I love Greek mythology, and yesterday, during my Premarket Prep, I used the character Sisyphus as an analogy for stock chasers.
Sisyphus was a king, a smooth talker, and one of the craftiest mortals around. He was known for being clever and ambitious. He also had a problem with playing by the rules.
The guy got into some serious trouble by repeatedly tricking the gods.
Long story short, Zeus got pretty mad about it, and Sisyphus earned himself an eternal punishment…
He was condemned to push a massive boulder up a hill, only to have it roll back down every time he got near the top. Over and over, for eternity. The ultimate grind.
Sisyphus Image; Greekmythology.com
That’s how I see chasers. They’re caught in an endless cycle with no reward.
They might win once from a chase, so they roll that rock up the hill again just to watch it roll back down. They give back everything they won.
And they keep doing the same thing over and over again…
This is why we focus only on high-probability, reliable setups…so that we don’t become uphill rock rollers like Sisyphus.
Table of Contents
The Power of High-Probability Trade Setups: Why Consistency Always Wins
You know the phrase, “Go big or go home.” This is the mentality of way too many traders.
You’ll see them jumping on every hot stock mentioned on social media, chasing breakouts on a whim, or throwing money at penny stocks with no plan behind their trades.
They’re hoping for a quick win, like gamblers rolling dice at the craps table. But here’s the thing: the market loves punishing hope-based trading.
When you’re serious about long-term success in trading, you’ve got to trade smarter, not harder.
That’s where high-probability trade setups come into play.
Remember, these setups aren’t magic and they definitely don’t guarantee a win every time.
But they do give you a consistent, repeatable edge that, over time, can set you apart from the 90% of traders who burn out and blow up their accounts.
Why High-Probability Trades Matter More Than “Big Wins”
The path to consistent profitability isn’t paved with home runs. It might sound boring, but it’s actually paved with singles and doubles. You don’t need to hit every trade out of the park.
Instead, you need a system that stacks the odds in your favor, so even if you lose a few, your winners outweigh the losers over time.
High-probability setups do exactly that. They focus on scenarios where you have statistical, technical, or even psychological factors working to your advantage.
You’re entering a trade because:
- It’s a pattern you’ve seen succeed most of the time in similar market conditions.
- The stock has clear support/resistance levels, giving you a defined risk.
- You have an exit plan in place before you even click “buy.”
What Makes a Trade High Probability?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here, but there are a few key criteria that should always be on your radar:
Pattern Recognition:
Successful traders don’t just trade random stocks—they trade patterns they’ve studied and mastered, like short squeezes, morning faders, RCTs, etc.
The more you study, the more you’ll recognize which patterns consistently deliver results and when they work best.
Defined Risk/Reward:
Every high-probability setup should come with a clear risk management plan.
I constantly preach that you need to set a stop to loss before you enter the trade. If you don’t know where you’re cutting your losses, it’s not a high-probability trade—it’s a recipe for disaster.
Controlling risk and minimizing losses is just as, if not more, important than maximizing gains.
Volume Confirmation:
Volume tells you who’s participating.
When you see strong volume that accompanies a breakout or a bounce-off support, it’s further confirmation that your odds are high for a successful trade.
Use the Right Tools
The first step to finding and successfully executing high-probability setups is a great trading platform.
It should feature real-time data, charting, technical indicators, a paper-trading environment, and more.
My top pick, and the one I use every day, is StocksToTrade.
It features everything mentioned above…PLUS, right now, you can get two weeks of both the STT platform and our Breaking News Chat service for $17.
Grab your 14-day StocksToTrade + Breaking News Chat trial today for only $17!
My Final Thoughts…
High-probability trading isn’t just about making money—it’s about building a process you can trust.
When you prioritize the process, the profits will follow. But if you chase profits without a process, you’re setting yourself up for failure.
The next time you’re tempted to chase that new, shiny object, ask yourself, “Does this fit my criteria for a high-probability setup?”
If the answer is no, step away. Be patient and wait for the right opportunity.
Remember, in trading, it’s not the trader who takes the most trades that wins—it’s the trader who takes the right trades.
And for more mentorship and trading strategies, subscribe to my StocksToTrade Advisory service today.
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Have a great day, everyone. See you back here tomorrow.
Tim Bohen
Lead Trainer, StocksToTrade