Strategy library · Comparison
RSI 30/70 vs RSI 20/80 vs RSI 2 on NQ and ES futures: 2-year backtest side by side
RSI 30/70 vs RSI 20/80 vs RSI 2 on NQ and ES futures, side by side. The table below holds RSI 14 oversold / overbought (30 / 70), RSI 14 at 20 / 80 and RSI 2 (Connors) at the timeframes they have in common, one row per strategy, ordered by market and then timeframe. No row is ordered by a result, and nothing on this page names one strategy over another: the figures are the figures.
Tested by CE Market Solutions on 2026-10-26. Gross, no commission or slippage. Last 2 years.
RSI 30/70
RSI 30/70, RSI 20/80 and RSI 2, NQ 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07 and ES 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, one contract, before commission and slippage.
| Market | Timeframe | Strategy | Trades | Win % | Net pts | Net $ (1 contract) | Max DD pts | Long trades | Long net pts | Short trades | Short net pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NQ | 5 minute | RSI 14 oversold / overbought (30 / 70) | 549 | 49.7% | −1,210.25 | −$24,205 | 4,368.75 | 286 | 927.25 | 263 | −2,137.50 |
| NQ | 5 minute | RSI 14 at 20 / 80 | 146 | 46.6% | −6,047.25 | −$120,945 | 6,271.25 | 79 | −3,309.50 | 67 | −2,737.75 |
| NQ | 5 minute | RSI 2 (Connors) | 1,528 | 63.2% | −380.75 | −$7,615 | 3,751.75 | 800 | −1,651.00 | 728 | 1,270.25 |
| NQ | 15 minute | RSI 14 oversold / overbought (30 / 70) | 367 | 48.8% | −3,208.75 | −$64,175 | 4,327.50 | 185 | −2,150.75 | 182 | −1,058.00 |
| NQ | 15 minute | RSI 14 at 20 / 80 | 115 | 43.5% | −2,293.00 | −$45,860 | 2,775.00 | 59 | −1,338.50 | 56 | −954.50 |
| NQ | 15 minute | RSI 2 (Connors) | 494 | 61.3% | −891.25 | −$17,825 | 1,472.75 | 297 | −712.50 | 197 | −178.75 |
| NQ | 1 hour | RSI 14 oversold / overbought (30 / 70) | 140 | 46.4% | −614.50 | −$12,290 | 1,960.50 | 68 | 519.00 | 72 | −1,133.50 |
| NQ | 1 hour | RSI 14 at 20 / 80 | 30 | 60.0% | 853.50 | $17,070 | 322.25 | 17 | 985.75 | 13 | −132.25 |
| NQ | 1 hour | RSI 2 (Connors) | 165 | 60.0% | 640.25 | $12,805 | 1,700.00 | 97 | 529.25 | 68 | 111.00 |
| NQ | Daily | RSI 14 oversold / overbought (30 / 70) | 5 | 60.0% | −24.25 | −$485 | 3,603.75 | 2 | 2,760.75 | 3 | −2,785.00 |
| NQ | Daily | RSI 14 at 20 / 80 | 1 | 0.0% | −2,219.00 | −$44,380 | 2,219.00 | 0 | — | 1 | −2,219.00 |
| NQ | Daily | RSI 2 (Connors) | 23 | 73.9% | 283.50 | $5,670 | 2,683.25 | 20 | 3,063.75 | 3 | −2,780.25 |
| ES | 5 minute | RSI 14 oversold / overbought (30 / 70) | 581 | 49.2% | 353.25 | $17,663 | 1,083.75 | 284 | 577.75 | 297 | −224.50 |
| ES | 5 minute | RSI 14 at 20 / 80 | 154 | 48.1% | −633.50 | −$31,675 | 959.00 | 88 | −257.50 | 66 | −376.00 |
| ES | 5 minute | RSI 2 (Connors) | 1,491 | 62.8% | 224.75 | $11,238 | 375.50 | 820 | 115.75 | 671 | 109.00 |
| ES | 15 minute | RSI 14 oversold / overbought (30 / 70) | 369 | 46.6% | −391.50 | −$19,575 | 973.50 | 179 | −791.75 | 190 | 400.25 |
| ES | 15 minute | RSI 14 at 20 / 80 | 104 | 41.4% | −429.00 | −$21,450 | 444.00 | 59 | −267.75 | 45 | −161.25 |
| ES | 15 minute | RSI 2 (Connors) | 487 | 60.4% | 71.25 | $3,563 | 398.00 | 283 | 43.50 | 204 | 27.75 |
| ES | 1 hour | RSI 14 oversold / overbought (30 / 70) | 129 | 48.1% | 257.75 | $12,888 | 242.50 | 58 | 321.50 | 71 | −63.75 |
| ES | 1 hour | RSI 14 at 20 / 80 | 28 | 57.1% | −71.25 | −$3,562 | 137.50 | 16 | −100.75 | 12 | 29.50 |
| ES | 1 hour | RSI 2 (Connors) | 169 | 62.1% | 535.50 | $26,775 | 209.75 | 108 | 469.00 | 61 | 66.50 |
| ES | Daily | RSI 14 oversold / overbought (30 / 70) | 4 | 75.0% | 512.00 | $25,600 | 540.50 | 2 | 957.25 | 2 | −445.25 |
