What I Look for Before Entering an NQ Trade

My pre-trade checklist for an NQ setup

Before entering a trade, I want to answer a few basic questions.

Context: Is the market trending, ranging, or reacting to an important level?

Location: Am I trading near a meaningful reference, or entering in the middle of random price movement?

Order flow: Is there evidence that supports my idea, such as a meaningful price response to aggressive buying or selling?

Confirmation: Has the market actually triggered my setup?

Risk: Where is the trade invalidated, and how much could I lose?

If I cannot explain the trade clearly, I don't need to force it.

A checklist won't eliminate losses, but it can help prevent impulsive decisions and make results easier to review.