TTrades

How To Use SMT Divergence – TTrades Fractal Model

TTrades — Sat, 30 May 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Introduction

SMT (Smart Money Technique) has become a very powerful but also misunderstood tool within market analysis. Many traders make the mistake of searching for SMT divergences first and then trying to build a trade around them. The approach taught in this framework is the opposite.

SMT is not the foundation of a trade. It is a confirmation tool.

The primary focus should always be finding a valid fractal model, confirming a change in the state of delivery, and then checking whether SMT exists as additional confluence. When used correctly, SMT can help validate reversals and continuations without becoming the sole reason for entering a trade.

What Is SMT?

SMT is a divergence between two correlated markets.

Correlated markets typically move in the same direction. Examples include:

NASDAQ (NQ) and S&P 500 (ES)
Correlated currency pairs
Correlated precious metals

When one market makes a new high or low while the correlated market fails to do the same, a divergence forms. This divergence is known as SMT.

For example:

ES makes a higher high.
NQ fails to make a higher high.

This difference in structure suggests that one market is not confirming the move of the other, which can provide evidence of a potential reversal or continuation.

SMT Within the Fractal Model

Within the fractal model, traders look for:

A Candle 2 or Candle 3 closure.
A lower-timeframe change in the state of delivery.
Structural confirmation.
SMT as an additional layer of confluence.

Once the framework is present, SMT can help strengthen the trade idea. Many traders reverse this process and end up forcing trades that lack structural confirmation.

The key concept is that SMT supports a setup that already exists rather than creating one.

Reversal SMT

A reversal SMT occurs between Candle 1 and Candle 2.

In this scenario:

The primary market creates a higher high.
The correlated market creates a lower high.

This divergence suggests weakening momentum and provides evidence that a reversal may be forming.

A reversal SMT is often used to support the transition from Candle 1 into Candle 2.

Key characteristics:

Forms when price sweeps a high/low
Appears during the reversal phase.
Adds confidence to directional bias.

Continuation SMT

A continuation SMT occurs between Candle 2 and Candle 3.

Unlike reversal SMT, the market has already shown signs of price reversing.

In this case:

One market takes out a previous high or low.
The correlated market fails to do the same.

This divergence suggests that the original move still has strength and may continue.

Key characteristics:

Appears after the reversal.
Supports continuation toward targets.
Often provides additional confidence when holding positions.

Double SMT

A double SMT occurs when both conditions appear.

The market shows:

A reversal SMT between Candle 1 and Candle 2.
A continuation SMT between Candle 2 and Candle 3.

This creates multiple layers of confirmation.

Although even the best setups can fail, a double SMT can provide stronger evidence that the market may be positioning for a larger move.

Why Context Matters More Than SMT

One of the biggest lessons from the framework is that SMT without context has little value.

For example:

A market may show a clear SMT divergence.
However, no valid change in the state of delivery exists.
No proper candle closure has occurred.
No valid fractal model has appeared

In this situation, the SMT should be ignored.

The framework always comes first.

Only after structural confirmation is present should SMT become relevant.

When SMT Fails

Even perfect-looking SMT setups can fail.

A valid setup may include:

Candle closure.
Change in the state of delivery.
Clear SMT divergence.

Yet price can still invalidate the setup.

Because of this:

SMT should increase confidence, not certainty.
Risk management remains essential.
Intraday confirmation should still be respected.

The presence of SMT does not eliminate the need for disciplined execution and risk management.

Using SMT for Candle 2 Reversals

Some traders prefer entering during Candle 2 rather than waiting for Candle 3 continuation.

When doing this, additional caution is required.

The reversal candle should show characteristics that support expansion, such as:

Strong rejection.
Small opposing wick.
Clear directional intent.

If these conditions are absent, SMT alone is not enough to justify an entry.

Final Thoughts

SMT is best viewed as a confirmation tool or a confluence rather than a trading strategy.

The strongest takeaway from the fractal model is that structure comes first. Traders should focus on identifying valid market framework, candle closures, and changes in price delivery before paying attention to divergence.

When SMT aligns with a valid model, it can provide valuable confluence for both reversals and continuations. When the model is absent, the SMT should be ignored.

The post How To Use SMT Divergence – TTrades Fractal Model appeared first on TTrades.

How to Set Price Targets Using the Fractal Model

TTrades — Sat, 23 May 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Introduction

Setting clear price targets is a very important part of trading, yet it’s often where traders become inconsistent. The fractal model offers a structured way to define targets using higher time frame highs and lows.

In this approach, price targets are not random projections, they are based on liquidity that already exists on the chart. By understanding how price moves between swing points, traders can set logical objectives before and after entry.

Understanding the Fractal Approach to Targets

The fractal model is built on a simple idea: price expands between structured swing points across multiple time frames.

Instead of predicting levels, you:

Identify structure on a higher time frame
Use that structure to define targets
Align entries on a lower time frame

This creates a model where every move has a logical target based on prior highs or lows.

Using Higher Time Frame Highs and Lows

The core method for setting targets is straightforward:

In bullish conditions → target previous highs
In bearish conditions → target previous lows

These levels represent areas where liquidity exists, making them natural objectives for price expansion.

When selecting targets, focus on:

Untouched swing highs or lows
Previous candle highs/lows from higher time frames

If a level has already been taken out, it is no longer valid as a target.

Aligning Lower and Higher Time Frames

One of the most important aspects of the fractal model is time frame alignment.

A typical structure looks like:

Lower time frame (entry execution)
Higher time frame (target definition)

For example:

A 5-minute entry targets an hourly swing
An hourly setup targets a daily swing
A daily setup targets a weekly swing

When both time frames align in the same direction, probability and trade quality increase significantly.

