Sessions
ICT Killzones Explained: London, New York and Session Timing
ICT Killzones are defined time windows used in the ICT methodology to focus attention on liquidity, volatility and execution. A time window is a filter, not a guarantee that a setup will occur.
What is an ICT Killzone?
A Killzone is a defined period on the trading clock used to focus analysis and execution. Write the timezone and daylight-saving convention into the trading plan.
London and New York
Traders often study London and New York activity because these sessions can produce meaningful changes in liquidity and volatility. Define the exact window rather than relying on a vague session label.
Combine timing with price
A Killzone should be combined with predefined market context, liquidity references and entry conditions. Entering simply because the clock reached a certain time is not a complete strategy.
Backtest the window
Fix the instrument, timezone, session, setup, stop and target. Record every qualifying occurrence instead of selecting only attractive historical examples.
Worked example (hypothetical)
Choose one session convention and write it down, including the timezone, the exact start/end times and how daylight-saving transitions are handled. For each session window, log the same setup criteria, spreads, scheduled news and results in R. Compare the selected window with a reasonable baseline, such as the same setup outside that window, while avoiding cherry-picked periods. The purpose is to measure whether the timing filter adds useful information in your sample. A killzone label does not itself establish an edge or guarantee a specific market move.
FAQ: Are killzones an independently verified market mechanism?
Killzones are time windows used in ICT education to organize study. A clock label does not prove that an algorithm drives price during the window or that setups have an edge. Test their usefulness for the instrument and rules you trade.
FAQ: How do daylight-saving changes affect session studies?
New York changes between standard and daylight time while other locations can change on different dates. Specify the timezone in your plan and convert window times for each historical date instead of applying one fixed UTC offset.
FREE LEARNING PATH
Turn this concept into a complete trading framework.
Create a free account to track your progress through the ICT Flow curriculum, then continue from the foundations into 38 modules and 203+ lessons.