| ES | Daily | RSI 14 at 20 / 80 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | — | 0 | — |
| ES | Daily | RSI 2 (Connors) | 27 | 85.2% | 611.00 | $30,550 | 492.50 | 23 | 1,082.25 | 4 | −471.25 |
The figures in words
RSI 14 oversold / overbought (30 / 70): buys when RSI 14 crosses back above 30 after being oversold, sells short when RSI 14 crosses back below 70 after being overbought. Exit: RSI reaches the other level (70 for longs, 30 for shorts).
RSI 14 at 20 / 80: buys when RSI 14 crosses back above 20 after being oversold, sells short when RSI 14 crosses back below 80 after being overbought. Exit: RSI reaches 80 / 20.
RSI 2 (Connors): buys when price is above the 200 SMA and RSI 2 is below 10, sells short when price is below the 200 SMA and RSI 2 is above 90. Exit: Close back above SMA 5 (long) / below SMA 5 (short).
On the NQ 5-minute chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, RSI 14 oversold / overbought (30 / 70) took 549 trades, won 49.7% of them and made -1,210.25 points (-$24,205 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. On the NQ 5-minute chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, RSI 14 at 20 / 80 took 146 trades, won 46.6% of them and made -6,047.25 points (-$120,945 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. On the NQ 5-minute chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, RSI 2 (Connors) took 1,528 trades, won 63.2% of them and made -380.75 points (-$7,615 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. On the NQ 15-minute chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, RSI 14 oversold / overbought (30 / 70) took 367 trades, won 48.8% of them and made -3,208.75 points (-$64,175 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. On the NQ 15-minute chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, RSI 14 at 20 / 80 took 115 trades, won 43.5% of them and made -2,293.00 points (-$45,860 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. On the NQ 15-minute chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, RSI 2 (Connors) took 494 trades, won 61.3% of them and made -891.25 points (-$17,825 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. On the NQ 1-hour chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, RSI 14 oversold / overbought (30 / 70) took 140 trades, won 46.4% of them and made -614.50 points (-$12,290 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. On the NQ 1-hour chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, RSI 14 at 20 / 80 took 30 trades, won 60.0% of them and made 853.50 points ($17,070 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. On the NQ 1-hour chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, RSI 2 (Connors) took 165 trades, won 60.0% of them and made 640.25 points ($12,805 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. On the NQ daily chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, RSI 14 oversold / overbought (30 / 70) took 5 trades, won 60.0% of them and made -24.25 points (-$485 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. On the NQ daily chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, RSI 14 at 20 / 80 took 1 trade and made -2,219.00 points (-$44,380 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. On the NQ daily chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, RSI 2 (Connors) took 23 trades, won 73.9% of them and made 283.50 points ($5,670 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage.
