August 20, 2026 (-$48.75) | Don't Trade That Shit

August 20, 2026 (3 Trades) (-$48.75)

Overall Grade: C-

Day Summary: Today was definitely not my best day of trading but the most important thing is that I followed my rules. I also took two of my three trades based on playbook set ups so that is also good. However, the third trade of the day was unnecesary based on the price action. I need to get better at walking away from a shitty chart and being content with coming back a different day. I am pretty good at recognizing a shit chart, but the real challenge is walking away. Remember, not every day is a trading day and the real money is made on betting big on the select few opportunities that come in a whole WEEK. Not day.

DAILY - ES

5 MIN - ES

TRADES

Trade 1 - Long 1 MES @ 21 EMA Trap + Subpar Set up + Impulse Trade

Grade: C-

1. technically a playbook set up but subpar, also taken out of impulse
2. trading against the overall trend - not ideal
3. entry was technically at the 21 EMA but the better entry would have been at the low
4. had chances to get out breakeven, and I did know I was on the wrong side of the price action, but my ego kept me in
5. Cut it, move on. There are better trades to be taken.
6. stop was reasonable considering the trade

Trade 2 - Short 1 MES @ 21 EMA Trap + Price Action

Grade: B-

1. playbook set up - yes
2. trading in the direction of overall trend and price action - yes
3. entry was good - 21 EMA + key level + selling high
4. at this point in the day, I could already tell the price action was overall choppy - best to avoid the day at this point, although trading in the direction of the overall trend and price action helped me on this trade
5. exit was in a good spot considering the day had already proven choppy - don't hold for continuation in either direction on a day like this, especially long (overall trend)
6. Recognize the day - take your basehits and get out on a day like this

Trade 3 - Short 1 MES @ Range + Fighting Price Action + Signal Bar

Grade: C+

1. not a playbook set up, although recognizing and fading a range is something I'm willing to take
2. trading in overall trend direction - good
3. trading against current price action - not ideal
4. signal bar entry - good - but in this instance, selling low on an already proven choppy day - not good
5. accepted the set and forget on this trade - good habit
6. slippage on the stop, stop was set above previous high - unlucky