Verify time to expiration (must be same day)

Check option Greeks (Delta, Theta, Vega)

Confirm strike price selection strategy

Validate open interest and bid-ask spread

Check VIX and overall market volatility

Ensure rapid exit strategy is in place

Verify strategy alignment with current market conditions

Confirm session alignment (Asia/London/NY)

Validate technical indicators (EMA, VWAP, ATR, RSI)

Check liquidity and volume conditions

Confirm probability score from Strategy Engine

Validate risk per trade with Risk-Management Engine

Ensure stop-loss and take-profit levels are defined

Confirm account balance and max exposure limits

Record trade rationale in journal

Higher timeframe trend identified (5m / 15m)

Price relative to VWAP confirmed

Key support & resistance marked

Market regime identified (trend / range / chop)

Volume confirms direction

Signal aligns with structure direction

Signal occurs at a key level (VWAP, S/R, EMA)

No signal against higher timeframe trend

Signal confirmed by volume expansion

No late entries (signal just fired)

Risk per trade ≤ 1–2% of account

Risk–Reward ≥ 1:1 (preferred 1:1.5+)

Contract liquidity confirmed

Stop-loss defined before entry

Daily max loss not exceeded

Check economic calendar for high-impact events

Review pre-market movers and sector rotation

Verify account has sufficient buying power

Confirm daily loss limit not reached

Identify key support/resistance levels

Check VIX and overall market sentiment

Review watchlist and prepare potential setups

Mental check - Am I in the right mindset?

Power Hour Confirmation: Verify trading during NY open or power hour for maximum volatility

Quick Exit Plan: Define tight stop-loss (0.3% or less) and quick profit target (0.5-1%)

High Probability Setup: Ensure AI probability score ≥ 80% for 0DTE scalps

Time Limit Set: Set maximum trade duration (typically 30 minutes for 0DTE)

Volume Spike Confirmation: Confirm volume spike 1.5x+ average for momentum confirmation

Market & Symbol Check: Confirm high-liquidity, high-volume options. Verify instrument suitability (e.g., SPY, QQQ 0DTE)

Session Alignment: Verify current market session (Asian, London, NY). Adjust strategy thresholds based on session volatility

Strategy Confirmation: Confirm trade setup aligns with selected strategy. AI Coach provides probability score ≥ 75%

Risk Validation: Confirm position size ≤ 1-2% of account equity. Validate stop-loss and take-profit levels

Indicators & Signal Check: Confirm EMA, VWAP, RSI, MACD alignment. Verify momentum, trend, or reversal indicators

News & Events Check: Check for news events, earnings, or market anomalies that could impact trade

AI Coach Approval: AI Coach validates probability, risk, and strategy adherence. Approves or suggests adjustments

Journal Entry: Record planned trade rationale, strategy, stop-loss, and take-profit