Touch No Touch strategy
- Touch No Touch Strategy: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners
The "Touch No Touch" (TNT) strategy is a popular binary options trading strategy known for its simplicity and potential for high returns, though it carries inherent risks. This article provides a detailed, beginner-friendly guide to understanding and implementing the TNT strategy, covering its mechanics, variations, risk management, and how to combine it with technical analysis. We will explore the foundations, setup, execution, and crucial considerations for success. This guide assumes a basic understanding of binary options trading; if you are entirely new to binary options, familiarize yourself with the core concepts first. See Binary Options Trading for an introduction.
What is the Touch No Touch Strategy?
The Touch No Touch strategy revolves around predicting whether the price of an asset will *touch* a predetermined price level (the "touch" barrier) *or not* (the "no touch" barrier) within a specified timeframe. Unlike many other binary options strategies that focus on direction (up or down), TNT focuses on *price levels*.
- **Touch:** You profit if the asset's price touches or breaks through the specified barrier *before* the expiration time.
- **No Touch:** You profit if the asset's price *does not* touch or break through the specified barrier *before* the expiration time.
The beauty of this strategy lies in its ability to profit from range-bound markets or periods of low volatility. It doesn’t necessarily require you to predict *which* direction the price will move, only *whether it will reach a certain level*. This distinguishes it from strategies like High-Low Strategy and 60 Second Strategy.
Understanding the Mechanics
Binary options brokers offer both "Touch" and "No Touch" options. When you select a TNT option, you're essentially betting on whether the price will breach a specific barrier or remain within a defined range.
- **Barrier Level:** This is the critical price level. It’s chosen by the trader or pre-set by the broker. The barrier is usually set a certain percentage above or below the current price.
- **Expiration Time:** The timeframe within which the price must touch (or not touch) the barrier. Shorter expiration times (e.g., 5 minutes, 15 minutes) are common, but longer times (e.g., 1 hour, end-of-day) can also be used.
- **Payout:** The percentage return you receive if your prediction is correct. Payouts vary between brokers but typically range from 70% to 95%.
- **Investment Amount:** The amount of capital you risk on the trade.
The key is to correctly assess the likelihood of the price reaching the barrier within the given timeframe. If you believe the price will *not* reach the barrier, you buy a "No Touch" option. If you believe it *will* reach the barrier, you buy a "Touch" option.
Setting Up a TNT Trade
1. **Choose an Asset:** Select an asset you are familiar with. Forex pairs (EUR/USD), commodities (Gold), indices (S&P 500), and stocks (Apple) are all popular choices. Consider assets with relatively predictable price movements. 2. **Select the Expiration Time:** This is crucial. Shorter expiration times require faster price movements. Longer expiration times offer more leeway but also expose your trade to more potential risks. Consider the asset’s volatility and typical price range. 3. **Determine the Barrier Level:** This is where technical analysis comes in (see section below). Look for significant support and resistance levels. The further the barrier is from the current price, the higher the potential payout, but also the lower the probability of success. 4. **Choose Touch or No Touch:** Based on your analysis and assessment of the market, decide whether you believe the price will touch the barrier or remain within its bounds. 5. **Invest Your Capital:** Enter the amount you want to invest. *Never* invest more than you can afford to lose.
Variations of the Touch No Touch Strategy
Several variations of the TNT strategy exist, each tailored to different market conditions and risk tolerances.
- **Standard TNT:** The basic strategy described above, focusing on a single barrier level.
- **Double Touch/No Touch:** Involves two barriers – one above and one below the current price. You predict whether the price will touch *both* barriers or *neither* barrier within the expiration time. This is significantly more complex. (Double Touch Strategy Explained)
- **Asian Touch:** The barrier is not fixed but is determined by the highest or lowest price reached during a specific period *before* the trade's execution. This adds an element of uncertainty.
- **Barrier Options (Advanced):** While not strictly binary options, barrier options offer similar functionality with more sophisticated features, such as knock-in and knock-out barriers. (Barrier Options Overview)
Combining TNT with Technical Analysis
Technical analysis is essential for identifying potential barrier levels and increasing the probability of success.
