Last updated:
Judas Swing definition
A false move at a session open that traps traders before the real directional push.
This page is the short definition. For rules, worked NQ examples and invalidation, read the full Judas Swing guide.
What it means in ICT
The Judas swing is the manipulation phase of the Power of Three cycle: price briefly runs the wrong way to collect liquidity.
NQ example
At 09:30 ET NQ may spike 30 points above the pre-market range only to reverse and trend lower for the rest of the morning.
Related guides
Practice Judas Swing in replay
Load a historical NQ session and watch for judas swing bar-by-bar, with ICT overlays drawn automatically.
Data & methodology
All NQ and MNQ examples use Databento GLBX.MDP3 1-minute OHLCV candles for continuous front-month E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures, aggregated to higher timeframes (5m, 15m, 1h, 4h, 1D, 1W) so every bar agrees across timeframes. Sessions cover the full CME Globex day, 18:00–17:00 ET. ICT overlays are drawn algorithmically from the same price data used in the replay trainer.