ICT 369 Trading Concept - Complete Guide
The ICT 369 is a time-based trading framework that divides any time period into three phases
following the AMD (Accumulation, Manipulation, Distribution) model. Each phase represents
one-third of the total time cycle.
The 369 Framework
3 = Accumulation Phase, (First Third)
6 = Manipulation Phase, (Middle Third)
9 = Distribution Phase (Final Third)
Key Trading Rule
Only trade during the 9 phase (Distribution) for highest probability setups**
Phase 3 - ACCUMULATION (Boring Time)
Characteristics:
Sideways price action
Low volatility
Consolidation and ranging
Smart money quietly positioning
Lower volume WAIT - Do not trade during this phase
Phase 6 - MANIPULATION (Fake Out Time)
Characteristics:
False breakouts
Liquidity raids
Stop hunting
Price spikes that reverse quickly
Traps for retail traders
AVOID - Don't get fooled by fake moves
Phase 9 - DISTRIBUTION (Real Move Time)
Characteristics:
True directional moves
Sustained trends
Follow-through price action
Smart money offloading positions
Higher volume
EXAMPLES
London Session (3:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST) Example:
3 Phase (3:00-6:00 AM): Price ranges
6 Phase (6:00-9:00 AM): Fake breakout
9 Phase (9:00-12:00 PM): Real trend, TRADE HERE
New York Morning Session (8:00 AM - 11:00 AM EST) Example:
3 Phase (8:00-9:00 AM): Sideways price action
6 Phase (9:00-10:00 AM): Manipulation
9 Phase (10:00-11:00 AM): Real move, TRADE HERE
New York Afternoon Session (2:00 PM - 5:00 PM EST) Example:
3 Phase (2:00-3:00 PM): Consolidation
6 Phase (3:00-4:00 PM): False drop
9 Phase (4:00-5:00 PM): True distribution, TRADE HERE
90-Minute Cycles (1.5 Hours) - Cycle Example - (8:00-9:30 AM):
3 Phase (8:00-8:30 AM): Sideways price action
6 Phase (8:30-9:00 AM): False breakout
9 Phase (9:00-9:30 AM): True breakout plus ENTRY
30-Minute Cycle - Example (8:30-9:00 AM):
3 Phase (8:30-8:40 AM): Consolidation
6 Phase (8:40-8:50 AM): False breakout and reversal
9 Phase (8:50-9:00 AM): True trend plus ENTRY
15-Minute Cycles -Short Example (9:00-9:15 AM):
3 Phase (9:00-9:05 AM): Price ranges
6 Phase (9:05-9:10 AM): Fake drop
9 Phase (9:10-9:15 AM): Real breakout - SCALP
Pattern Variations - Standard Pattern: 3-6-9
Accumulation → Manipulation → Distribution
Most common scenario (70-80% of time)
Inverted Pattern: 9-6-3
When it occurs:
Strong overnight momentum
Major news releases
Gap openings
High-impact economic data
Example:
9 Phase (First): Immediate distribution - real move starts right away
6 Phase (Middle): Manipulation - false retracement to trap late traders
3 Phase (Final): Accumulation - consolidation after the big move
Trading Strategy: When you spot immediate distribution in the first phase, take that trade
immediately. Don't wait for traditional timing.
Success Rates
Standard 3-6-9 Pattern: 70-80% reliability
Inverted 9-6-3 Pattern: 20-30% occurrence rate
Multiple Timeframe Opportunities
Daily Breakdown
4 Major Sessions: London, NY Morning, NY Afternoon, Asian
Each session: 3-hour cycles with 369 phases
90-minute cycles: 16 opportunities per 8-hour trading day
30-minute cycles: 48 opportunities per 8-hour trading day
15-minute cycles: 96 opportunities per 8-hour trading day
Time Scaling
The 369 pattern works on ANY timeframe:
3 minutes:1-minute phases
30 minutes:10-minute phases
90 minutes: 30-minute phases
3 hours: 1-hour phases
9 hours: 3-hour phases
Trading Opportunities: More frequent on shorter timeframes
Key Takeaways
1.Patience is critical, wait for the distribution phase
2.Pattern recognition, learn to spot accumulation, manipulation, and distribution
3.Timeframe flexibility, apply 369 to any time cycle
4.Inverted patterns, recognize when distribution comes first
5.Volume confirmation, look for increased activity during distribution
6.Risk management, only trade the high-probability 9 phases
Final Rule
Trade the 9, avoid the 3 and 6 - This simple rule will dramatically improve your trading success
rate.
