A strategy snapshot is a single page that captures the core of one approach – markets, timeframes, setup, risk and execution rules – so you can see it clearly while you trade.
Education only · Not trading adviceWorks with Forex / Crypto / Binary
Decisions first, indicators secondOne page to remind you what this strategy is – and is not.
Approx. reading time: 7–10 minutes.
Why keep your strategy on a single page
Many traders collect screenshots and long notes but cannot state their strategy in a clear, short way. A one-page snapshot forces you to decide what really defines this approach.
It creates a reference you can glance at during a session.
It separates the strategy from all other ideas and noise.
It makes it easier to see when you are drifting away from your own plan.
You can keep snapshots for different strategies – for example, one for a Forex intraday trend setup and another for a Crypto swing approach – but each snapshot stays focused.
The core building blocks of a strategy snapshot
However you format the page – PDF, note or whiteboard – most strategies can be described using a small set of sections.
1. Market, timeframe and instruments
Which markets this strategy is designed for.
Main timeframe(s) you actually take entries on.
Any instruments you specifically avoid or treat with extra caution.
2. Setup definition
What needs to be present for a valid setup.
How trend / range / structure should look.
What clearly makes a setup invalid.
3. Risk and position sizing
Planned risk per trade in simple numbers.
Maximum total risk for this strategy within a day or week.
Any rules for reducing size in high-volatility conditions.
4. Execution rules and exits
Where you typically place stops and targets.
What triggers an exit if the plan changes.
Situations where you deliberately choose not to enter, even if the pattern appears.
Using examples without turning the snapshot into a full book
Examples can make the strategy easier to understand, but the snapshot stays focused when you are selective.
Helpful to include
One or two annotated examples of clean setups.
A short note on context around each example.
A reminder that screenshots are for illustration, not for prediction.
Better to avoid
Dozens of slightly different screenshots that blur the idea.
Rules that change every time the market behaves differently.
Promises or targets framed as expected results rather than scenarios.
Keeping your snapshot realistic and up to date
Markets change, and so will your understanding. The snapshot is meant to evolve – but in a controlled way.
Review your snapshot during weekly or monthly reviews, not in the middle of a stressful session.
When you change a rule, write a short note on why you changed it and what you expect to see.
Use simple version labels (for example, v1.1, v1.2) so you know what you were using at different times.
If a strategy no longer fits you or the market, archive the snapshot rather than forcing it.
A slightly imperfect but up-to-date snapshot is more useful than a "perfect" document you never actually follow.
