Order Blocks
Overview
An order block is the last opposing candle before a strong institutional move — the final bearish candle before a bullish impulse (bullish OB) or the final bullish candle before a bearish impulse (bearish OB). Order blocks represent zones where institutions placed large orders, and price tends to return to these zones for continuation.
Key Concepts
Bullish OB: last bearish candle before a strong up-move. Bearish OB: last bullish candle before a strong down-move. The candle's body (not wicks) defines the zone. Must cause a displacement (strong, fast move away). Breaker blocks form when OBs are violated.
Entry Signals
Price retracing into a bullish OB at support, Price retracing into a bearish OB at resistance, OB in confluence with FVG or liquidity sweep, OB on a higher timeframe with lower-timeframe entry
Exit Signals
Stop below the OB low (bullish) or above OB high (bearish), Target the previous liquidity pool or opposing OB, Invalidation: if price closes through the OB body
Best Timeframes
15M for entries, 1H/4H for OB identification, Daily/Weekly for HTF bias
Pro Tips
Not every candle before a move is a valid OB. True OBs must cause displacement — a strong, impulsive move with large-bodied candles away from the zone.
More Topics in This Category
Power of Three (PO3)
The Power of Three is an ICT concept describing the three-phase cycle that institutional traders use within each session or candle: accumulation, manipulation, and distribution. During accumulation, smart money builds positions quietly. Manipulation creates a false move to trigger retail stops and generate liquidity. Distribution is the real directional move where institutions deliver price to their target, profiting from the liquidity gathered during manipulation.
Inducement Patterns
Inducement is a Smart Money Concept describing the deliberate engineering of liquidity pools by institutional traders to attract retail orders before reversing price. Inducement patterns occur when price creates minor highs or lows that entice retail traders to enter positions or place stops, providing the liquidity that smart money needs to fill large orders in the opposite direction.
Break of Structure (BOS)
A Break of Structure occurs when price breaks a previous swing high (in an uptrend, confirming continuation) or swing low (in a downtrend, confirming continuation). BOS confirms the prevailing trend and is used to trail bias. Internal BOS occurs within a trend leg; external or structural BOS breaks the last significant swing.
Change of Character (ChoCH)
A Change of Character is the first break of structure AGAINST the prevailing trend. In an uptrend, ChoCH is the first lower low. In a downtrend, ChoCH is the first higher high. ChoCH signals a potential trend reversal and is one of the most important SMC concepts for identifying turning points.