Managing Trades with Multiple Targets

The fractal model allows for a dual-target approach:

Short-term targets → used for partial profit-taking
Higher time frame targets → used for runners

This structure helps traders:

Secure profits early
Reduce emotional decision-making
Capture extended moves when large expansion occurs

Swing Highs and Swing Lows as Objective Targets

Every valid target comes back to one principle: swing structure.

You are always asking:

What did price move away from?
Where is it likely to return or expand toward?

This results in a clean mapping system:

Swing low → target swing high
Swing high → target swing low

This keeps target selection objective and consistent across all markets and time frames.

Final Thoughts

Setting price targets using the fractal model is about understanding structure. By focusing on higher time frame highs and lows, traders can define clear objectives before entering a trade and manage positions with more confidence.

When applied correctly, this approach improves consistency and allows traders to capture both short-term profits and larger trend expansions.

The post How to Set Price Targets Using the Fractal Model appeared first on TTrades.

Best Trading Strategy for 2026 – TTFM

TTrades — Sat, 16 May 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Introduction

This trading model is designed for beginners, but it also works well for experienced traders who want a structured framework for intraday trading. The core idea is simple: align multiple timeframes in the same direction and trade expansion candles using confirmed swing points.

The strategy revolves around three key concepts:

Daily bias
Candle 2 and Candle 3 closures
Change in the state of delivery (CISD)

Once those align, the trader drills down through the timeframes to find precise intraday entries.

Understanding Daily Bias

The entire model starts with establishing a daily bias.

The goal is to anticipate a daily expansion candle, a strong directional candle likely to continue higher or lower throughout the session.

This is done using either:

A Candle 2 Closure
A Candle 3 Closure

A Candle 2 closure happens when price:

Sweeps the previous candle’s low or high
Then closes back inside the previous candle’s range.

This indicates a reversal followed by potential expansion.

If Candle 2 closes strongly, traders can anticipate Candle 3 expansion. If Candle 3 closes above Candle 2’s high, then Candle 4 continuation becomes possible as well.

Why Change in State of Delivery Matters

A Candle 2 closure alone is not enough.

Before taking a trade, the model requires confirmation through a Change in the State of Delivery (CISD).

This confirms that market structure is reversing.

The process is:

Identify the low or high
Find the series of candles responsible for creating that swing
Wait for price to close through that series of candles

Once price closes through it, the swing point becomes confirmed and protected.

Without this confirmation, the setup is considered invalid.

What Is a Candle 3 Closure?

Sometimes Candle 2 fails to close properly.

In that case, traders wait for the next candle.

A Candle 3 closure occurs when:

Candle 2 sweeps liquidity but fails to close inside the previous candle
Candle 3 engulfs Candle 2 and closes strongly through its body

This gives confirmation of reversal and continuation.

With a Candle 3 closure, traders typically look to trade Candle 4 expansion.

Again, CISD confirmation is required before entering.

Multiple Timeframe Fractal Analysis

Once the daily bias is established, the trader moves down to the 4-hour chart.

The same exact logic is repeated.

The process becomes:

Daily expansion bias
4-hour Candle 2 or Candle 3 setup
15-minute continuation entry

The strategy is essentially aligning the fractal model across timeframes.

For bullish setups, the ideal sequence is:

Daily candle opens
Price trades lower first
Lower wick forms
Market begins expanding higher

The 4-hour timeframe is used to identify the swing point forming that wick.

Finding the Protected Swing

Once a 4-hour setup forms, traders move down to the 15-minute chart.

A protected swing forms when:

Price sweeps highs/lows or enters a point of interest
Then closes above the down-close candle series

Typical points of interest include:

Fair Value Gaps
Previous highs/lows
Equal highs/lows

The Goal of the Entire Model

The objective is to align expansion across multiple timeframes.

The ideal setup looks like this:

Daily Candle 3 expansion
4-hour Candle 3 expansion
15-minute continuation entry

When all timeframes align, price tends to trend cleanly with displacement.

This creates opportunities for:

Tight stop losses
High reward-to-risk trades
Positional entries that can run throughout the day

Understanding Continuation Entries

There are generally two ways to enter.

The first is the reversal entry:

Enter directly after liquidity sweep
Wider stop loss
Earlier participation

The second is the continuation entry:

Wait for structure confirmation
Smaller stop loss
Better confirmation
Usually cleaner execution

Continuation entries are often preferred because they align with confirmed market structure.

Why the Daily Candle Is So Important

One of the biggest concepts in this model is understanding how a daily candle forms.

A bullish daily candle often follows this sequence:

Open
Sweep lower
Form low of day
Expand higher
Close near highs

The trader’s job is to identify when the lower wick is likely complete.

The 4-hour swing helps confirm this.

Then the 15-minute chart provides the actual execution.

Final Thoughts

This model is essentially about trading expansion after confirmed swing points.

The structure is straightforward:

Establish daily bias
Confirm CISD
Find 4-hour swing points
Execute on the 15-minute continuation

Instead of chasing entries, the trader waits for all timeframes to align together.

Sometimes the daily setup exists, but the 4-hour swing never forms. In those cases, the correct trade is no trade at all.

The cleanest setups happen when:

Daily expansion
4-hour expansion
15-minute continuation

all align in the same direction.

That alignment is what creates the strongest intraday opportunities.

The post Best Trading Strategy for 2026 – TTFM appeared first on TTrades.

TTrades Fractal Model Indicator – Full Guide

TTrades — Sun, 10 May 2026 01:26:32 +0000

How to get access and add it to TradingView

Purchase Access

Head to the Indicator Page and pick the plan that works for you. There are Monthly, Quarterly, and Yearly plans. Every plan includes the Fractal Model indicator as well as a exclusive discord role within TTrades Community.

Once you’ve purchased, go to Whop.

