When the NQ dropped to 12218 the other trading day (Thursday, Friday?), I guess you did not get a margin call, so you have a good broker who let you squeak by on the performance bond requirement. Because 20 contracts at an entry price of 12626 with a $500,000 account, dropping to 12218 would have put you temporarily into margin call territory on initial. Yer squeaking by for sure! I hope it works out for you!
It's all about the entries. If you entered at the red arrow, it would take until the green arrow to get back to BE... And you are assuming unlimited capital, which most retail traders do not have. QED.
And we go gentle into that good night. Love that $$$ zero risk! Tonight is a perfect example! Viva las roll!
Have no fear folks, the FOMC with its magic money machine will ALWAYS bail out the stock indexes. So don't be afraid to step into the overnight futures markets. That is were the FOMC operates from there NYC branch. Buy the close sell the cash open, you will make money..PERIOD$