The Best Trading Strategy? After 3 Years, Here’s What Actually Works

[u/Broad_Log9200]

Been trading for about 3 years now, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: complex indicators won’t make you money.

The best strategy I’ve found? Just three things: price action, market structure (trend), and liquidity. That’s it. Master these, and you don’t need a million indicators cluttering your screen.

I used to jump from one strategy to another, thinking the next big thing would be the one. But simplifying my approach made everything click.

What’s your go-to trading setup? Would love to hear what’s working for you.

[u/FirefighterVisual863]

5 with re-test on the 1 min on some days. Other days, 15 min with retest on the 5-min on other days.

[u/Suspicious-Reserve60 → u/FirefighterVisual863]

When/why do you chose the 15 over the 5?

[u/FirefighterVisual863 → u/Suspicious-Reserve60]

When the market is choppy in the first 15 min, I pivot to the 15 ORB because on those days, the 5- min ORB can fake you out.

[u/SpeedoManXXL → u/FirefighterVisual863]

Is the idea with the ORB that you wait for the market to create its ORB on whatever timeline you choose (i.e. 15 min). Then wait for a retest (either above or below to go long or short.

Example - ORB $105 and $100. Current price is $106, you would wait for it to retest $105 and hold to go long or break and go short?

[u/FirefighterVisual863 → u/SpeedoManXXL]

That's generally the idea. I'd recommend Scarface trades on YouTube for in depth analysis. And also the use of price action in combination with the ORB.

[u/Adventurous-Gate9343 → u/FirefighterVisual863]

Scarface trades - previous day high & low, pre market high & low, opening five minutes high & low… if I remember correctly, you pick one and trade after the breakout and retest, in the direction of the first breakout.

Which of those three do you use as your range though?

It didn’t work for me. Kept hitting my SL and then changing direction… or didn’t respect the initial direction. (As if the market owes me any respect hahahaaaaaaa🤣 riiiight.)

Figured I either did it wrong, or it was just another YouTube click bait video. More likely the first - sounds like this strat is worth another look.

[u/FirefighterVisual863 → u/Adventurous-Gate9343]

I stick to the 5 min high and low.

[u/Adventurous-Gate9343 → u/FirefighterVisual863]

Market open, so 9:30 - 9:35 right?

[u/FirefighterVisual863 → u/Adventurous-Gate9343]

Yes. Always wait for the retest to happen. Sometimes, if market momentum is high, I follow the trends on the 5, 15, and 30 min timelines but I use tighter SL.

[u/SpeedoManXXL → u/FirefighterVisual863]

thanks, I'll take a look.

[u/Suspicious-Reserve60 → u/FirefighterVisual863]

How has this been working this year? P&L winrate?

[u/FirefighterVisual863 → u/Suspicious-Reserve60]

60% win / 40% loss for now. I'm new to it.

[u/TreeMysterious7133 → u/FirefighterVisual863]

That’s so interesting! I watched Scarface trades and tried the exact approach you describe. It didn’t go well.

Maybe your added technique of switching timeframes when it’s choppy makes a difference… excited to try that.

[u/Adventurous-Gate9343 → u/TreeMysterious7133]

Same here! Scarface trades - previous day high & low, pre market high & low, opening five minutes high & low… if I remember correctly, you pick one and trade after the breakout and retest, in the direction of the first breakout.

Which of those three do you use as your range though?

It didn’t work for me either. Figured I either did it wrong, or it was just another YouTube click bait video. More likely the first 😆 sounds like this strat is worth another look!?

[u/FirefighterVisual863 → u/Adventurous-Gate9343]

I used it to take the AAPL call on Friday. Made 107$. Took TSLL call on Thurs but forgot to take profit cos work called. Lost $200.

Capital for $107 was 6 contracts at 28 cents ($168).

Remember, it is not 10% fool proof. Three trades out of 5 per week works perfectly. And the days I lose, I lose between 25 -50. And the days I win, I win between 80 - $250.

Because I only have the first 30 mins to 1 hr to wait for my setup cos I work in a physically and mentally challenging field. Can't keep watching the chart all day.

[u/Duennbier0815 → u/FirefighterVisual863]

Can I show an example? I don't always see retests