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Optimal Trade Entry (OTE) definition
The 62–79% Fibonacci retracement zone of a displacement leg, used as a high-probability entry area.
This page is the short definition. For rules, worked NQ examples and invalidation, read the full Optimal Trade Entry (OTE) guide.
What it means in ICT
ICT teaches that institutional algorithms reprice into the golden-pocket retracement of an impulse before continuing the move.
NQ example
After a NY open Judas swing lower, an NQ long placed in the 70% retracement of the first down-leg often sees the lowest-risk entry for the AM continuation.
Related guides
Practice Optimal Trade Entry in replay
Load a historical NQ session and watch for optimal trade entry 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.