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ICT 2022 Trading Model — Complete Explanation

The ICT 2022 trading model explained — the three session windows (London, NY AM Silver Bullet, NY PM), the six-step pre-session routine, the 02:33 and 09:50 macro windows, the seven-item entry checklist, stop and target framework, and the four most common model errors.

The ICT 2022 trading model is a packaged, reproducible day trading framework for identifying and executing high-probability setups within three specific daily session windows. Unlike general ICT concept application — where the trader assembles AMD, PD arrays, and kill zones independently — the 2022 model is a structured sequence: a pre-session routine, a session window, a Judas sweep, an MSS, a PD array entry, and an ERL target. The sequence is the same for every window. The variables are the direction and the specific PD array that provides the entry.

The model is not “apply ICT concepts during kill zones.” It is a specific sequence with defined entry conditions. A trader who sees an OB during the London kill zone and enters without confirming the Judas, the MSS, the daily bias, and the LTF CHoCH is placing a single-concept pattern trade — not running the 2022 model. The model requires all seven checklist items to pass before a standard-size entry is placed. This guide provides the complete framework: the three windows, the pre-session routine, the London and NY AM step-by-step models, the 7-item checklist, the risk framework, and the four errors that reduce the model to pattern trading.

Key takeaways

One sequence, three windows: London (02:00–05:00 EST, primary), NY AM Silver Bullet (07:00–11:00, secondary), NY PM (13:30–16:00, tertiary).
The 02:33 EST macro is the highest-probability Judas extreme and MSS launch window for London; 09:50–10:10 EST is the NY AM equivalent.
Seven checklist items must pass before a standard-size entry: weekly bias, daily bias, range marked, Judas confirmed, MSS confirmed, PD array in OTE, LTF CHoCH.
Two–three qualifying setups per week at standard size — not daily entries at reduced size. Quality over quantity.
Two stop-outs in one session = session closed. No third entry. No trades outside the defined windows.

What the ICT 2022 trading model is

Definition

The ICT 2022 trading model is a structured intraday framework applying the AMD cycle, kill zone timing, PD arrays (OBs and FVGs), and liquidity analysis within three specific daily session windows. Each window follows the same structural sequence: (1) pre-session bias confirmation, (2) session Judas sweep, (3) MSS/CHoCH displacement and FVG creation, (4) PD array entry on the retracement with LTF CHoCH trigger, (5) ERL target management. Applicable to EUR/USD, GBP/USD (London) and NAS100, ES (NY AM). The “2022” naming reflects the year ICT structured and released this packaged framework.

The three session windows

2022 MODEL WINDOWSEST

Three windows, one sequence, tiered priority. London generates the most consistent Judas + MSS patterns on EUR/USD and GBP/USD. NY AM provides the Silver Bullet on NAS100 and ES. NY PM is the backup window when the first two missed. The gaps between sessions are explicitly not 2022 model entry windows — a setup at 06:30 or 12:00 EST is not a model trade.

The pre-session routine — the model’s invisible foundation

The pre-session routine is the component most traders neglect. The entry setup (Judas + MSS + PD array) is visible on the chart; the routine is the analysis that makes it valid — setting direction, marking reference levels, and identifying PD array candidates before the window opens.

S1 — Sunday: weekly bias analysis

Mark PWH and PWL on the weekly chart. Determine whether the weekly dealing range is delivering bullish (toward PWH) or bearish (toward PWL). Identify primary delivery day candidates (Tuesday–Wednesday most common). Check the economic calendar for high-impact news days (NFP, CPI, FOMC) — reduce size or skip those sessions.

S2 — Daily: check the midnight open CE

Before each session, check whether current price is above or below the midnight open CE (the midpoint of the prior day’s 00:00 EST open and the current structure). Below CE = bullish session bias. Above CE = bearish session bias.

S3 — Mark PDH and PDL as Level 2 ERL

The PDH is buy-side ERL; PDL is sell-side ERL. These are the primary session targets. Draw from the prior day’s wick extremes (not the body close) and label BSL/SSL.

S4 — Mark the accumulation range

London model: the Asian range high and low (20:00–02:00 EST). NY AM model: the pre-NYSE range high and low (07:00–09:30 EST). These boundaries are the Judas sweep targets.

S5 — Mark key OBs and FVGs in the OTE zone

Within the 0.62–0.79 OTE retracement of the expected swing, mark any fresh OBs or FVGs — these are the 2022 model entry candidates.

S6 — Set price alerts at key levels

Alerts at: Asian range high and low (Judas targets), PDH and PDL (ERL targets), OB/FVG CE levels (entry prices). Alerts let you observe without screen-staring during the accumulation phase. Complete by 01:50 EST for London, 06:45 EST for NY AM.

The London session model — step by step

LONDON MODEL SEQUENCE5M

The London model from accumulation to delivery. The Asian range is Phase 1 (observe). The Judas sweeps the Asian low SSL between 02:00 and 02:33 (observe, do not enter). The MSS creates the FVG at the 02:33 macro. The retracement to the FVG CE is the entry window (enter with LTF CHoCH confirmation). Phase 3 delivers through the IRL (50% partial) to the PDH ERL. Close everything by 05:00 EST.

