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Order Blocks in ICT: 3 Easy Steps + 3 Examples
Order Blocks (OBs) are a crucial concept in Inner Circle Trader (ICT) trading strategies, representing areas where institutional traders (also known as Smart Money) execute large orders. These orders influence the market’s direction and create areas of interest where price is likely to react in the future. Understanding how order blocks work can give retail…
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Stop Hunts & False Breakouts in ICT: 3 Real World Examples
In the Inner Circle Trader (ICT) framework, stop hunts and false breakouts are key concepts that explain how institutional players, often referred to as Smart Money, manipulate price action to trigger retail traders’ stop-loss orders. These strategies are used to gather liquidity before the market moves in the intended direction. For retail traders, understanding these…
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Liquidity Pools: Buy Stops, Sell Stops in ICT – 4 Steps + Example
In the Inner Circle Trader (ICT) methodology, liquidity pools play a critical role in understanding price movements. Liquidity pools are areas in the market where large clusters of buy or sell orders are waiting to be triggered. These orders are typically located near swing highs and swing lows, representing buy stops or sell stops. Large…
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What is Liquidity in ICT? 4 Simple Steps + Example
In the Inner Circle Trader (ICT) methodology, liquidity plays a central role in understanding how markets move and why price behaves the way it does. Simply put, liquidity refers to the availability of buy and sell orders in the market at different price levels. For ICT traders, liquidity is more than just supply and demand—it’s…
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Change of Character (CHOCH) in ICT: 7 Easy Steps + Example
In Inner Circle Trader (ICT) methodology, Change of Character (CHOCH) refers to a key shift in the market’s behavior, often signaling the end of one trend and the beginning of another. This concept is crucial for traders looking to catch reversals early by identifying shifts in price dynamics before a full Break of Structure (BOS)…
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Break of Structure (BOS) in ICT: [Catch BOS Like Smart Money]
In Inner Circle Trader (ICT) methodology, the Break of Structure (BOS) is a crucial concept that signals a potential shift in market direction. A BOS occurs when price violates the previous significant high or low, indicating that the prevailing trend may be ending, and a new trend is starting. This concept helps traders spot reversals…
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Read Price Action Without Indicators in ICT: 9 Steps + Example
In Inner Circle Trader (ICT) strategies, reading price action without indicators is a critical skill that allows traders to analyze the market purely based on price movement, without the distraction or lagging nature of traditional indicators. ICT emphasizes understanding how smart money (institutional traders) manipulates the market and how price moves in reaction to supply,…
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Market Structure in ICT: 3 Trends + Detailed Examples
In Inner Circle Trader (ICT) strategies, market structure forms the foundation for understanding price action and making informed trading decisions. It involves recognizing the pattern of higher highs, higher lows, lower highs, and lower lows that define the direction and strength of a market’s trend. Understanding market structure allows traders to anticipate shifts in trend,…
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Overview of ICT Strategies: 10 Different Ways You Didn’t Knew
Inner Circle Trader (ICT) strategies, developed by Michael J. Huddleston, provide traders with a comprehensive approach to understanding how financial markets operate from the perspective of smart money (institutional traders). ICT strategies focus on key concepts such as liquidity, market manipulation, order flow, and price action. These strategies are designed to help traders identify high-probability…
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The Philosophy Behind Inner Circle Trader: 7 Steps + Example
The Inner Circle Trader (ICT) philosophy, developed by Michael J. Huddleston, is built on the concept that financial markets are driven by the activities of large institutional players—the so-called smart money. Retail traders, who make up the bulk of the market, are often at a disadvantage because they are unaware of how institutional traders operate.…