What it means
ICT killzones are pre-defined time windows where Inner Circle Trader (ICT) methodology expects the highest-probability institutional flow. Four primary killzones: London open (07:00-10:00 GMT), New York open (12:00-15:00 GMT), London close (15:00-17:00 GMT), New York close (17:00-19:00 GMT). The framework expects significant moves and reversals to cluster within these windows; midday and overnight periods are expected to be lower-quality (range-bound, choppy).
Why it matters
Killzones formalize what session traders have known for years: liquidity and volatility concentrate around major session opens/closes. Trading within killzones biases toward catching the day's significant moves; trading outside them often catches noise and stop-hunts that don't develop into trends.
How to use it
Mark the four killzones on your chart. Take active setups only during these windows. Outside the killzones, scale back to monitoring rather than active trading. Combine with structural setups (order blocks, FVGs, sweeps) inside killzones for highest conviction.
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