Ready to trade at the market’s power hours? The ICT Silver Bullet strategy is a time-based trading approach that targets specific one-hour windows when institutional money moves the market. This precision timing strategy, developed by Inner Circle Trader (ICT), focuses on capturing high-probability trades during three critical market sessions each day.
What Is ICT Silver Bullet?
The ICT Silver Bullet strategy originates from Michael J. Huddleston, known as Inner Circle Trader (ICT), who developed this time-based algorithmic model as part of his Smart Money Concepts framework. The core idea revolves around exploiting predictable price movements during specific one-hour intervals when different global markets open and institutional traders are most active.
This “silver bullet” concept exists because institutional money tends to hunt for liquidity during these predetermined windows, creating consistent trading opportunities for retail traders who understand the timing and mechanics. The strategy combines time-based entries with Smart Money Concepts like fair value gaps (FVGs) and liquidity targeting to maximize profit potential.
Time of Different ICT Silver Bullet Sessions
What time is the London Silver Bullet, GMT?
The London Silver Bullet session runs from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM GMT (3:00 AM to 4:00 AM New York time). This window coincides with the London market opening, when European institutional traders begin their daily operations. The London session is particularly important because it represents the overlap between Asian market closing activities and European market opening dynamics, creating significant liquidity movements.
What time is the New York AM Silver Bullet?
The New York AM Silver Bullet occurs from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM GMT (10:00 AM to 11:00 AM New York time). This session captures the initial momentum as New York traders enter the market, often coinciding with important economic news releases and institutional order flows from the morning trading desk activities.
What time is the New York PM Silver Bullet?
The New York PM Silver Bullet runs from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM GMT (2:00 PM to 3:00 PM New York time). This afternoon session typically sees increased volatility as traders position themselves for the day’s closing and European markets begin to wind down, creating distinct liquidity hunting opportunities.
Checklist for Trading Silver Bullet
Follow this systematic approach for successful Silver Bullet trading:
1. Wait for the Correct Session Time
Only trade during the three designated one-hour windows. Trading outside these times negates the core premise of the strategy. Set alerts 15 minutes before each session to prepare your analysis.
2. Find Overall Market Direction Using Higher Timeframes
Before entering any trade, analyze the 15-minute, 1-hour, or 4-hour charts to determine the prevailing market bias. Look for:
- Clear trend direction (bullish or bearish)
- Recent market structure shifts
- Key support and resistance levels
This higher timeframe bias will determine whether you look for long or short opportunities during the session.
3. Mark Liquidity at Equal Highs or Equal Lows
Identify your target liquidity areas by marking:
- Previous session’s high and low
- Previous day’s high and low
- Previous week’s high and low
- Equal highs and equal lows on the chart
These areas represent where institutional money is likely to target for liquidity collection.
4. Apply the Detailed Entry Strategy
Within your chosen session window:
- Wait for the first Fair Value Gap (FVG) that forms in the direction of your higher timeframe bias
- Place a limit order at the edge of the FVG closest to your intended trade direction
- For long trades: place buy limit at the top of the FVG
- For short trades: place sell limit at the bottom of the FVG
- Set stop loss below the first candlestick of the FVG formation (for longs) or above it (for shorts)
- Target the next logical liquidity area for take profit, aiming for a minimum 1:2 risk-reward ratio
ICT Silver Bullet Example and Case Study
The EURUSD chart above perfectly illustrates the London Killzone long setup between 3:00 and 4:00 AM EST. First, price dips below the recent swing low to sweep out stop-hunters’ liquidity, then retraces back into the marked bullish order block and fair value gap. You’ll notice an equal high forming as stops are triggered, and when price returns to that same OB/FVG area, it reverses sharply. That reversal is your long entry, with a stop-loss placed just below the swing low. From there, price rallies all the way above the previous day’s high, delivering a +5.1 R gain on EURUSD.
The EURUSD chart shows the Silver Bullet short setup during the London Killzone (3:00–4:00 AM EST) step by step. First, price rallies into a clearly marked bearish Fair Value Gap (FVG) and then turns down—this is your first entry signal, with your stop-loss sitting just above the recent swing high. If price doesn’t immediately drop, it often pulls back into a slightly higher FVG zone, giving you a second chance to enter on the same logic. Once in the trade, you aim for profit just below the previous day’s low, which delivers a 1:2 risk-to-reward ratio. This two-touch FVG approach on the chart helps you catch the shift from a brief pullback back into the main downtrend during the Silver Bullet hour.
FAQs
Is the ICT Silver Bullet a profitable trading strategy?
The ICT Silver Bullet strategy can be selectively profitable, with reported win rates of 70-80% when executed properly. However, profitability varies significantly based on market conditions, trader experience, and consistency of application. Backtesting results show that some months perform exceptionally well while others may be challenging. Success depends heavily on proper risk management, timing precision, and understanding of Smart Money Concepts.
What are the best forex pairs for the ICT Silver Bullet strategy?
The most reliable forex pairs for Silver Bullet trading include:
- EUR/USD – High liquidity and clear session-based movements
- GBP/USD – Strong volatility during London and New York sessions
- USD/JPY – Excellent for capturing Asian-to-London transitions
- AUD/USD – Good for New York session trades
- USD/CAD – Reliable during North American trading hours
These major pairs offer sufficient liquidity and typically have lower spreads, which are essential for the strategy’s effectiveness.
How can you learn the ICT Silver Bullet strategy?
To master the ICT Silver Bullet strategy:
- Start with demo trading during the three key session times to practice without risk
- Study the original ICT materials and video tutorials explaining Smart Money Concepts
- Use lower timeframes (1-minute, 3-minute, or 5-minute charts) for precise entries
- Practice identifying Fair Value Gaps and liquidity areas on historical charts
- Backtest the strategy on different currency pairs and market conditions
- Join ICT communities and forums to learn from experienced practitioners
- Focus on one session initially before expanding to all three time windows
- Maintain a trading journal to track your progress and identify improvement areas
Remember that mastering this strategy requires significant practice and patience. Start with small position sizes and gradually increase as your confidence and consistency improve.