[AlbaTherium] OptiStruct™ Premium for Smart Money Concepts An Insight into Structure Mapping and Order Block Identification with Smart Money Concepts
Introduction:
Structure Mapping & Demands and Supplies Premium serves as a fundamental pillar in the realm of Smart Money Concepts . This indicator adeptly charts the market structure based on a refined version of SMC while identifying Order Blocks. All the concepts embedded in this method are meticulously defined, offering users the ability to chart the market structure with precision and heightened confidence. With this indicator, there is no need for excessive questioning of the accuracy of your markings; it diligently strives to perform this task effectively. There are no hidden 'magic' properties underlying this indicator, ensuring that our users can independently verify each and every feature. It is this commitment to transparency that sets us apart and makes us unique in the market.
In this discussion, we delve into the intricacies of Break of Structure, Change of Character , and SMART MONEY TRAP . We also introduce the concepts of Extreme Order Blocks, Decisional Order Blocks , and Smart Money Trap Order Blocks .
Chapter 1: Understanding Structure Mapping:
Let's begin with some definitions:
- Inside bars are candles that lie within the range of a preceding candle.
- Pullbacks occur in an uptrend when the low of a preceding candle's range (excluding inside bars ) is breached, and the price continues to rise.
- Inducements (IDM) are price levels defined as the low of the latest pullback before the most recent high. They often act as liquidity points that the market revisits before continuing its move.
Break of Structure (BoS):
In an uptrend, after surpassing an IDM , the most recent high becomes a Confirmed structure high, or a Major High . If the price then closes above this Major High, a Bullish Break of Structure (Bullish BoS) is confirmed. Similarly, the lowest point between these movements becomes a Confirmed structure low or Major Low in a downtrend.
Change of Character (ChoCh):
In an uptrend, if the price falls below a Major Low, it indicates a shift in market bias from Bullish to Bearish, or a Bearish Change of Character .
Example of a bullish ChoCh:
Chapter 2: The Significance of Order Blocks:
Order Blocks (OB) play a pivotal role in Smart Money Concepts during entry points. Understanding what they represent and how to identify them is essential. For a Bullish/Bearish Order Block to be confirmed, specific conditions, including price imbalance and breaching the previous candle's high or low, must be met. We will delve into the finer details of identifying and trading Order Blocks, with an emphasis on the fact that price often reacts from Decisional Order Blocks, Extreme Order Blocks , and Smart Money Trap Order Blocks .
An OB is the initial candle range of a pullback that creates a Fair value gap.
These are zones where proactive traders enter the market, resulting in significant price changes indicated by Fair value gaps. It is believed that when the price revisits these zones in the future, it tends to bounce back. This property makes Order Blocks excellent potential entry points.
Order Blocks are categorized as follows:
- Extreme OB : The first and lowest OB between the Major Low and Major High.
- Decisional OB : The most recent OB lower than the current IDM.
- Smart Money Traps : All OBs between Extreme and Decisional OB.
- Demand above IDM / Supply below IDM
Chapter 3: Understanding SMART MONEY TRAP (SMT):
SMART MONEY TRAP is a concept that brings clarity to the distinction between Structure and Order Blocks within Smart Money Concepts and is a unique feature of this indicator. While many Smart Money Traders base their trades on Structure and Order Blocks, it's crucial to recognize that Order Blocks serve as an additional confirmation for buy or sell decisions. Blindly trading based on Order Blocks is not advisable. Instead, traders should exercise patience and await other confirmations like inducement or Liquidity sweep before executing trades on Order Blocks. We will illustrate how this concept works in practice.
In the example above, the market made a high wick up, taking out the buy-side liquidity, then made a bearish ChoCh. We place our sell order on the order block above IDM. This presents a promising trading opportunity, with a stop loss placed above the OB and a take profit set at the low of previous structure.
Conclusion:
Structure Mapping & Demands and Supplies Premium as the epitome of Smart Money Concepts, presenting traders with a tool meticulously crafted for an exceptional user experience . This indicator integrates structural mapping and Order Blocks, providing not only a wealth of knowledge but a platform tailor-made for personalization to suit your unique style and preferences. By mastering the nuances of Impulsive Moves and Corrections, and expertly identifying and trading Order Blocks while considering the SMART MONEY TRAP, traders gain a distinct advantage in the ever-evolving financial markets.
This document serves as an enriching guide to Structure Mapping & Demands and Supplies Premium, accentuating its pivotal role within the Smart Money Concepts framework. We invite users to immerse themselves in an experience that transcends the ordinary, delving into the intricacies that define successful trading. As you navigate the complexities of the market, these detailed insights become your compass, providing a rich and customizable user experience that unlocks the full potential of Smart Money Concepts. Embrace these tools judiciously, and empower your daily analysis with a wealth of information that truly holds its weight in gold.
Traps
Are stop orders making money? [yohtza]Who is this indicator for and what does it do?
This is an indicator that helps price action traders in determining the strength of the trend and potential counter trend traps that present themselves during the move. It highlights the background of the bar at which counter trend traders that trade with stop orders (breakout entries) were able to achieve the same amount of reward as was their risk for that trade.
What is it based on?
When there is a strong trend in effect, the counter trend traders are unable to buy above(in bear trend) or sell below (in bull trend) a bar with a stop order and get an equal reward for the risk they are taking.
The first time counter trend traders are able to buy and make money in bear or sell and make money in bull it is a warning sign that market is likely transitioning into trading range phase of the market cycle.
Another application of the indicator is for discovering potential traps. If market comes very close to the take profit level of counter trend traders and reverses, they will usually try to get out with as much profit or as small of a loss as possible and that will often create a fast move (also called giving up) and a good with trend entry.
How does it work?
The indicator is using exponential moving average as a filter for when the market is trending and then scans for signals where counter trend traders enter. Next it looks if the stoploss or profit target was hit for that trade. If the profit target was hit it draws a box around the bar on which the traders entered, the box height is based on stoploss and profit target price levels.
Indicator inputs
- Scan for doji signal bars
When this option is selected, bars that have small bodies (less than 50% of their height) are also included as bars on which counter traders enter. If the option is not selected it only looks for bull trend bars (bodies are greater than 50% of their height) below the moving average and bear trend bars above the moving average.
- Border and background colors and border style
It is possible to select different colors and chose between solid, dashed and dotted borders
- Ema period
Default setting is 20 bar exponential moving average but feel free to use which you prefer
- Tick value
This is the value of the minimal movement of the chart you are trading on. For example for S&P 500 E-mini futures the value is 0.25 and that is the default setting.
