1. Session context
Name the session, current volatility and whether conditions are orderly enough for your plan.
2. Market structure
State trend, range, transition or unclear conditions in one sentence before looking for an entry.
3. Important level
Mark the level or zone that makes the setup relevant. If you cannot identify it clearly, wait.
4. Exact setup
Describe the pattern or condition you planned in advance rather than inventing a reason after price moves.
5. Confirmation
Write what price must do before entry. A touch, break or fast candle is not automatically confirmation.
6. Invalidation
Mark the price or condition that proves the idea wrong before choosing a stop or target.
7. Stop distance
Place the stop from the invalidation logic, not from the amount you hope to risk.
8. Position size
Calculate size from stop distance and maximum accepted risk. Never reverse that order.
9. Reward and friction
Check whether the realistic target still makes sense after spread, fees and nearby opposing structure.
10. Event risk
Know whether scheduled news, the open or unusual volatility can invalidate your normal assumptions.
11. Daily limits and state
Confirm the trade stays inside your daily loss rule and that frustration, urgency or FOMO is not driving the decision.
12. Skip rule and review
Define the missing condition that forces a skip, then record whether you followed the plan after the trade.
Turn the checklist into a learning process
After the session, compare the plan with what actually happened. Record whether the issue came from analysis, risk, execution or rule-following. Change one rule only when repeated evidence supports it.
Trading Master connects this pre-trade sequence with market structure, technical analysis, price action, risk management, psychology, execution planning and review. It is a self-paced English education e-bookânot a signal service, individualized advice or a promise of results.