Whop

Select the TTrades Indicator Whop
Click the TradingView icon inside the TTrades Whop on the lefthand side
Enter your TradingView username to link to your account, make sure the username is correct
Once done you’ll see “Fractal Model [Pro+] (TTrades)” appear in your invite only scripts.

TradingView

To add Fractal Model [Pro+] (TTrades) Indicator to your chart, open the Indicators panel on TradingView, go to the Personal tab, click “Invite-only,” and it’ll be sitting there. Click it and it loads straight onto your chart.
If you want the Fractal Model [Pro+] (TTrades) Indicator to appear in your favorites, make sure to give it a star for faster access.

How to claim Discord role

The indicator also comes with a custom role within the TTrades Community Discord. This role grants you access to exclusive channels only available for indicator users, so make sure even if you are already in the discord you follow these steps.

Whop

Select the TTrades Indicator Whop
Select the Discord icon inside the TTrades Indicator Whop on the lefthand side
Input your Discord username
Claim access
You will now be inside TTrades Community with a custom “TTFM Indicator” role!

A reminder that not TTrades nor anyone from TTrades Team will friend request or DM you. Turn off friend requests as well as DMs and do not respond to any DMs. Communication will only be done within the discord.

Where to reach out for Support

Discord

The fastest way to get help is through the TTrades Discord Community. If you’re running into any issues, chances are it falls into one of these categories:

Account access or login problems
Billing or purchase-related questions
Installation or setup issues
Indicator not displaying or functioning correctly
TradingView-related problems
Settings and customization questions
General troubleshooting or unexpected behavior

Luckily, getting help with any of these issues is simple.

Inside the TTrades Discord, head to the help channel under the Community section and open a support ticket.
When submitting a ticket, include your Whop username and a clear description of the issue you’re experiencing. This helps the support team resolve it as quickly as possible.
Once your ticket is open, a team member will respond with a resolution, so keep an eye out for updates.

Before opening a ticket, it’s worth checking the rest of this guide first. Most common questions are already answered here.

How to use the indicator

At first glance, the settings panel may seem extensive, but each option is intentionally designed to control a specific part of the Indicator’s behavior. Once you understand what each setting does and how it impacts the output, the entire panel becomes intuitive and easy to navigate. The settings give you the flexibility to fine-tune the tool to match your exact trading style and preferences. Below is a complete breakdown of every setting and how it functions.

Warnings and Error Messages

By selecting the toggle, the info table will show any errors or warning messages. These errors or warnings are generally when you are on a timeframe higher than the selected fractal model. If unselected, you will not recieve these reminders regarding the warnings and errors.

General Settings

This is the core of the indicator. It controls how data is processed, what gets displayed on your chart, and how alerts and bias factor in.

Alerts

The Alerts setting enables or disables automatic alert functionality for Fractal Model formations. When this setting is turned off, no alerts will be able to be created.

To use alerts, this setting must be enabled first. Alerts are real time and generated based on all the current settings the Indicator is set to. ((give settings on how to apply alerts

If you want alerts across multiple time frames, this process can be repeated using a different time frame within the settings of the indicator.

The easiest way to deploy alerts across multiple assets is to create a watchlist (requires premium TradingView subscription), then open any symbol from that list on the timeframe you desire time frame to alert fractal setups. From there, click the three-dot menu on the indicator, select the symbol option, and apply the watchlist. This will create the same alert setup across all assets in that watchlist.

Beware of a TradingView bug that occasionally will pause an open-ended alert. To fix, simply restart the alerts from the TradingView alerts panel.

History

Controls how many past Fractal Models appear on your chart. Set it to 0 and you’ll only see the current one. Bump it up if you want to see how previous formations played out. Each number higher or lower will include both a bearish and bullish setup. If your chart starts feeling cluttered, you may want to reduce this number.

Fractal

The fractal toggle sets the timeframe the indicator is using. Automatic will naturally adjusts based on your current chart timeframe, while the other selections will print the selected timeframe, no matter your chart timeframe selection. Custom allows you to use the Custom Fractal drop downs to have a custom timeframe fractal model.

C2/C3/C4

These checkboxes show or hide the fractal model inside the specific candles. Useful for decluttering your chart if you only care about specific parts of the formation.

C2 will show candle 2 closure formations. C3 will show candle 3 closure formations. C4 will show candle 4 continuations.

Custom Fractal

Only active when Fractal is set to Custom. Lets you dial in a custom timeframe alignment manually rather than using the provided alignments.

Bias

Bias Filters what the indicator displays based on market direction. There are five options.

Neutral shows everything, both bullish and bearish Fractal Models at the same time. This is the default option and a good place to start while you’re getting familiar with the indicator.

Bullish shows only Bullish Fractal Models, which is useful when you’ve got a clear upside read for the session and want to cut out the noise.

Bearish shows only Bearish Fractal Models, which is useful for only seeing bearish setups.

Auto Bias 1 automatically references a higher timeframe fractal model one timeframe above your selected fractal.

Auto Bias 2 automatically references a higher timeframe fractal model two timeframes above your selected fractal.

For example if using the hourly and 5 minute fractal model, auto bias 1 would reference the 4 Hour and 15 Minute model, while auto bias 2 would reference the Daily and 1 Hour model.

This is useful if you only want to see the lower timeframe fractal model that is in line with a higher timeframe model.

When you’re first starting out with the indicator, try it on Neutral so you can see the full picture. Once you’ve built a directional read for the session, you can then switch to Bullish or Bearish to filter things down.

HTF Candles

These settings control the Higher Time Frame candles displayed on the right side of your chart. They allow you to analyze higher time frame structure and candle behavior while staying locked in to your execution time frame.

HTF Candles

This setting allows you to choose the number of higher time frame (HTF) candles you want to view. Default is 4, but the arrows can be used to view more than 4 candles.

Size

Size controls how large the HTF candles appear. You can also hide them entirely if you’d rather not view them.

