http://www.dacharts_dachart_dacharts_dachart.com/charts/2002-01-18/smax7.gif Here's an introduction before answering questions and getting into details: year ago retro system got going, 15 min system wasn't ok with me wanted something of a system to be an anchor for my trading been playing with macd and wanted to enter and exit on crosses it provides best combination then I started with 4 11 6 then noticed plenty of chop, so I developed some rules check http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SMAX/ post #117 and 178 revisions to rules by other people 50 points a day was goal 55 tick chart look at it and all its loops the key to get 2 and 5 point moves per hour 2kinds of entries macd cross upside to enter continuation is better I post according to the rules except for exits move stops if you're 3-4 points ahead stay in that trade unless you fall below the first pullback if you have a second pullback then you start thinking about tightening stops continuation entries have 3-6 bar pullback then continuation in same direction anticipation entries are in the rules: if the crossover is very near.....(check dacharts_dachart_dacharts_dachart.com for rules and details) you don't wait for the next bar they wait for closing bar after the one he took the 20 point rule, if you had a long run of 20 points in 1 direction unbroken, chances are when you reverse at that point you'll have a retrace and retest I don't apply that for the first hour bb rule: except for cont never enter long (to avoid chop trades)..(check rules in dacharts_dachart_dacharts_dachart.com) q: someone backtested and found no edge J: when I tested it it never had a losing day it should be around 1/3 of daily range, so if range is 30 it should give you 40 q:did you use a system for backtesting? J: I manually backtest q: do you trade es as well? J:I only trade nq and es isn't as productive q: do you follow tick and trin? J:I don't follow tick and trin q: what timeframe to you use on macd? J: 8, 13, 5 on 3 minute because it's a little bit smoother q: do you trade in a certain direction? J: I trade in direction of smax signals q: what type of orders do you use for entries and exits? J: I enter market and limit but exit on market I'll have a crash stop and keep my finger on the trigger when it's time to go and exit on market q: how do you use stochastics? j: I trade with it on 1 min. chart as far as smax is concerned - it's helpful as exit points J: on the 1 min. I have stoch and bb but not macd it's not helpful on that timeframe q: do you use emas? j:I don't use 20ma but have it on the chart - macd pretty much does all that I don't use trendlines and they get broken I'm aware of major support and resistance levels q: what are the stoch parameters you use on 1 min? j:7, 3, ,3 on 1 min stoch J: here are yesterday's 1/17/02 trades: EST based on 3 minute chart time entry exit 1006 82.50 77 s 1127 77 77 s 1139 77 78 l 1200 79 82.5 l 1221 84 93 l 0103 89.5 88 s 0157 88 87.5 s 0212 87.5 84 s 0236 84.5 93 l 0321 96.5 05 l Total 42.5 for the day YESTERDAY’S TRADES: 10:06 entry short 82.5 exit 77 11:27 short at 77 exit 77 11:39 long 77 exit 78 12:00 long 79 exit 82.5 12:21 long 84 exit 93 1:03 short 89.5 exit 88 10:30 long 88 exit 87 1:57 long 88 exit 87.5 2:12 short 87.5 exit 84 2:36 long 84.5 exit 93 3:21 long 96.5 exit 1605 ann_87: do you use a 9 period adx and is it just the line? J:I use a line q: what are the parameters for macd? j: 8, 13, 5 macd is very good ann_87: jimmer for a continuation.. must you have an upbar and if so on which time frame? J:if I'm looking for continuation I stick to 1 timeframe TL11: do you watch times frames other than 1 and 3 min? J:55 tick, 1, 3,5, 2,7min I check 7m every 5-10 minutes ppusa: jimmer the short you described in the late afternoon was voided because? J: it just reversed the other way tk-15: Do you find that the time of day has better or worse trades? J:people think that lunch time is bad but I don't care - some good trades start at 12:30. rich012: jimmer, can you explain what the continuation trade is? Do you need a nice trend for a continuation long, or just a higher low, followed by a higher high? J:You have to say this system is a soft not hard system meaning you have to make judgments on trades. I ask myself if this is a trend or a consolidation? QSuzy: When do you revert to 55tick rather than minute charts? we don't use 55 ticks in smax but it's the best chart to trade. If you're looking for reversals it would show on the 55 tick chart. google_2: Jimmer, would you suggest for someone to test it themselves for a while? j:People should look and play with it day after day and see how it works. tkay_1: do you do any backtesting yourself jimmer? or you manually go thru days? blueem: Are you only trading the NQ? Are you trading the ES, as well? If so, you would be getting about 10 handles per day? perry8: jimmer do you paper trade first while working on the system ? J: I papertraded it in real-time. q: regarding the use of bb as filter to keep you out of bad trades. An example would be? J: not to enter a long trade if the price you want to enter is in the top 1/3 of the bb range donsuelo: Do you use adx for indicating trend or higher pivot highs and lows? J:I used it as a general indicator to measure strength of trend brandon_131: great session jimmer, appreciate you taking the time. Thanks. QSuzy: Thanks jimmer.....great job!! scorp: thanks you very much! Michaelaf: thanks jimmer google_2: appreciate it jimmer, this is great dp_10s: thanks good job-- new to room tomsurf: jimmer- Thanks, great start and lots to digest :-) amer_68: Appreciate your efforts jim. You and others here make this a great site. Buffy_04364: thank you very much jimmer Rose0001: Thanks. dp_10s: Appreciate your support. Thanks fredrickson: thanks jimmer,,,,,very charitable of you