Trade Review

MES1! Long2026-03-09

Share

The objective is not to grade the P&L. It is to grade the decision.

B Setup·Win · Average Win·RAS 43%

Charts

1 / 2

Trade Review

Trade Review Date: Monday, March 9, 2026 Instrument: ES Accounts Affected:

  • 1 × [amount redacted] Combine (blown due to platform execution issue)
  • 5 × [amount redacted] PA Accounts (profitable)

Net Result:

  • Combine Loss: -[amount redacted]
  • PA Accounts Profit: +[amount redacted]each (~[amount redacted]total)

1️⃣ Narrative Alignment

Grade: B+

Your macro narrative was actually very solid.

Key elements you correctly identified:

  • VIX trading above the 9:30 gap
  • Potential bearish pressure early
  • Bullish FVG inverted → bearish IFVG
  • Expectation of a sell into downside liquidity
  • Clear downside targets:
    • 6644
    • 6624
    • 6584.50

This is consistent with your IFVG continuation model.

However, the context shifted quickly:

  • VIX failed to hold strength.
  • VIX rejected 31.84 high and began selling off.
  • That created the buy setup instead of continuation short.

You recognized this shift correctly later.

Narrative recognition was strong.

2️⃣ Liquidity Map

Grade: A

Your liquidity mapping was excellent.

Key areas marked correctly:

  • Bullish FVG → inverted → IFVG
  • Overlapping bearish FVG
  • Structural highs:
    • 6701
    • 6694
  • Downside liquidity:
    • 6644
    • 6624
    • 6584

You also correctly recognized the 4H structure overhead and NWOG levels.

The structure was very clear and tradable.

3️⃣ Higher Time Frame Structure

Grade: B

The HTF context had mixed signals.

Important elements:

  • Prior day heavy sell pressure
  • Price trading inside HTF FVG
  • Early liquidity sweeps
  • VIX initial strength → later collapse

Your first bias (short) was reasonable.

But the HTF environment was transitioning from distribution to reversal.

You adapted correctly once VIX began selling.

That’s a strong skill.

4️⃣ Lower Time Frame Confirmation

Grade: A-

The buy setup execution was very clean.

Entry: 6665

Stop: 6654 (11 points)

Target: 6694

Trade structure:

  • Minimal drawdown (1–2 points)
  • Quick move in your favor
  • Stop moved after +5 points
  • Partial exits executed

Partials:

  • 6677.50
  • 6681.75
  • 6694

Trade traveled 29 points total. Execution on the long side was excellent.

5️⃣ Risk Management

Grade: C

This is where the day lost points.

Not because of trade logic.

But because of process violation.

You identified multiple red flags:

  1. Computer glitching before open
  2. Websites failing to load
  3. Orders not executing
  4. Orders stacking unexpectedly

Yet the trade was still taken.

The result:

  • 11 orders executed
  • 20 contracts each
  • Immediate [amount redacted]+ drawdown
  • Trailing drawdown hit
  • Combine account lost

This was not a strategy failure. This was a technology environment violation.

Your own rule:

“If platform stability is questionable, do not trade.”

You broke your own rule.

6️⃣ Execution Discipline

Grade: B

Mixed execution day.

Poor execution (combine)

  • Multiple entries sent
  • Platform lag created position stacking
  • Trade triggered far from intended entry

Planned entry: 6667.75

Actual execution: 6652.25

That is 15 points of slippage. On 20 contracts that is [amount redacted]per contract move. The system essentially created a forced oversized trade.

Excellent execution (PA accounts) You reset mentally.

You recognized:

  • VIX rejection
  • Market inversion
  • Buy setup forming

Then executed the clean long trade.

That shows strong recovery discipline.

7️⃣ Emotional Control Grade: B+

Your emotional response was honest but controlled.

You acknowledged:

  • frustration
  • mistake
  • rule violation

But importantly:

You did not revenge trade. You executed the next setup correctly. Many traders would have spiraled after losing a combine. You did not. That is a sign of maturity.

8️⃣ Model Integrity

Grade: A-

Both setups were actually valid.

Setup 1 – Short

Logic was correct:

  • IFVG
  • Bearish FVG overlap
  • Liquidity targets below

The setup itself was not wrong. Execution environment ruined it.

Setup 2 – Long

This was the correct pivot trade:

  • VIX rejection
  • IFVG inversion
  • Structure reclaim
  • Momentum shift

Trade worked almost perfectly.

But There Is a Huge Positive

The actual trading skill displayed today is A-level.

You:

  • Identified both setups
  • Adapted to market shift
  • Executed the long trade correctly
  • Managed risk well once in the trade
  • Produced [amount redacted]across PA accounts

Skill was not the issue. Environment discipline was.

Key Lesson from Today

Create a Hard Rule:

🚨 Platform Stability Rule

Do not trade if:

  • Orders fail
  • Internet stalls
  • Charts lag
  • Platform freezes
  • Order confirmations delay

Immediate shutdown. No exceptions.

The Big Picture

Even with the combine loss:

You now have [amount redacted] in prop firm capital Across your PA accounts. Today still produced ~[amount redacted]profit. That is a professional trading day, despite the combine loss.

Setup Tags
+IFVG MM Setup+FVGVIX Gap FailureVIX Gap RejectionVIX Inverse CorrelationDOPNWOG
Execution Quality
CleanHesitant
Emotions
FrustratedHesitant

Rule Adherence Scorecard

Setup GradeB Setup
RAS Score4.3/10 · 43%
Narrative
8/10
Setup
8/10
Entry
2/10
Risk
2/10
Sizing
2/10
Management
4/10
Time
3/10
Emotions
5/10

Chart Links

Written by Cory

Cory publishes the working thesis before the session, not after — this Playbook and Trade Review are part of that same documented process. No signals, no highlight reel.

Read the full story →