Offset

Offset pushes the HTF candles horizontally to the right on the chart. If you’re running multiple TTFM indicators at once, use this to keep them from stacking on top of each other. Just bump the offset up on one of the indicators to push it out to the side. 17 is a good number for the second indicator if you are stacking time frames.

Body, Border, Wick

Customize the bullish and bearish candle colors to match your chart setup.

HTF Open

The High Time Frame Opens setting plots the opening price of the higher time frame fractal that corresponds with your current chart, giving you a clear view of where price opened. For example, on the 5-minute chart it displays the hourly open, automatically plotting the opening price of the higher timeframe in the fractal.

Vertical Lines

The Vertical Lines setting plots vertical lines aligned with the higher time frame fractal of your current chart, allowing you to clearly see when each new higher time frame period begins. These are plotted in the same fractal alignment logic as the High Time Frame Opens setting.

L/H Lines

The L/H Lines setting marks out the previous higher timeframe candles lows and highs. Many use these as key levels of liquidity, however by default, TTrades keeps them off.

Previous EQ

The Previous EQ setting plots the midpoint, or 50% of the previous higher time frame candle. This level represents the equilibrium of the prior candle’s range, which is a vital component of TTrades Fractal Model.

Drawing Type

On Chart will only display the drawings on the chart, within the current lower timeframe.

HTF candle will only display the drawings on the higher time frame candle.

Both will put the drawings on both the chart as well as the HTF candles.

HTF Candle Time Labels

The HTF Labels setting displays time labels beneath the HTF Candles, making it easy to identify which higher time frame candle is currently being referenced on your chart.

Enable Time Labels

This selection will turn on or off the time labels. The time format can be changed between 24h and AM/PM selections.
If you want to use a custom timezone, be sure to toggle that on before adjusting.

Model Style

Everything here is purely visual. None of these change how the indicator works, just how it looks on your chart.

Show TTFM Labels?

Toggle the labels on or off for the Fractal Model and change their size. These are the C2, C3, C4 labels you see on the chart.

Candle 1 sweep

Show or hide the sweep line and customize its style, width, and color.

Bullish & Bearish CISD

Toggle and customize the Change in State of Delivery lines for both directions independently.

Candle Equilibrium

Show or hide the HTF Equilibrium line and adjust its appearance.

T-Spot

Toggle the T-Spot and customize how both the bullish and bearish versions appear.

Show Early C2 CISD

Displays the CISD before the higher time frame candle closes. This is a useful heads-up but not a complete model forming until the candle closes.

Alerts : Toggle this on or off if you also want alerts of early C2 CISD when you set up alerts.

SMT Divergence

The SMT Divergence setting allows you to identify divergences between correlated markets by comparing relative highs and lows across selected instruments. When one market creates a new high or low while the correlated market fails to do the same, the indicator highlights the divergence directly on the chart. This can help reveal potential reversals.

Enable SMT?

Show or hide SMT between correlated pairs

Alerts : Toggle this on or off if you also want alerts of SMT when you set up alerts.

Labels

The SMT Labels setting displays labels with the detected SMT divergences, making it easier to identify and read each SMT. These labels are automatically aligned with their corresponding SMT setups for clean and organized charting.

SMT Mode

The SMT Mode setting allows you to choose between Automatic and Custom SMT detection.

Automatic mode scans for SMT divergences using standard correlated market pairs.

Custom mode allows you to manually input your own symbols to track SMT divergences between specific instruments of your choice. A secondary SMT pair can also be enabled if additional correlation tracking is desired. Inverse correlation can also be selected for inversely correlated pairs.

Standard Deviation Projections

These control your target projection levels.

Enable Projections

Turn the STDV projection lines on or off. If standard deviation isn’t part of your approach, just hide these.

Labels

Show or hide the labels on the STDV levels and set how large they appear.

Type

Set how the STDV is calculated (Wick or Body), which values get projected (-1, -2, -2.5, etc.), and adjust the visual appearance of the lines. If you add custom numbers, make sure to use negative numbers.

Formation Liquidity

The Formation Liquidity setting enables the visualization of previous higher time frame highs and lows that are aligned with a valid fractal model. These levels are targets.

Enable Formation Liquidity

Toggles the liquidity lines that form around the previous highs and lows, marking where liquidity is resting when a model forms.

Adjust the style, width, and color of the liquidity lines.

Time Filter

The Time Filter setting allows you to restrict when the indicator will display setups based on specific user-defined time windows. This gives you the ability to filter models so they only appear during selected trading sessions or killzones, allowing you to only see models that form when you are focused on the market.

Enable Time Filter

Toggle the time filter on or off, allowing you to control whether the indicator only displays setups within your selected trading sessions or kill zones.

Apply Below

Time filters will only be applied if the current chart’s time frame is below or equal to the selected timeframe.

Filter 1, 2, 3

The Filter 1, 2, and 3 settings allow you to enable up to three separate time windows where the indicator will display setups. Each filter can be configured independently, giving you the flexibility to define multiple trading sessions or killzones within the same day for model formation

Info Table

The Info Table setting displays an overview of the information related to the TTFM model in correlation with your current settings.

Show Info

The Show Info setting toggles the Info Table on or off, allowing you to enable or disable the display of TTFM model information on your chart. When enabled, you can also adjust the table’s size.

Table Location

The Table Location setting allows you to position the Info Table anywhere on your chart, giving you control over where the TTFM info is displayed. This helps you keep the layout clean and ensures the table does not obstruct price action or other key elements on the chart.

Selections

The Selections area allows you to choose what info is displayed. You can customize the table to show or hide elements such as the asset, chart time frame, fractal alignment, time until candle close, bias, time filter status, and SMT. This gives you full control over the information displayed based on your trading preferences.

