The ICT Son’s Model is one of the most powerful yet simple trading setups taught within the ICT framework.
It combines two important concepts:
- DOL (Day Open Level) – The opening price of the day.
- Liquidity Sweep – A false move where price takes liquidity above or below a key level before reversing.
When applied on higher time frames (like H1, H4, or even Daily), this strategy helps traders identify high-probability trade entries with minimal risk.
1. Step 1: Mark the DOL (Day Open Level)
The Day Open Level is the price at which the market opens for the day.
- On Forex, this is usually marked at 00:00 (broker time).
- On indices or stocks, it is the exchange open price.
Why is this important?
Because institutions often use the day’s opening price as a reference point.
Price usually respects this level either as support or resistance during the session.
Example:
If EURUSD opens at 1.0850, then 1.0850 becomes your DOL.
Throughout the day, you’ll observe price reacting to this level.
2. Step 2: Wait for a Liquidity Sweep
Liquidity sweep means that price moves aggressively above a key high or below a key low to take out stop-losses before reversing.
- If price sweeps above a previous high → It traps buyers, then reverses downward.
- If price sweeps below a previous low → It traps sellers, then reverses upward.
On higher time frames, this becomes even more powerful because liquidity pools are larger and more meaningful.
Example:
Suppose GBPUSD made a previous day high at 1.2700.
- Today, price spikes to 1.2715 (taking out stop-losses of early sellers).
- Immediately after the sweep, price falls back below 1.2700.
This is a bearish liquidity sweep.
3. Step 3: Combine DOL + Liquidity Sweep
The true power of this model comes when you combine the two.
- If price sweeps liquidity above the DOL and then trades back below it → Look for a sell setup.
- If price sweeps liquidity below the DOL and then trades back above it → Look for a buy setup.
This combination confirms that institutions are using DOL as a reference while hunting liquidity.
Example:
- DOL = 1.1000.
- Price falls to 1.0980, sweeping stops below.
- Then it climbs back above 1.1000 and holds.
This is a high-probability buy trade with target at the next liquidity pool (like yesterday’s high).
4. Step 4: Add Market Structure for Confirmation
To refine entries, combine this setup with:
- Market Structure Shift (MSS): Look for a break of minor structure after the sweep.
- Fair Value Gaps (FVG): Entry often comes when price retraces into an FVG after the sweep.
Example:
On EURUSD H1, price sweeps below DOL at 1.0850 → forms a bullish MSS → retraces into an FVG at 1.0860.
That’s your precise entry.
5. Step 5: Risk Management in ICT Son’s Model Trading Setup in HTF: DOL & Liquidity Sweep
The stop-loss is usually placed just beyond the liquidity sweep.
- If buying → SL goes just below the swept low.
- If selling → SL goes just above the swept high.
Target:
- Next liquidity pool (like HOD/LOD, yesterday’s high/low, or a major imbalance).
Example Trade:
- Entry: Buy at 1.0860 after sweep below DOL.
- Stop-loss: 1.0845.
- Target: 1.0920 (previous day’s high).
This gives you a 1:4 Risk-to-Reward setup.
6. Why ICT Son’s Model Works in Higher Time Frames
- Liquidity sweeps on higher time frames are more reliable because they reflect institutional activity.
- DOL acts as a magnet where price often consolidates or reacts.
- Combining the two filters out noise and gives clear directional bias.
7. Final Thoughts
The ICT Son’s Model in higher time frames (DOL + Liquidity Sweep) is simple yet effective.
It allows traders to:
- Avoid false moves,
- Trade alongside institutional order flow,
- And capture large intraday swings with minimal risk.
If you are struggling with fake breakouts or whipsaws, this strategy helps you stay aligned with smart money and focus on only high-probability setups.
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