Advanced ORB & Bracket-Scalp Extensions to the Max Futures Playbook

Introduction & Setting

• Live Zoom session with Max (main instructor) & Logan (advanced student) for Futures Mastermind community.

• Informal, high-energy atmosphere: hype music, motivational speech, profanity-laced encouragement to “do the work”, “no excuses”.

• Audience: mix of returning mastermind members, StockDads community, new traders in both futures & SPX option-selling courses.

• Housekeeping:

  • Participants asked to turn cameras on and mute mics.

  • Recording promised; will be uploaded to course channels for replay.

Personal Side Notes (Ice-Breakers)

• Logan adopted a lab/German-shepherd rescue during recent California wildfires; fire came within one evacuation zone (~10–12 mi) of his home.

• Fires spread rapidly due to NE→SW winds; smoke, evacuation concerns discussed.

Core Mindset Themes

• Discipline > everything; “one chance – own it”.

• "Max way": simple, repeatable rules; avoid indicator overload (no ICT, VWAP only implicit via ORB midline).

• One-and-done ideal: 1 trade/session, then walk; if 2 consecutive losses ⇒ stop for the day.

• Community ethos: share questions publicly in Mastermind channel, not private DMs, so all can learn.

Platforms, Charts & Tools

• Broker: Tradovate (live & SIM); linked to TradingView via API add-on.

• Chart timeframes most used:

  • 15\text{-min} & 5\text{-min} for overall structure.

  • 1\text{-min} (and occasionally 30-sec) for execution.

• Indicators: ONLY raw candles + volume histogram; no moving averages, VWAP is implicitly replicated by ORB midline.

• ATM / Bracket Orders in Tradovate (“set-and-forget”):

  • Example template: 15-pt fixed TP on half size → remaining contracts trail stop +10 pts from price; SL initially -15 pts.

Recap of Max’s Original Playbook

1. ORB (Opening Range Breakout) – first 15-min box at 09:30 ET on SPX/NQ.

2. Future Strategy #2 – Trend → Range → Trend (TRT).

3. Pattern Triggers

   • One-Two Punch (1-2 continuation)

   • One-Two-Three bar reversal/continuation

4. Dynamic Trendlines

   • Always redraw to the latest swing high/low; earlier angles become obsolete once broken.

5. Confluence

   • Trade instrument = \text{NQ}.

   • Confirmation / bias = \text{SPX} price action.

   • Rule of thumb: if SPX flatter/stronger, NQ often exaggerates move.

6. Risk Metrics

   • Typical stop = 15 pts on NQ micros/minis.

   • RR = 1:1 minimum; scale in only when trade already green (never average down).

   • 15\text{ pts} \times \$20/\text{pt} = \$300 per NQ mini (half on micros).

Logan’s Extended ORB Schedule (2024-05 update)

Purpose: give reliable setups OUTSIDE standard 09:30 open for traders on other shifts.

Key construction rules

• Box = first 15-min HIGH/LOW of stated window.

• Trade triggers: same as 09:30 ORB (1-2 punch, 1-2-3, TRT).

• Volume confirmation: spike on histogram at/after window strengthens conviction.

Example (Thu):

• 15:30 box high = 15933, low = 15909.

• 1-2-3 punch long at 15915 → ran to 15939 (≈ +24 pts).

ATM / Bracket Order Template

Contracts: 10 micros (or 1 mini & 5 micros)
Target #1: +15 pts on 50 % size (locks ≈$150/mini)
Auto-BE: remaining trail stop to entry +5 pts
Trailing: step 10 pts (maintains ≈$100 risk on rest)

Advantages

• Hands-free management during violent MOC / tweet spikes.

• Example: single micro trailed 200 pts → ~$400 while user did nothing.

Max’s New “5-Point Bracket Scalp”

Goal: quick edges to (a) build green buffer or (b) dig out of a draw-down.

Entry Logic

1. Price closes outside ORB (either break-out or re-enter).

2. Next candle continues in same direction by at least 1 tick beyond body ("singular continuation").

Trade Construction

• Place OCO bracket immediately:

  • Take-Profit: +5 NQ pts

  • Stop-Loss: -5 NQ pts

• R/R = 1 ; historical win-rate tested ≈ 80\text{–}90\%.

• Works on both breaks outside and rejections back inside ORB.

Use-cases

• Add $200 (2 minis) in seconds; then stop for day.

• Low-stress method to regain composure after over-trading.

Box (Darvas) Trading Add-On

• Identify Range phase inside TRT.

• Draw horizontal box around highs/lows.

• Breakout of box ⇒ enter in direction of breakout; stop = opposite side of box.

• Good for choppy, post-gap sessions; integrates seamlessly with TRT + ORB midline.

