Improved

SMC Liquidity and Structure Strategy

We tested 334 variations on older data and kept stop 3×ATR(14) and only trade when RSI(14) above 55. Chosen on the window shown, from 1,146 candidates checked there.

On the 1-minute chart of ^NDX, it buys when signal candle is bullish, previous candle is bearish and RSI(14) > 55 and sells short when signal candle is bearish, previous candle is bullish and RSI(14) < 45. It gets out if price moves 3× the average candle range (ATR 14) against the trade, and takes profit at 2× what it risked. Each trade risks 1% of the account. It only trades Monday – Friday 09:30 – 16:00 New York time (cash session).

Market

Nasdaq 100NAS100

Timeframe

1m

Account

$10,000

History

4 days1 market period
15 Sept17 Sept20 Sept 2026
Training3 dUnseen2 dBackup reader

58.3%win rate · 12 trades, too few to judge

RECOMMENDEDWeak evidence
Trades
12
Timeframe
1M
Unseen window
1 days
Time in market
80.6%

high win rate · 12 trades, limited sample

What to watch

  • Removed: higher timeframe FVG or swing point filter — the engine cannot execute it
  • Tested an approximation of your rules

What the data supports

  • Beat buy & hold

    +1.0% vs +0.8%

    same symbol, same window · 12 trades

  • Made money after costs

    profit factor 1.73

    all 12 trades

  • Net return

    +1.0%

    all 12 trades

  • Average trade

    +0.082R

    all 12 trades

Win rate · original vs improved

Original

25.0%12 trades
+33.3 pts2.33× the original

Improved

58.3%12 trades

Both measured on the same window. The improved rules were chosen on it.

What changed

2 upgrades applied

334 variations testedBetter on all 5 metricsChosen on this window · 1,146 candidates checked

Momentum filter

RSI(14) above 55

Stop

3×ATR(14)

Profit factor

1.48×
Original0.24×
Improved1.73×

Avg per trade

0.32R
Original-0.242R
Improved0.082R

Win rate

33.33 pp
Original25.0%
Improved58.3%

Return

3.86 pp
Original-2.9%
Improved1.0%

Max drawdown

2.98 pp
Original-3.8%
Improved-0.8%

Trades

same
Original12
Improved12

Evidence window

12 trades

chosen on this window

Chance the edge is real

81%

bootstrap of the unseen trades

Variations tested

334

1,146 checked on this window

Trust scoreThe fixed factors behind the trust score, each with its own measurement.

32Weak evidence

C

Grade

RECOMMENDED

Verdict

Net return

1.0%

+0.2 pts vs buy & hold

Original-2.9%

▲ 3.9 pts vs original

Win rate

58.3%

12 trades

Original25.0% · 12 trades

▲ 33.3 pts vs original

Profit factor

1.73

7 wins · 5 losses

Original0.24 · 3 wins · 9 losses

▲ 1.48× vs original

Max drawdown

-0.8%

from peak

Original-3.8%

▼ 3.0 pts vs original

Strategy replay

^NDX · 1mImprovedTrade 11 / 11

Entry

29,577.40

Buy · 18 Sept, 19:53 · 3 bars

Stop loss

29,559.35

0.06% away

Take profit

29,613.52

0.12% away

Result

+0.41R

Take profit at 29,617.40

Monthly returns

Original beside improved, month by month

  • Original
  • Improved

Best month

1.0%

Original -2.9%

Worst month

1.0%

Original -2.9%

Typical month

0.99%

Original -2.90%

Months in profit

100%

Original 0%

Account curve

Unseen window only (17 Sept 2026 – 18 Sept 2026)

$10,000

Starting balance

$9,712

Final · original

$10,098

Final · improved

$10,080

Buy & hold

  • Original
  • Improved
  • Buy & hold

Wins and losses

Original

25%win rate
  • Wins3
  • Losses9

Improved

58%win rate
  • Wins7
  • Losses5

Improved rules

Changed from the original: Momentum filter: RSI(14) above 55 · Stop: 3×ATR(14)

  • Buys when

    signal candle is bullish and previous candle is bearish and RSI(14) > 55

  • Stop

    3 × ATR(14) from entry

  • Target / exit

    2R (R = entry-to-stop distance)

  • Risk per trade

    1% of equity risked to the stop

Monthly heatmap

Original

YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2026-2.9%

Improved

YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
20261.0%

Latest trades

12 closed trades

DateDirectionEntry priceExit priceResult
18 Sept 2026long29627.389129638.2391Win
18 Sept 2026long29577.404529617.4015Win
18 Sept 2026long29537.418029563.7853Win
18 Sept 2026long29492.862229515.7262Win
18 Sept 2026short29459.702629477.4304Loss
18 Sept 2026long29482.305429464.9343Loss
18 Sept 2026long29480.916529464.0045Loss
18 Sept 2026long29432.332629472.3789Win
18 Sept 2026short29458.987929387.4056Win
18 Sept 2026long29555.574029496.4706Loss

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