Before placing an order
Verify the account, instrument, contract month, quantity and connection status. Confirm the contract’s tick value in the exchange specifications: the same price movement can have different cash effects across products. Check the relevant exchange calendar for early closes.
Write down the boundaries
Record the current equity, fixed floor and total open position size. Before holding a position past the session close, check the position-holding rules for your account type, instrument and platform, and note any earlier holiday closure. Use a timezone-aware clock because Chicago observes daylight saving time.
If the connection fails
Do not assume an order disappeared because the chart stopped updating. Verify order and position status through the platform’s supported procedure before resubmitting. Record the time, instrument and order identifier for support.
After the session
Confirm that your open positions and working orders match your plan. Record net results after commissions, whether your plan was followed, and one concrete adjustment for the next session. A useful journal describes decisions, not just the day’s profit or loss.
Further reading: CME Group: Position and Risk Management ↗
Try the rules calculator ↗Educational content about the program. It is not personalized advice or a guarantee of results.