Calculation

Calculated Bars

The Calculated Bars setting limits the number of historical bars the script will process and display, based on the value specified. This can help improve loading performance by reducing the amount of data the indicator needs to calculate. If set to zero, the script will run on all available bars and display the full historical dataset.

TTFM Indicator Tips

Indicator Templates

Templates are super useful in having multiple different indicator settings that you can change and sort through quickly.

Creating Templates

To create a template, adjust the TTrades Indicator settings however you please. With your settings adjusted, click the four squares next to the indicators tab on TradingView. Save your Indicator Template and name it something you will remember.

If you want this template to always go to the current symbol, you can toggle “Remember Symbol”.
If you always want this template to go to the current timeframe, you can select “Remember Interval”.

Favorite Templates

Start your favorite templates and they will show across the main screen of your TradingView for easy access. This is how to quickly switch between different settings on the indicator using the favorites bar.

Overlaying Indicators

Many people want to see two or more TTrades Indicators’ on the chart To do this, you must overlay indicators together.

Adding Multiple Indicators

To add another TTrades Indicator, just go to the indicator section under invite-only and click on Fractal Model [Pro+] TTrades to add another indicator.

If you already have the indicator on the chart and are on desktop, you can also right click, copy, and paste the indicator.

Now that you have added another indicator, offset by 17 or more so they are not overlapping, adjust the fractal timeframe so you get the desired timeframes on the chart together. Save this as a template so you don’t have to make it again!

Using The Indicator To Learn The Fractal Model

The Fractal Model [Pro+] TTrades Indicator can be an amazing tool to help learn TTrades Fractal Model.

Learn the full Fractal Model with TTrades Mentorship in The Market Lens.

Lets go over how to make the best use of the indicator when you are first learning!

Create The Templates

Create two templates using the steps above in the template section.

First create a template that has all the default settings on it, call it “Check”.

Next create a template that has C2, C3, C4 turned off in the Fractal section, call it “Quiz”

Make sure you have favorited both of these templates so they appear on the main screen.

Quiz Yourself

With the “Quiz” template selected, go find a valid fractal model, practice charting and marking up the model. When you have finished with your charting, select the “Check” template and see if you have marked up the model correctly.

This is a very hands on approach to learning the model which helps with the learning process.

Future Updates

As the indicator evolves and new features get added, this guide will be updated to match. When something changes, this is where you’ll find the answer first, before you need to ask.

The post TTrades Fractal Model Indicator – Full Guide appeared first on TTrades.

Weekly Profile – TGIF Setup

TTrades — Sat, 09 May 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Introduction

The TGIF weekly profile is a continuation-and-retracement framework built around how the weekly candle develops from Monday through Friday. The concept is based on identifying a classic expansion week first, then anticipating Friday’s behavior as the market either retraces into the weekly range or continues toward unfinished objectives.

The core idea is simple:

Early in the week forms the weekly high or low
Midweek delivers expansion
Friday creates the weekly wick by retracing back into the range

This profile helps traders anticipate when Friday is likely to become a reversal or retracement day rather than another continuation day.

What Is a TGIF Setup?

A TGIF setup is essentially the Friday retracement phase of a classic expansion week.

In a bullish weekly scenario:

Monday or Tuesday forms the weekly low
Price expands upward through Wednesday and Thursday
A key objective or liquidity target gets hit
Friday retraces downward into the weekly range, creating the upper wick of the weekly candle

In a bearish weekly scenario, the structure is simply reversed.

The retracement is expected because the weekly objective has already been delivered earlier in the week.

The Foundation: Classic Expansion Week

Before understanding TGIF, the market first needs to show a valid expansion profile.

The structure usually looks like this:

Monday or Tuesday forms the protected swing high/low
Wednesday and Thursday continue aggressively in one direction
Price reaches a higher timeframe objective

Without expansion, there is no TGIF setup.

Without a target being reached, there is also no TGIF setup.

That second point is critical because many traders try to fade Friday moves too early.

If price has not yet reached its higher timeframe draw on liquidity, continuation is still more likely than reversal.

Conditions Required for a Valid TGIF

A valid bullish TGIF setup requires:

Weekly low formed Monday or Tuesday
Expansion Tuesday through Thursday
Higher timeframe objective reached
Friday reversal or retracement into the range

A bearish setup requires:

Weekly high formed Monday or Tuesday
Expansion downward through Thursday
Price reaches downside objective
Friday retraces upward into the range

The key lesson is that Friday reversals happen after objectives are met, not before.

Why Higher Timeframe Objectives Matter

The market needs a reason to reverse. This is where higher timeframe objectives come into play.

Examples of valid objectives include:

Equal highs or equal lows
Fair value gaps
Previous swing highs/lows

If price expands all week but has not yet reached one of these objectives, the market often continues trending on Friday instead of retracing.

Understanding the Weekly Wick Concept

The TGIF profile revolves around how the weekly candle forms.

For example in a bullish week:

Monday/Tuesday form the low
Wednesday/Thursday expand upward
Friday retraces downward

That Friday retracement becomes the upper wick of the weekly candle.

In a bearish week:

Monday/Tuesday form the high
Wednesday/Thursday expand downward
Friday retraces upward

That Friday retracement forms the lower wick of the weekly candle.

Friday Entry Logic

The most common confirmations include:

Change in the state of delivery
Candle 2 closures
Lower timeframe market structure shift
Hourly or 4-hour reversal confirmation

If Thursday already reverses aggressively, Friday may simply continue the retracement.

If Thursday remains strongly trending, Friday itself may need to form the reversal structure.

Example of a Valid TGIF Setup

One example of a valid TGIF setup follows this sequence:

Tuesday forms the weekly low
Wednesday and Thursday expand higher
Price takes external liquidity
Thursday does not reverse
Friday returns into the range
Change In the State of Delivery (CISD) on a lower timeframe
Price retraces into 20–30% of weekly range

This is considered a textbook TGIF structure.

