-free upside.
- Three-Contract System: First contract off early, second to breakeven, third for trend.
- Trailing vs Static Drawdown: Understand which applies to your prop account.
2. Market Analysis & Strategy
Key Levels
- Strong Levels: Key bounce or magnet zones shared daily in the trading group.
- Bull/Bear Line: Above = bull control, below = bear control.
- RTH High/Low/Halfback: Major decision levels for intraday trades.
- Overnight Levels: Guide pre-market bias and trade planning.
- Fair Value Gaps: Often act as targets or trap zones.
- All-Time High Awareness: Consider both adjusted and back-adjusted levels.
Price Action Concepts
- Bulls Ball, Bulls Court: Identifies directional control in plain language.
- Double/Triple Taps: Signal repeated defense or exhaustion at a level.
- VWAP Bands: 20–30pts from VWAP often lead to mean reversion.
- Low Follow-Through: A reason to avoid chasing price.
- Fair Value Gaps + Backside: Sign of strong trending behavior.
- ATR (Average True Range): Ideal range is 5–10 points on the 3-minute.
Trade Execution
- Battle Plans: Posted daily — long above, short below.
- “Touch and Go” Entries: Clean test and reaction preferred over chop.
- Don’t Counter the Trend: Especially after trendline or liquidity bounce.
- Longs-Only Bias: ES is often “too well behaved” to short.
- Capture 50% of the Move: Classic financed runner target.
Market Calendar Awareness
- Rollover Weeks: Often “weird” — reduce size.
- FOMC, CPI, OPEX: High-impact = higher discipline needed.
- Geopolitical Events: News can override technical setups fast.
3. Tools & Resources
- Microtrader.com — Main website and course access
- Discord — Community trade chat & live levels
- YouTube Community Posts — Daily battle plans + recap videos
- Trader Meditations — Journaling software to tag errors, emotions, results
- Bull/Bear Scorecard — Tracks control via 20+ data points
- Strong Level Indicator — Proprietary tool for charting bounce/magnet levels
- Trading Platforms: Tradeovate, TradingView
- DOM (Depth of Market) — Used for execution speed and precision
- Mac Keyboard Maestro — Workflow automation for fast orders
Essay Prompts (Journaling Section)
- What emotion impacted your trade today?
- What part of your trade plan needs adjustment?
- Did you follow your entry/exit rules?
- What was the hardest moment, and how did you respond?
- If you could replay today, what would you do differently?
4. Quiz + Answer Key
Questions:
- What is the significance of Joshua 1:9 in trading?
- What does “Stay Green” mean in risk management?
- Why is a written trade plan critical?
- What is the “Gift of Break Even”?
- Define a “Strong Level” as bounce or magnet.
- What do repeated taps say about market control?
- What is the preferred ATR range for ES?
- Why should you avoid chasing in low follow-through markets?
- What is a Financed Runner?
- What three events create a “Level 10 Week”?
Answer Key:
- Mental strength under pressure
- Protect capital daily, even with small wins
- Prevents emotional, inconsistent trading
- Move stop to entry to eliminate risk
- Marked price zones for reversal or target
- Repeated taps = other side holding control
- 5–10 pts ATR is ideal
- Low follow-through = risk of reversal traps
- Contract left to run once risk is removed
- Rollover, FOMC, OPEX
5. Glossary of Key Terms
- ATR: Average True Range (volatility)
- Battle Plan: Pre-market setup roadmap
- Bull/Bear Line: Defines directional control
- Chop: Sloppy, indecisive price action
- CPI: Consumer Price Index report
- DOM: Depth of Market (order book)
- Financed Runner: Protected contract for trend
- FOMC: Federal Open Market Committee
- Gift of Break Even: Eliminating risk by moving stop
- Journal: Record thoughts, setups, outcomes
- Microwave Trade: Quick in/out scalp
- OPEX: Options expiration
- Rollover: Switch between futures contracts
- Scorecard: Tool to track who controls the market
- Strong Level: Bounce or magnet zone
- Trailing Drawdown: Funded account loss limit
- VWAP Bands: Exhaustion areas 20–30pts off VWAP
- Wiggle: Choppy reaction at key level
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