On the ES 5-minute chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, RSI 14 oversold / overbought (30 / 70) took 581 trades, won 49.2% of them and made 353.25 points ($17,663 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. On the ES 5-minute chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, RSI 14 at 20 / 80 took 154 trades, won 48.1% of them and made -633.50 points (-$31,675 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. On the ES 5-minute chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, RSI 2 (Connors) took 1,491 trades, won 62.8% of them and made 224.75 points ($11,238 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. On the ES 15-minute chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, RSI 14 oversold / overbought (30 / 70) took 369 trades, won 46.6% of them and made -391.50 points (-$19,575 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. On the ES 15-minute chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, RSI 14 at 20 / 80 took 104 trades, won 41.4% of them and made -429.00 points (-$21,450 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. On the ES 15-minute chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, RSI 2 (Connors) took 487 trades, won 60.4% of them and made 71.25 points ($3,563 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. On the ES 1-hour chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, RSI 14 oversold / overbought (30 / 70) took 129 trades, won 48.1% of them and made 257.75 points ($12,888 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. On the ES 1-hour chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, RSI 14 at 20 / 80 took 28 trades, won 57.1% of them and made -71.25 points (-$3,562 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. On the ES 1-hour chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, RSI 2 (Connors) took 169 trades, won 62.1% of them and made 535.50 points ($26,775 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. On the ES daily chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, RSI 14 oversold / overbought (30 / 70) took 4 trades, won 75.0% of them and made 512.00 points ($25,600 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. On the ES daily chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, RSI 14 at 20 / 80 took no trades, before commission and slippage. On the ES daily chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, RSI 2 (Connors) took 27 trades, won 85.2% of them and made 611.00 points ($30,550 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage.
How to read the columns: Trades is the number of closed trades; Win % is the share of them that finished above zero points; Net pts is the sum of every trade's points; Net $ is net points times the contract's dollars per point, on one contract; Max DD pts is the largest fall of the running total of points from a peak. The longs-only and shorts-only columns are sums over that side's own trades, and the two sides add up to the strategy's combined result.
CE Market Solutions tested every strategy on the last 2 years of NQ and ES futures (NQ 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07 and ES 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27), before commission and slippage, with each signal filled at the next bar's open, intraday positions flat at 15:59 ET and textbook default indicator settings. Nothing is tuned.
Questions and answers
How do RSI 14 oversold / overbought (30 / 70), RSI 14 at 20 / 80 and RSI 2 (Connors) compare on Nasdaq-100 futures (NQ)?
On the NQ 15-minute chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, RSI 14 oversold / overbought (30 / 70) took 367 trades, won 48.8% of them and made -3,208.75 points (-$64,175 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. On the NQ 15-minute chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, RSI 14 at 20 / 80 took 115 trades, won 43.5% of them and made -2,293.00 points (-$45,860 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. On the NQ 15-minute chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, RSI 2 (Connors) took 494 trades, won 61.3% of them and made -891.25 points (-$17,825 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. The other timeframes they share on NQ are in the table above.
How do RSI 14 oversold / overbought (30 / 70), RSI 14 at 20 / 80 and RSI 2 (Connors) compare on S&P 500 futures (ES)?
On the ES 15-minute chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, RSI 14 oversold / overbought (30 / 70) took 369 trades, won 46.6% of them and made -391.50 points (-$19,575 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. On the ES 15-minute chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, RSI 14 at 20 / 80 took 104 trades, won 41.4% of them and made -429.00 points (-$21,450 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. On the ES 15-minute chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, RSI 2 (Connors) took 487 trades, won 60.4% of them and made 71.25 points ($3,563 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. The other timeframes they share on ES are in the table above.
How these were run
- Gross: no commission and no slippage.
- The last 2 years of each market, from the first to the last session of its window.
- A signal on a closed bar fills at the next bar’s open.
- A stop and a target touched in the same minute count as the stop.
- Intraday positions are flat at 15:59 ET.
- Textbook TradingView default settings for every indicator; nothing is tuned.
Want your own rules tested the same way?