NQ Trade Journal — 2026-09-03 — OTE + 9:30 Open / 3m Orderblock Retest

Chart screenshot

Core observation

OTE and orderblock played again. The clean reference leg was the 9:36am low → 9:52am high. After the impulse, NQ retraced back into the OTE pocket and traded down into the 9:30am open / 3m bullish orderblock area before catching a strong reaction.

Setup anatomy

• Impulse leg: 9:36am low to 9:52am high.
• Retracement tool: Fib drawn low → high after the opening impulse.
• OTE pocket: 70.5%–79% retracement zone acted as the high-probability location.
• Deeper invalidation reference: 88% level / orderblock failure area.
• Confluence: 9:30am open aligned with the 3m orderblock / opening displacement area.
• Reaction: Price defended the orderblock, reclaimed back through the short-term moving average/VWAP area, and delivered roughly +50 points off the reaction zone.

Execution model

Long is valid only when all conditions align:

1. RTH opening impulse establishes a clean directional leg.
2. Price retraces into the 70.5%–79% OTE pocket.
3. The OTE pocket overlaps the 9:30am open or a 3m orderblock.
4. 1m / 100t price action confirms defense of the zone.
5. Entry is taken after confirmation, not blindly at the fib level.

Trade plan template

• Entry: Reclaim from the 9:30 open / 3m OB after 1m or 100t bullish confirmation.
• Stop: Below the defended OB low or below the 88% failure zone.
• TP1: VWAP / 50% reclaim area.
• TP2: Prior swing high / liquidity near the 9:52am impulse high.
• Extension: Hold runner only if displacement continues cleanly after reclaim.
• Only if: OTE + 9:30 open / OB confluence is present and live tape confirms absorption/reclaim.

Lesson

The edge is not OTE alone. The edge is opening impulse → OTE retrace → 9:30 open / 3m orderblock confluence → 1m/100t confirmation → 40–60 point scalp.

Do not treat the fib as an automatic entry. Treat it as the zone where orderflow confirmation matters most.