Building a Simple ES Trading Plan You Can Actually Follow
Most ES beginners fail because they don’t have a real plan. They trade whatever looks “good enough,” size randomly, ignore volatility, and enter at the worst possible times. A trading plan doesn’t need to be complicated — it needs to be strict, simple, and brutally honest about your limits. Here’s how to build one you can actually stick to.
1. Define Your Trading Session
Don’t trade the whole day. Pick the cleanest windows:
- 9:35–11:00 AM ET (post-open structure)
- 2:00–3:30 PM ET (afternoon trend or reversal)
Avoid low-liquidity dead zones. If you don’t understand why, read ES Volatility Traps.
2. Set Your Daily Loss Limit
Your daily loss limit is your survival guardrail. Rule of thumb:
- Prop accounts: half the firm’s daily loss limit
- Personal accounts: 1–2% max
Hit the limit → stop trading for the day. No negotiation.
3. Know Your Setup Criteria
Pick 1–2 setups and stop bouncing between strategies. For ES, the simplest beginner-friendly setups are:
- Trend pullback into VWAP or prior swing
- Breakout retest after clear opening range expansion
If you don't understand these levels yet, study Session Highs/Lows & VWAP.
4. Define Your Entry Timing Rules
Your entry should respect:
- Direction of VWAP
- Current ATR level
- Break of structure (BOS)
ES trends cleanly when these three line up. For volatility context, see ES ATR Volatility Zones.
5. Pre-Define Stop Size and Position Size
No stop = no plan. Use actual volatility — not hope — to set stops. If your stop is 6 points, your risk is $300 per ES contract. Adjust size accordingly.
If you need position sizing help, review ES Position Sizing.
6. Have Rules for When NOT to Trade
You must stand down during:
- CPI
- NFP
- FOMC
- 10 AM economic releases
- Low-volume lunch chop
Trading during these windows is financial suicide for beginners.
7. Create a Daily Routine
| Stage | What You Do |
|---|---|
| Pre-Market | Mark highs, lows, VWAP, OR prep |
| During Session | Trade only your setups |
| Post-Market | Review trades, update journal |
Final Takeaway
A real ES trading plan is simple: pick your session, pick your setups, define your stops, size correctly, and avoid the known trap zones. You don’t need complexity — you need discipline. Once you follow a strict plan, consistency becomes possible for the first time.