Risk & Behavioural Reminders

• Losses are inevitable; even zero-DTE bot took 2 L’s in a week.

• Better to pause & reset next day than revenge-trade.

• Predetermined bias ("bloodbath" headlines) ignored; wait for SPX cash open – "market doesn’t start until SPX does".

Numerical/Formula Highlights

• Mini contract value: 1\,\text{pt} = \$20 on NQ.

• Standard stop/target example: 15\text{ pts} \Rightarrow \$300 per mini.

• Bracket scalp: 5\text{ pts} \Rightarrow \$100 per mini.

• Win-rate needed for 1:1 R/R: >50\% (strategy back-tested ~80-90 %).

Practical Checklist Before Each Session

1. Identify which ORB window you will trade.

2. Confirm no high-impact news inside that 15-min box.

3. Mark SPX & NQ pre-market highs/lows; note relative strength.

4. Load ATM template; test on SIM if new.

5. Decide rule: one-and-done OR buffer-then-trade.

6. After 2 consecutive losses → stop for the day.

Ethical / Community Points

• Share findings in public Mastermind channel; no private DMs so others benefit.

• Rescue-dog anecdote underscores theme of community & giving back.

Closing Takeaways

• “Max way” remains foundation; Logan’s times merely extend opportunities.

• Keep strategy simple: raw price + volume beats indicator clutter.

• Discipline, risk control, and mental reset are keys to longevity.

• Community resources (recordings, live channels) will continue; expect more recaps & live-trade sessions.

Recap of Max’s Original Playbook

1. ORB (Opening Range Breakout)

   • Focuses on the price action within the initial 15 ext{-min} candle (from 09:30 ET) for NQ (Nasdaq 100 Futures).

   • A breakout occurs when price moves decisively above or below this initial 15 ext{-min} range.

   • The trade is typically entered in the direction of the breakout, and the midline of this ORB can act as a crucial support/resistance level.

2. Future Strategy #2 – Trend → Range → Trend (TRT)

   • Identifies market phases: price moves from a trending state into a consolidation or ranging phase, and then typically resumes a trend.

   • Trades aim to capture movements when price breaks out of the range phase, anticipating a continuation of the previous or a new trend.

3. Pattern Triggers

   • One-Two Punch (1-2 continuation): A two-candle pattern signaling continuation in the direction of the prior move.

   • One-Two-Three bar reversal/continuation: A three-candle pattern indicating either a reversal of the current trend or its continuation after a brief pause.

4. Dynamic Trendlines

   • Trendlines are drawn using the latest significant swing high or swing low.

   • Crucially, these trendlines are dynamic and must be redrawn continually as new swing points form, as older angles become obsolete once broken.

5. Confluence

   • The primary trading instrument is NQ (Nasdaq 100 Futures).

   • SPX (S&P 500 Index) price action is used for confirmation and overall market bias.

   • A key rule: if SPX exhibits flatter or stronger price action, NQ often exaggerates the corresponding move, providing magnified opportunities.

6. Risk Metrics

   • A typical stop-loss is set at 15 points on NQ mini or micro contracts.

   • The minimum risk-to-reward ratio (RR) is 1:1.

   • Scaling into a trade is only done when the trade is already in profit (green) — never average down on a losing position.

   • For an NQ mini contract, a 15 ext{-point} stop represents a risk of 15 ext{ pts} imes ext{ extdollar}20/ ext{pt} = ext{ extdollar}300. Micro contracts are half this value.

Logan’s Extended ORB Schedule (2024-05 update)

This extension provides additional reliable ORB setups beyond the standard 09:30 ET market open, catering to traders on different schedules.

• Key Construction Rules:

  • The

Logan’s Extended ORB Schedule (2024-05 update)

This schedule offers more opportunities to find reliable ORB (Opening Range Breakout) setups throughout the day, not just at the standard 09:30 ET market open. It helps traders with different working hours.

How it works (Key Rules):

• Box Definition: The 'box' is created by marking the highest and lowest prices from the first 15 ext{minutes} of a specific time window.

• Trade Triggers: Once the box is set, trades are triggered using the same patterns as the main 09:30 ORB strategy (like the '1-2 punch' or '1-2-3' patterns, and 'TRT' – Trend → Range → Trend).

• Volume Confirmation: Look for a noticeable increase (spike) in trading volume at or after the start of the window. This makes the trade setup more reliable.

Example (Thursday):

• At the 15:30 ET window, the highest price was 15933 and the lowest was 15909.

• A '1-2-3 punch' signal indicated a good opportunity to go long (buy) at 15915.

• The trade successfully moved up to 15939, making about 24 points (15939 - 15915 = 24 pts).