COLIN JONES
“3-Step” Model
Rating Guide
MASTER THE MODEL AND TRADE IT CONFIDENTLY
A+ Setups
The absolute best setups will always prioritize time over
price. More specifically, during the 9:30-11am EST time
window in the New York AM session.
Another factor in an A+ setup is high impact news drivers.
Any time we have red folder economic data, we can expect
to have a clear manipulation into a HTF fair value gap, which
is the first step of the model.
The most important part of a good setup is an extremely
obvious draw on liquidity. Without a draw, the 3-Step Model
becomes much less probable.
A+ Examples
Core CPI Data
9:30-11:00 Time Window
Daily Volume Imbalance
15m SMT
15m IFVG
Non-Farm Payroll Data
9:30-11:00 Time Window
Daily Bearish FVG
15m SMT
5m IFVG
B Setups
The 9:30-11:00 time window will still need to be present for
a B-rated setup to be valid. We will always want to prioritize
time over price no matter what.
These setups generally occur on days that have NO high
impact news drivers. This means the manipulation phase
will be more difficult to spot.
Low probability conditions play a big role in B-rated setups.
Things like seek & destroy conditions and expansive London
ranges can cause the NY open to be very choppy, leaving
less opportunities for a solid trade.
B Examples
No High Impact News
9:30-11:00 Time Window
4H BISI
15m SMT
5m IFVG
No High Impact News
9:30-11:00 Time Window
90m BISI
15m SMT
2m Breaker
C Setups
The most improbable trading setups will occur when you
put price over time instead of the other way around.
Trading outside of the 9:30-11:00am EST time window is
dangerous and will lead to these C-rated setups.
Trading outside of a macro time (x:50-x:10 or x:20-x:40) will
also result in less probable setups, we ALWAYS want to
prioritize TIME.
Trade setups that go against your daily bias are also
extremely risky. Your daily bias is what gives you the
general trend for the day and as they say... “The trend is
your friend.”
C Examples
No High Impact News
Outside 9:30-11:00am
90m BISI
15m SMT
1m IFVG
No High Impact News
Outside 9:30-11:00am
15m BISI
15m SMT
2m IFVG