Example of an Invalid TGIF Setup

In an example of an invalid TGIF setup

Monday or Tuesday forms the swing
Expansion occurs through Thursday
Price never reaches the higher timeframe objective

Result:

Friday continues trending instead of reversing

This reinforces a major principle:

Do not force Friday reversals simply because the week expanded.

Thursday Reversal vs Friday Reversal

Another important nuance is the role of Thursday.

There are two main possibilities:

Scenario 1: Thursday does not reverse

Friday forms the reversal itself
Traders wait for confirmation during Friday session

Scenario 2: Thursday already reverses

Friday becomes continuation of Thursday retracement
Entries may become easier

This distinction helps traders avoid entering before confirmation.

Core Takeaways From the TGIF Model

The TGIF profile is really about understanding weekly price delivery.

The framework teaches traders to think in terms of:

Weekly structure
Liquidity objectives
Phases of Price
Timing of reversals
Context before countertrend trading

The biggest lessons are:

Friday reversals require completed objectives
Expansion alone is not enough
Higher timeframe liquidity drives the setup
Confirmation matters before fading trend
Weekly candle structure provides direction

Conclusion

The TGIF profile is a powerful framework because it combines higher timeframe logic with intraday execution. Rather than blindly trading Friday reversals, the setup teaches traders to wait for completed expansion, achieved objectives, and structural confirmation before entering retracements.

At its core, the strategy is about reading how the weekly candle is being built in real time.

When Monday and Tuesday establish the weekly extreme, Wednesday and Thursday deliver expansion, and liquidity objectives are fulfilled, Friday often becomes the day where the market retraces back into equilibrium and forms the weekly wick.

Understanding that structure is what gives the TGIF setup its edge.

The post Weekly Profile – TGIF Setup appeared first on TTrades.

Weekly Profile for Daily Bias – Thursday Counter

TTrades — Sat, 02 May 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Introduction

If you’ve been learning price action and weekly market structure, the Thursday Counter Weekly Profile is one of those profiles that can sharpen your directional bias significantly. It’s not just about recognizing a setup it’s about understanding what the market is showing from Monday through Friday.

In this guide, we’ll break down how the Thursday counter forms, why it works, and how you can actually trade it with confidence.

What Is a Thursday Counter Weekly Profile?

At its core, a Thursday counter is a weekly reversal setup that forms after a directional push early in the week.

Here’s the simple idea

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday push price in one direction
No meaningful opposing low or high is formed during that move
Thursday reverses or counters that range
Friday often continues in the new direction

Think of it as the market overextending early in the week then correcting itself.

The Key Requirements

For this profile to be valid, a few conditions should be in place

Directional expansion from Monday through Wednesday
Price consistently moves away from the weekly open

No significant opposing level formed
This means no strong low in a bullish move or high in a bearish move

Thursday reversal candle
Often includes a wick and closes against the earlier trend

Clear intent to rebalance price
Typically targeting the weekly open, current week high or low, or failure swings

Bullish vs Bearish Scenarios

Bearish Setup

Monday through Wednesday push upward
Thursday reverses downward
Friday continues lower

Bullish Setup

Monday through Wednesday push downward
Thursday reverses upward
Friday continues higher

The logic is the same only the direction changes.

How to Actually Trade It

Once Thursday forms, you have two main approaches

Trade the Thursday reversal

Look for a smaller wick
Confirm with SMT divergence
Enter during the reversal day itself

Trade Friday continuation

Wait for confirmation inside Thursday’s range
Drop to a lower timeframe such as one hour
Look for a change in the state of delivery
Enter on continuation toward targets

The second approach is generally easier because there is confirmation for price to continue.

The Role of Change in State of Delivery

Inside Thursday’s range, you’re looking for a change in the state of delivery

This confirms that the wick on the daily chart is a reversal.

What Are You Targeting?

Once in a trade, your targets should be logical and aligned with the weekly structure

Weekly open which is the most common
Current week high or low
Areas of liquidity such as failure swings

When This Setup Works Best

You’ll typically see stronger results when

There is clear early week momentum
Thursday forms a decisive rejection with a clean wick or strong move
Lower timeframe confirms direction
Targets are within realistic range based on volatility

When these align, the move can be clean and one sided.

Final Thoughts

The Thursday Counter Weekly Profile is powerful because it combines time based structure with price behavior. It forces you to think beyond single candles and instead understand how the week unfolds as a whole.

Mastering this concept helps you build a clearer daily bias and align your trades with how price is likely to rebalance within the week.

The post Weekly Profile for Daily Bias – Thursday Counter appeared first on TTrades.

Weekly Profile for Daily Bias – Intraweek Reversal

TTrades — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Introduction

Understanding how price moves throughout the week can give traders a powerful edge. One concept that often gets overlooked but can significantly improve your daily bias is the intraweek reversal. This profile helps you interpret when the market is shifting direction midweek, even when the structure is not perfectly clean.

In this guide, we will break down what an intraweek reversal is, how it forms, and how you can use it to align your trades with higher probability setups.

What Is an Intraweek Reversal

An intraweek reversal happens when the market does not form the high or low of the week at the expected time typically early in the week but instead shifts direction later usually around Wednesday or Thursday.

Instead of a clean textbook weekly pattern, the market behaves more fluidly

Early expansion on Monday
Midweek consolidation on Tuesday
Reversal formation on Wednesday or Thursday
Continuation into Thursday and Friday or Friday and Monday

The key is recognizing that the reversal forms within the week, not at the beginning.

The Core Logic Behind It

At its core, this profile is about identifying where the market likely formed its true high or low of the week, then trading away from that point.

Here is the simplified flow

Price expands away from the weekly open
Market consolidates
A reversal appears midweek
Price continues in the new direction

This is not about memorizing patterns it is about understanding market direction.

