Mastering the Trade: Proven Techniques for Profiting from Intraday and Swing Trading Setups

Discover the practical playbook for serious traders—written by one of the most respected names in the industry.
Mastering the Trade (Third Edition) by John F. Carter is an authoritative, no-nonsense guide to building consistent profits through well-defined trading strategies. Whether you’re interested in futures, stocks, options, Forex, or cryptocurrencies, Carter delivers a comprehensive framework grounded in years of real-world experience and battle-tested tactics.

What makes this book stand out is its mix of technical precision and psychological insights. You’ll not only learn detailed entry, exit, and stop-loss rules but also understand how to handle emotions, overcome self-sabotage, and apply a professional mindset to trading. With updated sections reflecting recent market conditions and strategies, this third edition brings new insights on gap trading, squeezes, tick fades, and swing setups.

If you’re looking for a results-driven blueprint with defined setups and psychological tools to become a consistent trader, this book is your edge.

What You’ll Learn

• Practical setups for intraday and swing trading
• The psychology of successful trading: from fear to discipline
• The “plateau money management method” for protecting profits
• Specific setups including gap plays, pivot points, squeeze plays, and tick fades
• How to align trading systems with your personality
• Hardware, software, and tools every trader should consider

Key Benefits

• Written by a professional trader with decades of experience
• Equips you with a clear, repeatable system for real markets
• Combines trading setups with behavioral mastery
• Works across asset classes: stocks, futures, Forex, crypto
• Helps eliminate destructive habits and build discipline

Who This Book Is For

This book is ideal for intermediate to advanced traders looking to systematize their trading with real-world strategies and mindset conditioning. It’s also valuable for newer traders who want a full-spectrum education in both tactics and trader psychology.

Table of Contents

1. What Really Causes the Markets to Move?
2. Psychology 101
3. How Do Markets Move?
4. What Do I Trade?
5. Tools for Reading the Market
6. A Beginner’s Journey: Proven Setups: Opening Gap, Pivot Points, Tick Fades, Squeeze, Catching the Wave, Scalper Alerts, Brick Plays, and more
7. Tips for When It’s Not Working
8. Final Trading Lessons and 40 Tips for Professionals