Forex Trade Check List - Be a Forex Pro

Over 80% of my trades are successful.

forex checklist being ticked

Last week I was trying to think of articles to write. Then it dawned on me, I win more than 80% of my trades. So I should analyse why I win the majority of my trades and write a series of articles, explaining my secret.

“What is a Trade Check List?” you may be asking. For me, it is a mental list which sets out strict criteria that a potential trade must fit into. If a potential trade does not fit into my criteria I most likely will not enter. However, if the potential trade falls into my entry criteria I will enter.

For me, a Trade Check List is a very effective way of filtering out bad trades. My Trade Check List also helps keep me on track and helps me to stick to my plan. My Trade Check List is part of the reason why I profit on over 80% of the trades it take.
If you’re a newbie you should probably commit your Check List to paper, or at least to a notepad/word document.

Putting Together a Check List
Putting together a Check List requires you to define a good trade set up. So if you trade pivot point break outs a good set up may be a strong trend breaking a pivot point. In my case, I trade mainly reversals so a good set up for me is a strong trend in which indecision forms. In addition, I want to see a transition of power, so if the strong trend is bullish and indecision forms I want to see a transition of power, from the bulls to the bears. On my list this translates to:

Are there strong signs of indecision?
Who currently has control of the market, the bulls or the bears?
Is a transition of power likely and have I selected a suitable entry point?

Those first three questions on my Check List help me filter out weak set-ups, that I should not be taking. They also help me to select the best entry point. The next items on my Check List help me to manage my trade.

Are there any significant areas of support or resistance nearby? (see what happens when I ignore this item on my Check List)
Are any significant news releases due out that could impact this trade? (see this post for an easy way to be prepared for news releases.
What is my stop and target on this trade?
Does the answer to the previous item fall within the parameters of my money management strategy?

Print It Baby!

There must have been a forest in China sacrificed for me to become a professional trader. As a newbie, I could never remember all of the items on my Check List when I was preparing to enter a trade. And even if I did remember all the items, I found it hard to follow them if they weren’t committed to paper in front of me. For this reason, I printed stacks of these Check Lists and kept them on my desk ready for a trade. As soon as I saw a set-up, I would answer the questions on the Check List live and if all the answers were good I would enter.

I actually found one of these old Check Lists on my hard drive yesterday so I thought I would share it. Please print it on recycled paper :)

Sorry, this file no longer exists.

Did You Find This Post Useful?

Is so please support the blog and leave a comment below!

650 comments

Eric

March 7, 2011

Thanks Nick you read my mind was about
to start my own checklist — always traded
better with a checklist — its the most important
mechanical aspect to my discretionary style of
trading!

Johnny

March 7, 2011

You have a very good point there Nick,
Especially when you have more than one stradegy to follow is crusial to have a checklist.
Thanks! Good reminder Nick.

David

March 7, 2011

Awesome stuff Nick your knowledge is priceless.

Conrod

March 7, 2011

Thanks, will help me to remind what to do.

Muyen

March 7, 2011

Thanks Nick B I have being wondering how a trade Check List will look.
Thank you Again.

Barry Ganter

March 7, 2011

Yes thanks Nick, I have always kept it mental and have forgotten
on some occasions so now it will be printed in front of me, Thanks

Roberto

March 7, 2011

Great Nick B.
Always helping newbie traders like me.
Thanks

Sid

March 7, 2011

Excellent points Nick. Sometimes it is the most common sense stuff that we just overlook.

Yolette

March 8, 2011

Thanks Nick. I started a list also so this really helped me to ratify my list.

RanauTrader

March 10, 2011

mmmm,,thank nick this good idea.i will use it …

Irwin Godin

March 14, 2011

Please be advised of my new E-mail address. [removed email] I tried to contact you but none of the E-mails I sent to would work. Please accept this message as everything I tried was useless

NickB

March 15, 2011

@Irwin Godin:

Irwin I replied to your support ticket. You should check your junk mail.

As for your email change query. Please understand that we cannot change emails with our mail management software. I do not have the ability to add whatever email I want to my newsletter list as it would be a violation of CAN-SPAM laws. Forex4Noobs is CAN-SPAM compliant as is Aweber (our mail management software). Your only solution is to unsubscribe from the mailing by click the ‘unsubscribe’ link at the bottom of one of our emails. You can then subscribe with your new email address using the form to the right >.

Jay Molina

April 15, 2011

Thanks for this info, its great to see that they are still real Fx traders in this industry.

hiru555

June 7, 2015

Hi. I was looking at the 2hr SR webinar and you were talking about a checklist.
Whitch I found here https://bullrushacademy.com/forex-blog/forex-tips/forex-trade-check-list-be-a-forex-pro/

But the link missing. Forex (Trade Checklist Template) https://bullrushacademy.com/wp-content/incs/e-books/trade%20check%20list%20template.zip

Could you please send it to me. Thanks.

You are like a God and found only the clear instructions on your site.
But I can’t afford the advance course. $500 is my 2 months salary. so I have to stick with the free stuff.
I’d be glad if you could send me some other useful info too.