Modul 02 · Pre-Market Routine

MORNING
PREPARATION

Your daily 9-step pre-market workflow. In 15–25 minutes you will know: which regime is in play, where the key levels sit, and what the large players are planning — before the first candle closes.

Zeitaufwand 15–25 Min.
Zeitpunkt Pre-Market · 6–9 Uhr ET
Lesezeit ~10 Min.

The Logic Behind It

The workflow follows a clear top-down logic: you always start with the big picture — the Regime — and work your way down to increasingly specific levels. By the end you have a concrete plan — not just a collection of data.

Start Regime
Dann Struktur
Dann Flow
Dann Kontext
Ergebnis Roadmap

The three core questions you must answer before the open:

Question 1 — Regime Which gamma regime are we in? Positive = Range day · Negative = Momentum day
Frage 2 — Struktur Which levels are the most important today? Call Resistance, Put Support, HVL
Frage 3 — Kontext What bias do the large players have? CTAs, VIX positioning, DEX direction

Step by Step

Run through these steps every morning in the same sequence. The sequence is not arbitrary — each step provides context for the next.

01
Dashboard
~2 Min.
Check Correlated Assets
Dashboard → SPX / QQQ / VIX → Gamma Condition

Before looking at NQ, always open the big picture first. Look at QQQ (for NQ traders), SPY/SPX, and VIX. You want to know whether all three showing the same gamma picture — or whether divergences exist.

QQQ = your primary reference asset when trading NQ
Gamma Condition check: Is the asset in positive or negative gamma?
VIX trend: rising / falling / neutral? Where does it stand relative to its levels?
Do QQQ and NQ show different regimes? → elevated caution, avoid strong directional trades
Tip If QQQ shows positive gamma but NQ shows negative — something is off. Wait for confirmation before planning the day with a strong directional bias.
02
Discord Bot
~2 Min.
Liquidity Snapshot — Determining the Regime
/liq_snapshot NQ1!

The Liquidity Snapshot is your most important quick-reference tool. One overview, four data points — and you know exactly which market you are trading.

Gamma Condition (Positive/Negative): Your regime filter for the entire day. Positive = dealers stabilize the market. Negative = dealers amplify moves.
Momentum (Bullish/Bearish): Always read in the context of the gamma regime — never in isolation.
IV30 vs HV30: IV higher than HV = market expects more movement than recently. IV lower = calmer expectation.
Put/Call OI Ratio: Above 1.5 = significantly more puts than calls open = bearish sentiment bias.
Classic Combination Positive Gamma + Bullish Momentum + IV < HV = Range day with upside bias. Negatives Gamma + Bearish Momentum + IV > HV = potentially volatile sell-off day.
03
Discord Bot
~3 Min.
Net GEX Chart — Identifying Key Levels
/netgex NQ1!

The Net GEX Chart is a bar chart of gamma concentration per strike. Green bars = positive gamma (stabilizing). Red bars = negative gamma (volatility-amplifying). Here you identify the three most important zones of the day.

Call Resistance: Largest green bar above → strongest mechanical ceiling via dealer hedging
Put Support: Largest green bar below → natural buy support via dealer hedging
Mark the HVL: The boundary between positive and negative gamma zone — your volatility switch
Note negative zones: Red bars between positive zones = price can move quickly through these
Record the 3 strongest zones (Call Resistance, Put Support, HVL) as the foundation of your daily plan
Range Indicator Call Resistance and Put Support close together → tight range day expected. Far apart → wide day. This is your first indicator of the day's expected volatility range.
04
Discord Bot
~3 Min.
Net GEX Multi-Expiry — Reading Expiry Structure
/netgex_multiexpiry NQ1!

This chart shows gamma exposure broken down by expiry dates: 0DTE, next week, next month. You see not only WHERE the gamma sits, but WHEN it is active — and when it rolls off.

0DTE row first: Which strikes have the highest gamma today? These are your intraday magnets and targets.
Highest GEX expiration: Which expiry date has the most gamma concentration? That is the structural anchor for the week.
GEX percentage share: What % of total GEX expires today? High 0DTE share = strong pin effect possible.
Look for confluences: 0DTE level and weekly GEX level on the same strike? → especially strong level for today.
Note After Expiry If a large share of GEX expires today (OPEX, monthly expiry), a significant repricing of volatility can occur after 16:00 ET. Be cautious with open positions during these hours.
05
Discord Bot
~3 Min.
Option Matrix — Reading Daily Positioning
/matrix NQ1!

The Option Matrix is your primary daily data feed. Per expiry date one row — with GEX, DEX, open interest, volume, and the calculated levels. Always read the first row (today/0DTE) first.

Total GEX: Positive value = positive gamma. Negative value = negative gamma. Confirms the Liquidity Snapshot from Step 2.
Total DEX: Positive = dealers net long → upward pressure. Negative = dealers net short → downward pressure.
Expected Move: How many points can NQ move until expiration? Your statistical range.
GEX change vs. prior day: Has gamma exposure increased? → stronger hedging flows today.
Levels from the matrix: Record Call Resistance, Put Support and HVL for the 0DTE expiration.
Mixed-Signal Warning Positive GEX + negative DEX simultaneously = mixed signal. Expect choppy, difficult trading conditions. Reduce position size, tighten stops.
06
Dashboard
~2 Min.
Analyze VIX — Volatility Confirmation
/matrix VIX → then check Net GEX VIX

VIX is negatively correlated to SPX (and therefore NQ). A falling VIX with rising NQ means dealers are unwinding hedges — that is bullish. A rising VIX with rising NQ is a warning signal.