- **Support and Resistance Levels:** These are key price levels where the price has historically found support (bouncing off) or resistance (being rejected). Use these levels as potential barriers. (Support and Resistance)
- **Trend Lines:** Draw trend lines to identify the direction of the trend. If the price is approaching a trend line, consider using it as a barrier. (Trend Lines)
- **Moving Averages:** Use moving averages (Moving Averages) to identify dynamic support and resistance levels.
- **Bollinger Bands:** Bollinger Bands (Bollinger Bands) can help identify overbought and oversold conditions, suggesting potential barriers.
- **Fibonacci Retracement Levels:** Fibonacci levels (Fibonacci Retracement) can pinpoint potential support and resistance levels.
- **Pivot Points:** Pivot points (Pivot Points) are calculated based on the previous day's high, low, and closing prices and can act as barriers.
- **Candlestick Patterns:** Look for candlestick patterns (Candlestick Patterns) that suggest potential reversals or continuations of the trend, informing your barrier selection.
- **ATR (Average True Range):** The ATR (ATR Explained) measures volatility. A higher ATR suggests wider price swings and the potential for touching barriers, while a lower ATR suggests a more range-bound market suitable for No Touch options.
- **MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence):** MACD (MACD Explained) can help identify trend strength and potential reversals.
- **RSI (Relative Strength Index):** RSI (RSI Explained) helps identify overbought or oversold conditions.
Risk Management is Paramount
The Touch No Touch strategy, while potentially profitable, is not risk-free. Effective risk management is crucial.
- **Never Risk More Than 1-2% of Your Capital Per Trade:** This protects your account from significant losses.
- **Use Stop-Loss Orders (If Available):** Some brokers offer stop-loss orders that automatically close your trade if the price moves against you.
- **Diversify Your Trades:** Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Trade different assets and use different expiration times.
- **Avoid Trading During High-Impact News Events:** News releases (Forex Factory Calendar) can cause sudden and unpredictable price movements.
- **Practice on a Demo Account:** Before risking real money, practice the strategy on a demo account (Demo Account) to get comfortable with its mechanics and refine your skills.
- **Understand Broker Policies:** Be aware of the broker's rules regarding early closure of trades and potential commission fees.
- **Be Disciplined:** Stick to your trading plan and avoid emotional decision-making.
Choosing the Right Broker
Selecting a reputable and regulated binary options broker is vital. Look for brokers that offer:
- **Regulation:** Ensure the broker is regulated by a reputable financial authority (e.g., CySEC, FCA). (Regulation)
- **Competitive Payouts:** Compare payouts offered by different brokers.
- **User-Friendly Platform:** Choose a platform that is easy to navigate and provides the tools you need.
- **Good Customer Support:** Ensure the broker offers responsive and helpful customer support.
- **Educational Resources:** Look for brokers that provide educational materials and tutorials.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- **Choosing Arbitrary Barriers:** Don’t select barriers randomly. Base them on sound technical analysis.
- **Ignoring Volatility:** Consider the asset’s volatility when choosing the expiration time and barrier level.
- **Overtrading:** Don’t trade too frequently. Wait for high-probability setups.
- **Chasing Losses:** Don’t try to recover losses by increasing your investment amount.
- **Trading Without a Plan:** Develop a clear trading plan and stick to it.
Conclusion
The Touch No Touch strategy can be a profitable addition to a binary options trader’s toolkit. However, success requires a thorough understanding of its mechanics, disciplined risk management, and a solid foundation in technical analysis. By following the guidelines outlined in this article and continuously learning and adapting, you can increase your chances of success in the exciting world of binary options trading. Remember that trading involves risk, and there are no guarantees of profit.
Trading Strategies Technical Indicators Risk Management Binary Options Expiration Support and Resistance Bollinger Bands Strategy Moving Average Crossover Candlestick Chart Patterns Forex Trading Options Trading
Start Trading Now
Sign up at IQ Option (Minimum deposit $10) Open an account at Pocket Option (Minimum deposit $5)
Join Our Community
Subscribe to our Telegram channel @strategybin to receive: ✓ Daily trading signals ✓ Exclusive strategy analysis ✓ Market trend alerts ✓ Educational materials for beginners