What You Should Look For

To confidently trade an intraweek reversal, you need a few key confirmations working together.

First, identify a reversal candle midweek

Candle 2 or Candle 3 closure
Ideally at a point of interest such as a high or low or fair value gap

Then drop to a lower timeframe like the hourly and confirm

A change in the state of delivery providing confirmation.

Only after that should you look for continuation trades.

Example Scenario Breakdown

Here is a common bullish setup

Monday shows strong expansion upward signaling bullish intent
Tuesday forms a small consolidation with no reversal yet
Wednesday sweeps lows and closes bullish creating a potential reversal
Hourly timeframe confirms a shift in price
Thursday continues higher
Friday continues the move or forms a range

Even if Wednesday is not perfect, Thursday can still act as the reversal candle. Flexibility matters.

When the Setup Gets Messy

Not every intraweek reversal is clean and that is normal.

You might see

Mixed market structure with both bullish and bearish candles
Weak reactions at key levels
Choppy intraday movement

In these cases

Wait for stronger confirmation
Let price form a clearer swing point
Avoid forcing trades just to match a pattern

The goal is to follow logic, not patterns.

Using Daily and Hourly Together

The real strength of this model comes from combining timeframes.

Daily timeframe identifies structure and bias
Hourly timeframe confirms execution entries

This alignment helps filter out weak setups and improves timing.

Key Takeaways

Intraweek reversals are about reading the story of price, not forcing symmetry.

Keep these principles in mind

The high or low of the week does not always form early
Midweek reversals are valid and often powerful
Confirmation on lower timeframes is essential

Once you understand this, your ability to build a consistent daily bias improves significantly.

The post Weekly Profile for Daily Bias – Intraweek Reversal appeared first on TTrades.

Weekly Profile for Daily Bias – Consolidation Reversal

TTrades — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Introduction

If you’ve been learning the weekly profile series, you’ve come across other profiles like classic expansion and midweek reversal. But what happens when neither of those show up? That’s where the consolidation reversal comes into play.

This profile helps traders understand how price behaves when the market spends the first half of the week consolidating, only to reverse and expand later. In this guide, we’ll break it down step by step so you can recognize it and trade it with confidence.

What Is a Consolidation Reversal?

A consolidation reversal is a weekly price pattern where:

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday form a consolidation (tight range, no clear direction)
Thursday manipulates that range (breaks highs or lows but closes back inside)
Friday delivers the real move (expansion in the opposite direction)

Think of it as the market loading up early in the week, faking a breakout, and then making the true move afterward.

The Structure of the Pattern

Let’s simplify how this unfolds across the week:

Early Week (Mon–Wed):
- Price moves sideways
- No strong breakout or trend
- Market builds a range
Thursday (Reversal Day):
- Price breaks above or below the range
- Quickly reverses and closes back inside
- This is often a candle two closure
Friday (Continuation Day):
- Price expands strongly in the opposite direction of Thursday’s breakout
- This is where the real trading opportunity lies

Bearish vs Bullish Scenarios

The pattern works in both directions. Here’s how to identify each:

Bearish Setup

Thursday takes out Monday’s high
Price closes back below that level
Friday continues downward

Bullish Setup

Thursday takes out Monday’s low
Price closes back above that level
Friday continues upward

The key idea is that Thursday traps traders, and Friday delivers the move.

Why Thursday Matters So Much

Thursday is the turning point. It gives you two critical signals:

A liquidity grab by taking out highs or lows
A failure to continue in that direction

This combination suggests that the market is likely to reverse.

However, not every Thursday reversal is tradable on its own. Many traders prefer to wait for confirmation before entering.

The Importance of Confirmation

Before looking for a trade, it’s important to confirm a change in the state of delivery on a lower timeframe, such as the hourly chart.

This confirmation confirms the daily chart has formed a reversal point, allowing for the following day to be traded as a continuation.

Entry Strategy: Thursday vs Friday

You have two main entry approaches:

Aggressive Entry (Thursday)

Enter right after or in the reversal candle
Higher risk, earlier positioning

Conservative Entry (Friday)

Wait for confirmation and continuation
Enter during expansion
More reliable, slightly later entry

Many traders prefer Friday because they want confirmation price is expanding.

Targeting Your Trade

Once you’re in a trade, your targets can include:

Previous highs or lows
Opposite side of the consolidation range
Higher timeframe key levels
Average Daily Range (ADR)

The goal is to let the expansion play out while managing risk effectively.

What the Weekly Candle Tells You

One useful detail about this pattern:

The wick of the weekly candle is often formed Monday through Thursday
The body expansion typically happens on Friday

This gives a clear visual confirmation when reviewing charts.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even though this setup is effective, traders often make avoidable mistakes:

Trading before confirmation
Misidentifying consolidation
Ignoring higher timeframe context

Discipline with structure and confirmation is what makes this weekly profile work.

Final Thoughts

The consolidation reversal weekly profile is all about patience and timing. Instead of forcing trades early in the week, you let the market reveal direction.

When you see a slow, range-bound start to the week, followed by a deceptive move on Thursday and a confirmed shift in direction, you are likely looking at a strong expansion.

Learning to recognize and execute this profile can help improve consistency and align your trading with how price naturally moves.

The post Weekly Profile for Daily Bias – Consolidation Reversal appeared first on TTrades.

Weekly Profile for Daily Bias – Midweek Reversal

TTrades — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Introduction

If you’ve ever felt the market was more clear later in the week, you’re not imagining things. The midweek reversal weekly profile explains why Thursday and Friday can deliver the cleanest moves. In this guide, we’ll break down how this weekly profile works, how to recognize it, and how to apply it to establish your daily bias.

What Is a Midweek Reversal Weekly Profile

A midweek reversal weekly profile is where price establishes its true direction around Wednesday, after moving against that direction earlier in the week.