VIX Matrix: Where are VIX Call Resistance and Put Support? Is VIX near its HVL?
VIX below its Call Resistance: Volatility is capped → favorable for NQ long trades without wide stops
VIX above its HVL: Elevated volatility expected → wider stops required, smaller positions
VIX GEX negative: Dealers must buy when VIX rises → amplifies volatility spikes
The Squeeze Setup VIX breaks below its Call Resistance while NQ simultaneously breaks above a key gamma level → classic squeeze setup for an accelerated NQ rally.
07
Dashboard
~2 Min.
CTA Funds Model — Checking Systemic Flows
Dashboard → CTAs & Quant Funds Model

CTAs are systematic funds that buy and sell based on technical signals sell. They are one of the largest liquidity drivers in the futures market. Their positioning can amplify existing trends or silently erode them.

Position today vs. yesterday: Increasing exposure → systematic buy support present.
Rising: CTAs buying → confirms bullish momentum → trend-following setups have tailwinds
Declining: CTAs reducing exposure → caution even on bullish chart → no systemic support
Chart divergence: Bullish chart + declining CTAs = highest caution level → possible trap
Wertvollster Einsatz CTA data is most valuable when it CONTRADICTS the chart picture. Bearish chart + rising CTAs = potential reversal developing. Bullish chart + declining CTAs = breakout trap highly probable.
08
Dashboard
~2 Min.
Swing Levels — Setting the Structural Framework
Dashboard → Swing Trading Model (NQ / QQQ)

Swing Levels divide the chart into tradeable zones: Resistance Tiers (RT) above, Support Bands (LB) below, with the Risk Trigger in the middle. They show whether a move is a pullback within the trend or a true reversal.

Risk Trigger: The single most important level in the swing model. Price above Risk Trigger = bullish swing bias.
Resistance Tiers RT-1, RT-2: Layered resistance zones to the upside → in positive gamma = fade targets
Support Bands LB T-1, T-2: Layered support zones to the downside → in positive gamma = long entry zones
Gamma-Confluence: Swing Support Band aligns with Put Support → high concentration zone → strong long setup
Combination NQ above Risk Trigger + positive gamma = clear bullish bias, long setups near Support Bands preferred. NQ below Risk Trigger + negative gamma = clear bearish bias, plan for wider stops.
09
TradingView
~3 Min.
Build Your Chart — Draw the Roadmap
TradingView → Tradinghub Levels + Blind Spots Indicator

Now you transfer all collected information into your chart. This is the final step before you trade. A cleanly built chart saves you intraday wertvolle Sekunden und verhindert emotionale Entscheidungen.

Load EOD Levels: Add Tradinghub Levels indicator to NQ1! — all levels load automatically
Add Blind Spots: Activate Blind Spots indicator for hidden reaction zones
Roadmap Function: The indicator automatically draws zones between levels — instant visual daily plan
Add VWAP: VWAP as intraday bias filter. NQ above VWAP = buyers in control.
Open 3 timeframes: Daily/4H for trend → 1H/15M for setup → 1000-Tick or 5M for execution
Weniger ist mehr Zeichne maximal 4–5 Level ein: Call Resistance, Put Support, HVL + 1–2 Blind Spots. Too many lines lead to paralysis by analysis. Select the strongest zones and ignore the rest for today.

Signal Combinations

The most important combinations of gamma, momentum, and CTAs — and what they mean for mean for your bias. Use this table at the end of your workflow as a final check.

Gamma Momentum CTAs IV vs. HV Bias & Strategy
Positive ✓ Bullish ↑ Rising ↑ IV < HV STRONG BULL — Range-Long near Put Support, tight stops
Positive ✓ Bearish ↓ Falling ↓ IV < HV RANGE BEAR — Fade Call Resistance, return to HVL expected
Negative ✗ Bullish ↑ Rising ↑ IV > HV MOMENTUM BULL — Topside breakout, wide stops, fast gains
Negative ✗ Bearish ↓ Falling ↓ IV > HV STRONG BEAR — Acceleration short, volatility elevated, large moves possible
Positive ✓ Bullish ↑ Falling ↓ IV < HV CAUTION — Chart bullish but CTAs declining. Smaller positions, no chasing
Mixed Neutral Sideways IV ≈ HV CHOP-DAY — No clear setup. Trade less, avoid mistakes

Interactive Checklist

Check off each step as you complete it. Record the most important levels right here — your daily plan in 60 seconds.

S1 Correlated Assets
S2 Liquidity Snapshot
S3 Net GEX Chart
S4 Multi-Expiry GEX
S5 Option Matrix
S6 VIX Analysis
S7 CTA Funds Model
S8+9 Chart built
Record today's levels
Call Resistance
HVL / Gamma Flip
Put Support
Daily Bias
The Key Insight
This workflow does not replace your technical analysis — it explains it. When you know that NQ is in negative gamma and CTAs are reducing exposure, you also know why a technical breakout suddenly turns into a whipsaw. You are not trading against invisible forces. You are trading with them.