Generally, sheep are a species with an innate instinct to follow another animal. In animal husbandry, herding a large number of sheep into a specific locationâsuch as a vehicle or a slaughterhouseâis no easy task.
This is where the "Judas goat" comes into play:
Training: This goat is specially trained to lead a flock of sheep to a destination determined by humans.
Trust: The sheep instinctively trust the goat and follow it blindly.
The Betrayal: At the final moment, as the sheep enter the slaughterhouse, the Judas goat is subtly led away to safety through a separate gate. While the sheep are sent to their death, the goat completes its "job" and returns unharmed.
Why this name?
The name is derived from Judas Iscariot, a figure from the Bible. Just as Judas betrayed Jesus, this goat betrays the flock that trusts it by leading them toward their demise while saving its own skin.
Let's see how this works in trading.
What is the ICT Judas Swing?
Simply put, this is a "lie" or "deception" that is created in the market.
The Trap: At the beginning of the day (especially at the start of the London session), the price starts to move rapidly in one direction. For example, imagine that the price is going up.
The Sheep Follow: Retail traders think "Now the price is going up, let's buy too". They follow this price like sheep.
The Betrayal: As soon as the price reaches a certain limit (usually at a point where there is liquidity), it suddenly turns around and moves rapidly in the opposite direction.
The result: The stop losses of those who bought earlier are hit and they are "killed" (lost). It is like the Judas goat leading the sheep to the place of death.
Why does ICT use this name?
Betrayal: The market behaves as if it were a friend and then betrays them.
Manipulation: This shows how the sheep are deliberately deceived, and how the big institutions (Smart Money) deceive small traders.
How to recognize a Judas Swing?
According to ICT theory, this usually happens:
At the London Open
As a false move that breaks (sweeps) the previous day's High or Low.
This Judas Swing often comes in the opposite direction of the main trend.
In short: Just as the Judas Goat leads the sheep to death, the Judas Swing tempts traders to the wrong side (Wrong Side of the Market).
Have a nice day â€ïžâđ©č
