The best ICT trading strategies for futures: the five MFT models
There are hundreds of named setups. MFT deliberately runs only five, because a small set of well-defined models can be measured honestly and followed without second-guessing.
1. Session Sweep + Inversion FVG
Price raids an Asia or London high or low, fails, and closes back through a fair value gap. You enter on the retest of that inverted gap. When: the New York morning. Best on: NQ and ES. Why it works: stops above and below obvious session extremes are liquidity, and failure to continue after taking them tells you the real direction.
2. Break & Retest
A key level such as the previous day high breaks with a body close, then gets retested from the other side. You trade continuation. When: London and New York trend days. Best on: all three markets. MFT refuses the trade if price has already run away from the retest level — no chasing.
3. SMT Reversal (NQ/ES)
NQ and ES disagree at a high or low — one sweeps it, the other does not. After a structure shift and a gap retest you enter on the market that swept. When: session opens. Best on: NQ and ES only.
4. Silver Bullet
A one-hour window (10:00–11:00 ET, plus a London window for gold). Inside it price takes a short-term high or low, displaces, and leaves a fresh gap. You enter on the first retracement. If it does not happen inside the hour, there is no trade.
5. Turtle Soup
A failed breakout of a recent high or low with a clear rejection back inside the range. The sweep can be small; the rejection must be decisive. Best on: ES and Gold, and NQ with stricter rejection rules.
How to choose
| Model | Type | Markets | Best time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweep + iFVG | Reversal | NQ, ES, GC | 09:30–11:30 |
| Break & Retest | Continuation | NQ, ES, GC | London / NY |
| SMT Reversal | Reversal | NQ, ES | Session opens |
| Silver Bullet | Time-boxed | NQ, ES, GC | 10:00–11:00 |
| Turtle Soup | Failed breakout | NQ, ES, GC | All sessions |
Common questions
What is the most profitable ICT model?
No model wins every day. MFT publishes each model's live hit rate, R and one-contract P&L on the Models page so you can judge for yourself.
Can ICT strategies be automated?
Yes, if each step is defined as an objective rule. MFT encodes all five models and sends alerts or orders via TradingView and TradersPost.
Let MFT follow the rules for you
Five rule-based models on NQ, ES and Gold, exact levels, and optional automation to your prop or live account with news, close and profit-target protection.
Educational content only, not financial advice. Prop firm rules change — always confirm on the firm's site.