Smart money and liquidity · Advanced
ICT Silver Bullet
During a specific one-hour window, look for price to reach toward liquidity and enter on the first fair value gap in that direction.
The Silver Bullet is a time-based setup taught by Michael J. Huddleston, known as the Inner Circle Trader (ICT). It narrows the trading day down to windows when, in his model, algorithmic price delivery creates clean fair value gaps toward liquidity.
Why it works
Volume and volatility are not spread evenly across the day. The first hours after the New York open are among the most active, so price tends to travel decisively toward a nearby liquidity pool.
Restricting trades to one window reduces overtrading and forces you to define the setup before it happens.
The rules
Setup
- Time window: 10:00–11:00 New York time (the most commonly cited window; ICT also describes 03:00–04:00 and 14:00–15:00).
- Mark a draw on liquidity: the nearest obvious high or low (previous day, session or equal highs/lows).
Entry
- Inside the window, wait for a displacement move toward the draw that leaves a fair value gap on 1m–5m.
- Enter with a limit order when price returns into the gap.
Stop loss
- Beyond the swing that created the gap.
Exit and management
- Target the liquidity pool you marked; ICT's model often looks for a minimum of 10 points on index futures.
Filters that improve it
- If the draw on liquidity is unclear, there is no trade.
- Avoid days with major news in the window unless you have a specific plan.
Worked example
Illustrative Nasdaq 100 example: at 09:50 New York time the obvious draw is the overnight high at 18,560. At 10:12 a strong 1m move up leaves a gap between 18,512 and 18,518. A limit buy at 18,515 fills at 10:19; stop at 18,500 below the swing, target 18,558: almost 3R.
Illustrative numbers, not a recommendation.
Common mistakes
- Trading the window every day even when there is no clear draw.
- Using the setup without adjusting for daylight saving time: the window is defined in New York time.
- Treating it as a guaranteed pattern. No setup is.
How to practise it
In Candlemind the session map shows New York hours. On US 100 or EUR/USD, read the 5m and 1m candles around the window, mark the draw on liquidity first and only then look for the gap.
Pre-trade checklist
- Inside the 10:00–11:00 NY window
- Clear draw on liquidity marked first
- Displacement leaving an FVG toward it
- Limit entry in the FVG
- Stop beyond the swing
Frequently asked questions
What time is the ICT Silver Bullet?
The most cited window is 10:00 to 11:00 New York time. Other windows mentioned by ICT are 03:00–04:00 and 14:00–15:00 New York time.
Does the Silver Bullet work in forex?
The concept can be applied to major pairs during the New York session, though it is most often taught on US index futures.