The NY AM model — the Silver Bullet

The NY AM model follows the same sequence with different timing and a different accumulation reference:

06:30–07:00 EST — pre-NY AM routine

Review London outcome. Mark London high and low as NY AM reference levels. Update daily bias context — has the PDH/PDL already been swept by London?

07:00–09:30 EST — pre-NYSE accumulation

The pre-NYSE range forms (the NY AM equivalent of the Asian range). Mark its high and low. Observe — do not trade.

09:30–09:50 EST — NYSE open Judas sweep

NYSE opens; institutional order flow surges. The Judas sweep occurs within 20 minutes. Bullish: sweeps below pre-NYSE low. Bearish: sweeps above pre-NYSE high. Observe only.

09:50–10:10 EST — the Silver Bullet window ★

The MSS displacement forms. Mark the FVG CE immediately. This is the Silver Bullet entry window — the NY AM’s equivalent of the 02:33 macro. Most consistently effective on NAS100 and ES where NYSE open produces the clearest institutional commitment.

10:00–11:00 EST — entry and trade management

Retracement to FVG CE. LTF CHoCH triggers entry. Stop below Judas extreme or PD array boundary. Target: London session high (bullish) or low (bearish) — the prior session’s BSL/SSL. Exit all by 11:00 EST.

The 7-item entry checklist — the model’s quality gate

All 7 pass = standard size · 6/7 = 75% · 5 or fewer = 50% or skip
#	Check	What to verify	Pass	Fail
1	Weekly bias	Does today’s direction align with the weekly dealing range delivery?	Aligns → standard	Counter-weekly → 50%
2	Daily bias	Is price below the midnight open CE (bullish) or above it (bearish)?	Matches → standard	Contradicts → 50% or skip
3	Range marked	Asian range (London) or pre-NYSE range (NY AM) clearly drawn?	Both boundaries marked	Do not enter without a reference range
4	Judas confirmed	Has price swept the opposing extreme? Bullish: below Asian low. Bearish: above Asian high.	Sweep completed	Entry window not valid
5	MSS confirmed	Has the displacement candle created a CHoCH/BOS in the delivery direction? MSS FVG marked?	FVG marked, CE calculated	Do not enter without confirmed MSS
6	PD array in OTE	Is there a fresh OB or FVG within the 0.62–0.79 retracement of the Judas-to-MSS swing?	OB or FVG CE in the OTE	Use 0.705 OTE CE alone at 75%
7	LTF CHoCH	Has a 5M or 1M CHoCH formed within the OB/FVG zone?	LTF CHoCH confirmed → standard	Limit-only at 75%, or skip

Items 1–3 are verified in the pre-session routine. Items 4–5 are verified as the Judas and MSS occur within the window. Items 6–7 are verified during the retracement. The checklist is applied forward as each item becomes verifiable — never retroactively fitted to justify an entry already taken.

Stop loss, target framework, and session protocol

Two structural stop options

Option 1 — structural stop (wider): below the Judas extreme wick tip. If price returns below the Judas extreme, the AMD thesis is invalidated. Safest reference but widest stop, reducing initial RR. Use for moderate setups where the FVG entry sits close to the Judas extreme. Option 2 — PD array stop (tighter): below the OB low or FVG far boundary of the entry PD array. If price trades through the PD array without the LTF CHoCH holding, the zone is mitigated. Better RR but more noise-vulnerable. Use for strong setups with a large distance between the PD array and the Judas extreme.

Two-target trade management

Target 1 (50% partial): the first IRL level above entry — the nearest unmitigated FVG or OB within the session dealing range. Take 50% regardless of momentum. Target 2 (runner, remaining 50%): the session ERL — PDH/PDL for London, London high/low for NY AM. Trail the stop on LTF BOS events after each IRL collection. Exit everything at the session close time (05:00 for London, 11:00 for NY AM) if the ERL has not been reached.

Session maximum loss protocol

If the first trade stops out: one re-entry allowed if a new, clean Judas + MSS sequence forms within the same window. If the second entry also stops out: session closed — no third entry. Two stop-outs in a single session = the AMD context for that session is not clean. Accept the loss, close the session, and apply the pre-session routine freshly for the next qualifying window.

Instruments for the 2022 model

Instrument × window pairing
Instrument	Best window	Why it works	Notes
EUR/USD	London primary	Highest London liquidity. Cleanest Asian range. Most consistent Judas + MSS. ICT’s primary model instrument.	1–2 pip typical spread at 02:00 EST.
GBP/USD	London primary	Higher volatility than EUR/USD. Larger ranges = larger targets.	Wider spreads — account for spread in stop placement.
NAS100	NY AM primary	NYSE alignment. High institutional participation at NYSE open. Silver Bullet extremely consistent.	Avoid London model on NAS100 — weaker pre-NYSE flow.
ES (S&P 500)	NY AM primary	Similar to NAS100, lower volatility. Smaller ranges and targets.	Correlates with NAS100 — trade only one.
GBP/JPY	London secondary	High volatility. Model applies with larger stop allowance.	Higher Asian noise. Use only when GBP/USD and EUR/USD signals align.

