Jacky Chen: 92% Win Rate on NQ at 19
Jacky Chen
Jacky Chen is 19, started trading in July 2025, and won Alpha Futures February Trader of the Month after reporting a 92% win rate at 2.4R on NQ (with 143% profit in February on his simulated account, per the interview). He trades supply and demand only: daily bias, zones on 15M, entries on 5M, 1 to 3 trades per day, and moves stops to break even when price pushes his way. He topped the Alpha Futures leaderboard in December with two accounts and is already on Alpha Prime. He is honest that the win rate looks high partly because of break-even management. One trader's story, not a guarantee.
Trader Stats
Name | Jacky Chen |
|---|---|
Age | 19 |
Trading since | July 2025 (~8 months at time of interview) |
Instrument | NQ only (no metals, no gas switching) |
Style | Intraday supply and demand + price action |
Time frames | Daily bias, 15M zones, 5M execution |
Frequency | 1 to 3 trades/day (sometimes zero) |
February stats (self-reported) | 92% win rate, 2.4R, ~143% profit |
Alpha Futures | February Trader of the Month; December leaderboard (2 accounts) |
Programme | Alpha Prime (at time of interview) |
Background | Brother is a financial adviser; studying toward quant work; plays chess |
Other markets | Long-term stock investing; explored algo but stays discretionary on props |
Jacky sat down on Alpha Pods after February's Trader of the Month result. The headline numbers are loud. His actual edge is quieter: few zones, tight entries, break even fast, and stop trading when the day is wrong. If you are new to futures prop evaluations, start with how to pass a futures prop evaluation and plans compared.
Started July 2025: stocks, then NQ, then a geopolitical wipeout
Jacky did a little stocks first and took an in-person Trading Academy class on supply and demand before futures.
He started Alpha Futures in July 2025. Early mistakes were basic: wrong size, unsure direction, no feel for how news moves price.
"I remember specifically I was trading once and Trump attacked Iran in the summer and there was a really big crash and I lost my accounts because of it."
That loss was brutal. It also pushed him to watch structure instead of guessing.
Why he only trades NQ
Jacky gets asked constantly about gold, silver, and natural gas. His answer is always the same.
"No, I'm sticking to NQ only."
His view: each product has different behaviour. Pattern recognition comes from repetition. Jumping to whatever is trending on social media is not the same as building skill on one chart.
He trades longs and shorts (not long-only). In February he thinks he may have shorted more than he longed.
Strategy: daily bias, few zones, react don't predict
Process:
- Daily chart sets bias (where price is likely headed)
- Mark supply and demand zones on 15M (strong impulsive moves only, not chop)
- Execute on 5M when price tests a zone and rejects (failed break of prior high/low)
- Move stop to break even once the trade pushes in his favour
On zone quality:
"The move has to be like a really big move either to the upside or the downside... I see a lot of people send me screenshots and it's just bouncing. I'm just like it's consolidating."
Some days price touches one zone. Some days none. If there is no valid setup, he does not trade.
"If it doesn't do what I expect it to, I just won't trade because I typically like to react to the market instead of predicting what it's going to do."
February numbers and the 92% win rate caveat
Host cited 92% win rate at 2.4R and ~143% profit in February.
Jacky does not call February pure luck. December he also had two accounts at the top of the Alpha Futures leaderboard (before Trader of the Month existed).
He is upfront about the win rate:
"I feel like my win rate is pretty inflated because I do put my stop loss at break even once the trade starts going my way. So it's like a risk-free trade."
That is process, not magic. Tight entries at good zones make break even reachable. Late entries do not.
Four stop-outs, then he shut the platform
Discipline showed up on a bad day too.
"I remember one day I got stopped out four times and I was just really frustrated and I just stopped trading immediately. No profit on the day."
No revenge session. No forcing a fifth trade. That matches his Trader of the Month advice: if you do not see your setup, wait for the next day.
News, fundamentals, and the quant path
Jacky says he is mostly technical (supply/demand + price action) but watches FOMC, CPI, and other high-impact releases so he is not blind-sided.
He is interested in algorithmic trading and quant finance long term. He notes algo is harder than it looks: backtests lie, fills slip, and discretionary context is hard to code without overfitting.
He is already on Alpha Prime and the host mentions connecting him with Sebastian on the quant side. That path is separate from his manual NQ playbook.
Chess, skill, and obsession early on
Jacky plays chess. In his trading group, the profitable traders tend to be strong chess players too.
His early grind was intense: one 38-hour chart session when he first started (not a routine he recommends copying).
"You have to be really obsessed with trading when you start... I was just always on the charts."
That cooled down once the process clicked. Now he checks back later instead of staring non-stop.
Advice for the next Trader of the Month
Jacky's closing line:
"Just stay really disciplined and consistent. There's always going to be a next trade out there. You don't have to get FOMO... If you don't see it, wait till the next day."
Related reads
- What is a futures prop firm?
- Alpha Futures plans compared
- Leaderboard
- More interviews: Charlie: NQ day in the life · Maggie: NQ while employed
FAQs
Who is Jacky Chen?
Jacky Chen is a 19-year-old NQ trader who won Alpha Futures February Trader of the Month and reports a 92% win rate at 2.4R that month. YouTube: February Trader of the Month.
What strategy does Jacky Chen use?
Daily bias, 15M supply and demand zones (strong moves only), 5M rejection entries, 1 to 3 trades per day, stops moved to break even when possible.
Is a 92% win rate normal?
Jacky says his rate is partly inflated because many trades go to break even after a favourable move. Past stats are self-reported, not typical, and not guaranteed for other traders.
Does Jacky Chen only trade long on NQ?
No. He trades both long and short and believes he may have shorted more than he longed in February.
Is Jacky Chen on Alpha Prime?
Yes. The host confirms he is already on Alpha Prime in the interview.
What advice does Jacky give new Alpha Futures traders?
Stay disciplined, avoid FOMO, and skip the session if your setup is not there. There is always another day.
Ready to start your Alpha Futures evaluation?
Jacky's edge is selectivity, not volume. Learn the rules first.
Alpha Futures provides simulated evaluation and qualified accounts for simulated trading. Performance fees are based on eligible simulated results; outcomes are not guaranteed. Trader results in this interview reflect individual experiences, not forecasts for future traders. Confirm live rules and pricing on alpha-futures.com and help.alpha-futures.com.
