Entry criteria
The checklist of conditions that must all be true before you are allowed to enter.
Full explanation
Entry criteria bundle the setup, the trigger, and any filters into a short list you can tick off. Typical items include the market condition, the level being traded, the confirming event, and the risk allowed.
The value is in the word "all". Partial matches are not entries. Most poor trades are entries where three of five criteria were met and the trader decided that was close enough.
Keep the list short. Five or six checkable items is enough; a long checklist tends to be ignored under pressure.
Why traders watch it
Written criteria turn a discretionary decision into a repeatable one, which is what makes review and improvement possible.
Trading considerations
- Keep the checklist visible while you trade.
- Every criterion must be checkable in seconds.
- Record which criterion was missing whenever you break the rules.
Educational guidance only — never a trading signal or recommendation.