Four common 2022 model errors

Chasing the MSS displacement at market

The displacement candle closes at the premium extreme of the post-Judas leg — the worst entry price in the model. The 2022 model entry is the FVG CE on the retracement, not the displacement close. Entering at the displacement produces a large stop (to survive the retracement) and a poor RR. The patience to wait 10–30 minutes for the CE fill is one of the highest-value execution disciplines in the model.

Skipping the pre-session routine and entering on the pattern alone

Without the confirmed daily bias, PDH/PDL marked as ERL, and the Asian range marked as the Judas target, the Judas + MSS pattern has no institutional context. The entry may produce a profit, but it is a pattern trade — not the 2022 model. If you did not complete the six routine steps before the window opened, skip that session and run the full routine for the next.

Applying the model outside the defined session windows

A Judas + MSS at 06:30 EST (between London close and NY AM open) or at 12:00 EST (between NY AM and NY PM) is not a 2022 model setup. The model’s timing edge comes from institutional order flow concentration within the defined windows. Applying the sequence to any time of day removes this edge and converts the model into a general “look for AMD during the day” approach.

Taking a third entry after two stop-outs in the same session

Two stop-outs = the AMD context for that session is not clean. A third entry is revenge trading against the session’s market conditions. Accept the two-loss session, close the session, and apply the routine freshly for the next qualifying window.

FAQ — ICT 2022 trading model

What is the ICT 2022 trading model? +

A structured intraday framework with three daily windows (London 02:00–05:00, NY AM 07:00–11:00, NY PM 13:30–16:00 EST), each following the same sequence: pre-session bias, Judas sweep, MSS/CHoCH displacement, PD array entry on the retracement with LTF CHoCH, and ERL target management. Applicable to EUR/USD, GBP/USD (London) and NAS100, ES (NY AM). Named for the year ICT packaged and released this framework.

What are the three session windows? +

(1) London (02:00–05:00 EST): primary, 02:33 macro for Judas extreme and MSS, target PDH/PDL. (2) NY AM Silver Bullet (07:00–11:00): NYSE open Judas at 09:30, Silver Bullet window 09:50–10:10 for MSS, target London high/low. (3) NY PM (13:30–16:00): tertiary, used only when the first two missed.

What is the pre-session routine? +

Six steps: (1) Sunday weekly bias — mark PWH/PWL and weekly AMD direction. (2) Daily bias — midnight open CE check. (3) Mark PDH/PDL as ERL. (4) Mark Asian range (London) or pre-NYSE range (NY AM). (5) Mark OBs/FVGs in the OTE zone. (6) Set alerts. Complete by 01:50 EST for London, 06:45 for NY AM.

What is the 7-item entry checklist? +

(1) Weekly bias. (2) Daily bias (midnight CE). (3) Range marked. (4) Judas confirmed. (5) MSS confirmed with FVG. (6) PD array in OTE zone. (7) LTF CHoCH within the PD array. All 7 = standard size. 6/7 = 75%. 5 or fewer = 50% with mandatory LTF CHoCH, or skip.

Conclusion — the 2022 model as an executable daily routine

The 2022 model converts the ICT framework’s concepts into a daily executable routine with defined windows, a defined pre-session routine, a defined entry sequence, and defined risk rules. The model’s power is in its structure — it removes improvisation and reactive pattern matching and replaces them with a process: routine, window, Judas, MSS, PD array entry, IRL partial, ERL exit, session close.

The two most important disciplines are patience and routine. Patience: waiting for the FVG CE retracement after the MSS rather than chasing the displacement. Routine: running the complete pre-session checklist before every session, without shortcuts. A Judas sweep without a confirmed daily bias is a pattern. A Judas sweep with a confirmed daily bias, a marked Asian range, a confirmed MSS FVG, and a LTF CHoCH trigger is the 2022 model.

The foundation guides: the AMD cycle covers the three-phase structure; the kill zones guide covers the session timing; the Judas swing covers the Phase 2 sweep; the FVG guide covers the CE entry; the Silver Bullet guide covers the 09:50–10:10 window in detail; the midnight open guide covers the daily bias signal; and the expansion & retracement guide covers the leg rhythm within Phase 3. Or join the mentorship for direct feedback on your pre-session routine, entry timing, and trade management.

Lio

Founder & ICT trading educator, LiquiditySweeps.com

Lio has traded ICT and Smart Money Concepts on forex majors and US indices since 2021 and built LiquiditySweeps.com to teach the framework the way it should be learned: in sequence, on real charts, with free live tools instead of paid indicators. Every article on this site follows the same rule — nothing gets published that wouldn’t survive a trade review.

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Quick check

The MSS displacement candle just closed at 02:34 EST with a strong bullish body. What’s the 2022 model action?

✓ Correct. The 2022 model entry is the FVG CE on the retracement — not the displacement close. Mark the MSS FVG immediately, calculate the CE, and place the limit. Entering at the displacement candle’s close is the model’s most common error: worst price, widest stop, poorest RR.