Playbook Design Guide
This page explains how to write playbooks professionally.
The main idea is simple: each section of a playbook should have one job.
When sections are mixed together, the AI gets a blurred strategy. When sections are clean, the AI gets a more disciplined operating framework.
Playbook Structure At A Glance
Section titled “Playbook Structure At A Glance”| Section | Main Job |
|---|---|
| Name and description | Identify the strategy clearly |
| Market bias | Tell the AI what style of setup this is |
| Primary timeframe | Define where the broader structure is judged |
| Entry timeframe | Define where the trigger must appear |
| Setup conditions | Describe what the market must look like |
| Entry conditions | Describe what must happen before execution |
| Risk rules | Define stop, target, and risk boundaries |
| Trade-management rules | Define what to do after entry |
| Invalidation conditions | Define when the setup is no longer valid |
| Preferred symbols and sessions | Express where the playbook fits best |
How To Write Each Section
Section titled “How To Write Each Section”Name And Description
Section titled “Name And Description”Use these fields to make the playbook understandable to a human reviewer first.
Good naming makes later journal review much easier.
Market Bias
Section titled “Market Bias”Use this to classify the strategy style.
Examples:
- trend following
- mean reversion
- breakout
- range
- news-driven
This is not where you explain the whole strategy. It is where you tell the AI what type of reasoning frame to apply.
Primary Timeframe
Section titled “Primary Timeframe”Use the primary timeframe for the bigger structural read.
This is usually the chart where trend, structure, or broad regime should be judged.
Entry Timeframe
Section titled “Entry Timeframe”Use the entry timeframe for the trigger.
This is where the setup becomes actionable.
The entry timeframe should usually be tighter than the primary timeframe.
Setup Conditions
Section titled “Setup Conditions”This is the section for market context.
Use it for conditions like:
- directional alignment
- structure location
- trend quality
- volatility conditions
- higher-timeframe agreement
Good setup conditions answer:
What must be true before we even care about an entry?
Entry Conditions
Section titled “Entry Conditions”This is the section for timing.
Use it for:
- trigger candles
- retests
- confirmation behavior
- level reactions
- final filters before the trade is allowed
Good entry conditions answer:
What must happen before the AI is allowed to act?
Risk Rules
Section titled “Risk Rules”This section should explain how the trade is protected.
Use it for:
- stop-loss logic
- take-profit logic
- minimum reward-to-risk rules
- special risk boundaries or no-trade conditions tied to risk
Good risk rules tell the AI how to avoid low-quality trade framing, not only where to place a stop.
Trade-Management Rules
Section titled “Trade-Management Rules”This section explains what happens after entry.
Use it for:
- trailing rules
- break-even rules
- partial exits
- conditions for holding or reducing exposure
Keep this section separate from the initial risk rules so the AI can distinguish pre-entry discipline from post-entry management.
Invalidation Conditions
Section titled “Invalidation Conditions”This section explains when the whole idea should be abandoned.
This is one of the most valuable sections in a professional playbook because it gives the AI permission to stop forcing a setup that is no longer valid.
Preferred Symbols And Preferred Sessions
Section titled “Preferred Symbols And Preferred Sessions”Use these to express fit.
They help the user and the system keep a playbook aligned with the markets and trading windows where it tends to make sense.
They should support the main logic, not replace it.
Common Playbook Mistakes
Section titled “Common Playbook Mistakes”- putting entry logic into setup conditions
- mixing risk rules with management rules
- writing invalidation as an afterthought or not at all
- writing vague playbooks that sound intelligent but cannot be reviewed objectively later
- making one playbook responsible for too many different market types
Professional Writing Pattern
Section titled “Professional Writing Pattern”The cleanest playbooks usually follow this flow:
- describe the market context
- describe the trigger
- describe the risk box
- describe the management plan
- describe the invalidation path
What Good Playbook Documentation Does For The Customer
Section titled “What Good Playbook Documentation Does For The Customer”Well-structured playbooks help the customer:
- keep strategy logic understandable
- review trades more objectively
- improve AI consistency
- separate strategic intent from execution timing