Here’s the core idea:

Monday and Tuesday move against the true weekly direction
Wednesday forms the reversal
Thursday and Friday deliver the expansion

The early part of the week creates the setup, and the later part of the week provides the execution.

The Bearish vs Bullish Setup

The profile works the same way in both directions, just mirrored.

Bearish week:

Monday and Tuesday move higher against a bearish bias
Wednesday forms a reversal candle
Thursday and Friday expand lower

Bullish week:

Monday and Tuesday move lower against a bullish bias
Wednesday forms a reversal candle
Thursday and Friday expand higher

This early movement helps form the wick of the weekly candle, which becomes an important reference.

Why Wednesday Matters

Wednesday is where direction is established, but not every Wednesday is tradable on its own.

What to look for:

A candle two closure showing intent
Alignment with higher timeframe bias
Confirmation on the lower timeframes

This is where the market transitions from one phase of price to another, often forming the weekly high or low.

The Role of Lower Timeframe Confirmation

Before taking any trade, it is important to refine the idea on a lower timeframe such as the hourly chart.

You are looking for:

A break in structure
A shift in momentum
Clear movement away from a key level

This confirms that Wednesday has likely formed either the high or low of the week.

Trading Thursday and Friday

Once Wednesday confirms the reversal, the focus shifts to execution.

This is where you:

Focus on Thursday and Friday
Look for expansion moves
Target previous highs or lows and liquidity

If Thursday closes strongly, Friday often continues in that same direction, especially if there are still open objectives.

When the Setup Is Not Clean

Not every week will present a perfect example.

Sometimes:

Wednesday lacks a strong closure
The reversal is unclear
Confirmation comes on Thursday

In these cases, patience matters. Let Thursday provide confirmation, and then look to Friday for continuation.

Key Concepts to Watch

As you apply this weekly profile, keep an eye on:

Weekly wick formation
Swing highs and lows
Liquidity sweeps
Failure swings
Range behavior

These help determine whether the reversal is valid or not.

Putting It All Together

A typical midweek reversal weekly profile follows this flow:

Early week creates misdirection
Wednesday forms the reversal
Lower timeframe confirms direction
Late week delivers expansion

This is a framework meant to guide decision making, not something to force onto every chart.

Final Thoughts

The midweek reversal weekly profile reflects how price often behaves through the week. Early movement can be misleading, while the true direction forms midweek and expands later. By focusing on timing and confirmation, you can build a clearer daily bias and improve execution.

The post Weekly Profile for Daily Bias – Midweek Reversal appeared first on TTrades.

Weekly Profile for Daily Bias – Classic Expansion

TTrades — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Introduction

If you’ve ever struggled with when to trade during the week not just what direction then the concept of a classic expansion weekly profile can completely change how you approach the market. Instead of chasing every move this profile helps you identify when price is most likely to expand and when it is better to stay out.

In this guide we break the idea down into a simple structure so you can apply it directly to your charts.

What Is a Classic Expansion Week

A Classic Expansion Week is a market pattern where price establishes a clear direction early in the week and then expands in that direction over multiple days.

At its core it focuses on two things

Identifying a weekly bias
Capitalizing on multi day expansion

Think of it as the market setting direction early and then following through with momentum.

The Core Structure

A Classic Expansion Week follows a consistent rhythm

Monday or Tuesday forms the high or low of the week
Midweek brings strong directional expansion
Friday slows down or caps the range

There are two variations

Bullish scenario

Low of the week forms Monday or Tuesday
Price expands higher for two to three days

Bearish scenario

High of the week forms Monday or Tuesday
Price expands lower for two to three days

Step 1 Establish Your Bias

Before anything else you need a directional idea

This usually comes from

Higher timeframe reversals
Retracements into key levels
Market structure confirms continuation

The goal is not to predict the exact day but to prepare for directional expansion.

Step 2 Identify the Candle two Closure

A candle two closure helps confirm that the high or low of the week is likely set

What to look for

Strong directional close
Break through prior opposing candles
Occurring at a key level

This gives the first indication that the market may begin expanding.

Step 3 Confirm with Lower Timeframe Delivery

After identifying a candle two closure move to a lower timeframe such as the one hour chart

You want to see a change in the state of delivery meaning

A shift in price behavior
Structure breaking and closing in the new direction

This confirmation supports continuation trades.

Step 4 Trade the Expansion Days

This is where the highest probability opportunities appear

After confirmation

Wednesday offers the first expansion opportunity
Thursday offers the second expansion opportunity

Sometimes Tuesday can also be tradable depending on when confirmation forms

The focus is on continuation not reversal.

Step 5 Know When to Stop

After two or three strong expansion days the move is often extended

At this stage

Higher timeframe targets may be reached
Price can become choppy
Probability of continuation decreases

Friday is often slower and can form a new phase of price rather than a continuation day.

How It Looks in Practice

A simplified sequence looks like this

Monday sets up the move
Tuesday confirms the high or low of the week
Wednesday expands
Thursday continues expansion
Friday slows or consolidates

Not every week will follow this perfectly.

Imperfect Setups Still Work

Some weeks will not align cleanly

You may see

A low form on Monday instead of Tuesday
Delayed confirmation
Uneven expansion

The goal is not perfection but identifying the reversal point of the week and trading away from it.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Trying to predict the exact day too early
Entering without confirmation
Chasing price after multiple expansion days
Overtrading late in the week

If the move has already happened the opportunity is likely gone.

Final Thoughts

The Classic Expansion Weekly Profile helps align bias, timing and structure

Instead of reacting to every move you

Let the week reveal direction
Confirm with structure
Trade during the strongest phase of expansion

This approach improves both patience and precision in execution.

The post Weekly Profile for Daily Bias – Classic Expansion appeared first on TTrades.