OPEN-SOURCE SCRIPT
ICT Concepts: MML, Order Blocks, FVG, OTE
Core ICT Trading Concepts
These strategies are designed to identify high-probability trading opportunities by analyzing institutional order flow and market psychology.
1. Market Maker Liquidity (MML) / Liquidity Pools
Idea: Institutional traders ("market makers") place orders around key price levels where retail traders’ stop losses cluster (e.g., above swing highs or below swing lows).
Application: Look for "liquidity grabs" where price briefly spikes to these levels before reversing.
Example: If price breaks a recent high but reverses sharply, it may indicate a liquidity grab to trigger retail stops before a trend reversal.
2. Order Blocks (OB)
Idea: Institutional orders are often concentrated in specific price zones ("order blocks") where large buy/sell decisions occurred.
Application: Identify bullish order blocks (strong buying zones) or bearish order blocks (strong selling zones) on higher timeframes (e.g., 1H/4H charts).
Example: A bullish order block forms after a strong rally; price often retests this zone later as support.
3. Fair Value Gap (FVG)
Idea: A price imbalance occurs when candles gap without overlapping, creating an area of "unfair" price that the market often revisits.
Application: Trade the retracement to fill the FVG. A bullish FVG acts as support, and a bearish FVG acts as resistance.
Example: Three consecutive candles create a gap; price later returns to fill this gap, offering a entry point.
4. Time-Based Analysis (NY Session, London Kill Zones)
Idea: Institutional activity peaks during specific times (e.g., 7 AM – 11 AM New York time).
Application: Focus on trades during high-liquidity periods when banks and hedge funds are active.
Example: The "London Kill Zone" (2 AM – 5 AM EST) often sees volatility due to European market openings.
5. Optimal Trade Entry (OTE)
Idea: A retracement level (similar to Fibonacci retracement) where institutions re-enter trends after a pullback.
Application: Look for 62–79% retracements in a trend to align with institutional accumulation/distribution zones.
Example: In an uptrend, price retraces 70% before resuming upward—enter long here.
6. Stop Hunts
Idea: Institutions manipulate price to trigger retail stop losses before reversing direction.
Application: Avoid placing stops at obvious levels (e.g., above/below recent swings). Instead, use wider stops or wait for confirmation.
These strategies are designed to identify high-probability trading opportunities by analyzing institutional order flow and market psychology.
1. Market Maker Liquidity (MML) / Liquidity Pools
Idea: Institutional traders ("market makers") place orders around key price levels where retail traders’ stop losses cluster (e.g., above swing highs or below swing lows).
Application: Look for "liquidity grabs" where price briefly spikes to these levels before reversing.
Example: If price breaks a recent high but reverses sharply, it may indicate a liquidity grab to trigger retail stops before a trend reversal.
2. Order Blocks (OB)
Idea: Institutional orders are often concentrated in specific price zones ("order blocks") where large buy/sell decisions occurred.
Application: Identify bullish order blocks (strong buying zones) or bearish order blocks (strong selling zones) on higher timeframes (e.g., 1H/4H charts).
Example: A bullish order block forms after a strong rally; price often retests this zone later as support.
3. Fair Value Gap (FVG)
Idea: A price imbalance occurs when candles gap without overlapping, creating an area of "unfair" price that the market often revisits.
Application: Trade the retracement to fill the FVG. A bullish FVG acts as support, and a bearish FVG acts as resistance.
Example: Three consecutive candles create a gap; price later returns to fill this gap, offering a entry point.
4. Time-Based Analysis (NY Session, London Kill Zones)
Idea: Institutional activity peaks during specific times (e.g., 7 AM – 11 AM New York time).
Application: Focus on trades during high-liquidity periods when banks and hedge funds are active.
Example: The "London Kill Zone" (2 AM – 5 AM EST) often sees volatility due to European market openings.
5. Optimal Trade Entry (OTE)
Idea: A retracement level (similar to Fibonacci retracement) where institutions re-enter trends after a pullback.
Application: Look for 62–79% retracements in a trend to align with institutional accumulation/distribution zones.
Example: In an uptrend, price retraces 70% before resuming upward—enter long here.
6. Stop Hunts
Idea: Institutions manipulate price to trigger retail stop losses before reversing direction.
Application: Avoid placing stops at obvious levels (e.g., above/below recent swings). Instead, use wider stops or wait for confirmation.
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