🎯 Scalping · MA cross
Moving Average scalping
Two fast EMAs (9 and 21) on the 3-min chart. Enter on the crossover; exit on the reverse crossover or a fixed R:R target. Works best in trending sessions.
Setup
- Chart: 3-min candles with EMA 9 (fast) and EMA 21 (slow)
- Only trade in the direction of the higher-timeframe trend (check 15-min chart first)
- Wait for a clean crossover — no ambiguous intertwined behaviour
Entry
Long: EMA 9 crosses above EMA 21 on the 3-min chart AND the underlying trend on the 15-min is up. Enter at the close of the crossover candle. Short: mirror.
Exit
Fixed 1:1.5 R:R target OR the reverse crossover — whichever comes first. Do NOT hold through opposing crosses hoping for reversal.
Stop-loss
Below the EMA 21 (long) or above it (short) — the slow EMA acts as a dynamic stop.
When it works
- Trending sessions with the two EMAs cleanly separating and staying apart
- Higher-timeframe trend aligned with the scalp direction
- Momentum-continuation trades — pullbacks that resolve back in the trend direction
When it fails
- Range-bound choppy days — EMAs cross back and forth every 15-20 minutes
- Higher-timeframe trend against the scalp — you're fighting the tide
- Very short EMA settings on illiquid instruments — indicator noise dominates
General trading rules that apply
Regardless of the specific setup, these apply to every strategy on this site:
- Never risk more than 2% of your account on a single trade
- Place a hard stop-loss before entering — no exceptions
- Journal every trade: setup, reason, outcome, one lesson
- After two consecutive losses, stop for the session
- Backtest and paper-trade for a month before deploying real capital
Every strategy here is part of our in-house catalogue, written and calibrated for Indian markets. Past behavior does not guarantee future results. Charts run against 2-year Nifty data — actual results in your account will vary. Backtest, paper-trade, and size responsibly before risking real capital.