Learn
What is worth knowing before you use a TradingView indicator. General education, not investment advice.
Basics course
From spot vs. futures to candles, trends, indicators, risk management and deeper analysis — in order. A new lesson every day.
Part 1 · Trading basics
- Lesson 1 Spot vs. Futures: What's the Difference?Learn how spot buying differs from futures contracts, with a simple numeric example covering profit/loss, margin, and liquidation.Keep reading →
- Lesson 2 Perpetual Futures Explained: Why There's No Expiration DateLearn the difference between expiry futures and perpetual futures, and how the funding rate keeps perpetual prices close to spot.Keep reading →
- Lesson 3 Long and short: profit whether price rises or fallsLearn what long and short mean in futures trading, with simple numeric examples showing how the same price move creates opposite profit and loss.Keep reading →
- Lesson 4 Leverage and Margin: How the Multiplier WorksLearn how margin and leverage work, why the same price move hits accounts differently at 1x-20x, and the difference between isolated and cross margin.Keep reading →
- Lesson 5 Higher Leverage Means a Closer Liquidation PriceLearn why higher leverage shrinks the price move needed to trigger liquidation, with a simple rule of thumb and why the real distance is even closer.Keep reading →
- Lesson 6 Who Pays the Funding Rate in Perpetual Futures?Learn how the funding rate works: when futures price is above spot longs pay shorts, when below spot shorts pay longs, settled at fixed times.Keep reading →
- Lesson 7 Market, Limit, and Stop Orders: What's the DifferenceLearn how market, limit, and stop orders fill differently, plus how maker and taker fees work, with a simple numeric example.Keep reading →
Part 2 · Reading candles
- Lesson 8 Reading One Candle: Open, High, Low, CloseLearn what a single candle's open, high, low, and close mean, plus the difference between body, wicks, and bullish/bearish candles.Keep reading →
- Lesson 9 Change the timeframe, and the candle looks differentLearn how timeframes relate as multiples—one hourly candle equals four 15-minute candles—and how the same price move looks different across timeframes.Keep reading →
- Lesson 10 How an Upper Wick Actually FormsCompare four different paths that all create a long upper wick, and learn why the speed of the move and the closing position both matter.Keep reading →
- Lesson 11 How a Lower Wick Forms: Panic Sell vs. Slow RecoveryLearn how a lower wick forms and the difference between a fast panic-sell bounce and a slow decline-and-recovery, with a simple example.Keep reading →
- Lesson 12 What Really Happens Inside a Doji CandleA doji forms when the open and close are nearly equal, but what happens inside it can be very different. See the difference between a quiet doji and a volatile one.Keep reading →
- Lesson 13 Marubozu Candles: One Direction, Start to FinishLearn what a marubozu (a long candle with almost no wick) means, what commonly happens the next period, and why chasing after it is risky.Keep reading →
- Lesson 14 Hammer and Shooting Star: Why You Shouldn't Trust Shape AloneLearn what hammer and shooting star candles look like, what they can mean, and why you need more than shape alone to read them.Keep reading →
- Lesson 15 Why Everyone Says to Watch the CloseLearn the difference between a wick briefly poking above resistance and a candle actually closing above it, with a simple numeric example.Keep reading →
Part 3 · Trend and price structure
- Lesson 16 How to Spot Swing Highs and Swing LowsLearn the simple rule for finding meaningful swing highs and lows in a zigzagging price chart, and how to filter out tiny, unimportant wiggles.Keep reading →
- Lesson 17 Uptrend: Both Highs and Lows Keep RisingLearn what defines an uptrend—higher highs and higher lows together—and how breaking the prior low signals the trend may be over.Keep reading →
- Lesson 18 Downtrend = Lower Highs and Lower Lows TogetherLearn how a downtrend is defined, and why structure holds even after a bounce as long as the bounce fails to clear the prior high.Keep reading →
- Lesson 19 Support and Resistance: Zones, Not Single LinesLearn why support and resistance are best understood as zones where price has repeatedly reacted, not single exact price lines, with a worked example.Keep reading →
- Lesson 20 The Moment Resistance Flips to Support: Success and FailureLearn when a broken resistance level flips into support on the retest, and when that flip fails instead, with a side-by-side chart comparison.Keep reading →
- Lesson 21 Anatomy of a Fake Breakout: Wick, Close, and VolumeLearn the telltale wick, close, and volume patterns of a fake breakout and how they differ from a real breakout.Keep reading →
- Lesson 22 How to Draw a Trendline and Its LimitsLearn how to draw uptrend and downtrend lines by connecting lows and highs, why a third touch matters, and why steep lines break more easily.Keep reading →
- Lesson 23 Why Trend and Breakout Methods Often Fail in Range MarketsLearn the characteristics of a range market, why breakout and trend methods often fail inside it, and how to sense trend vs range.Keep reading →
- Lesson 24 Reading Trading Volume: The BasicsVolume shows how much was traded. Learn the difference between a price move with volume behind it and one without, through simple examples.Keep reading →
Part 4 · Indicator basics
- Lesson 25 A Moving Average Is Just an 'Average Price'Learn what a moving average really is, why short and long MAs react at different speeds, with a simple worked numeric example.Keep reading →
- Lesson 26 Why Do Indicators React Late?Why do indicators turn after price already has? Compare MA5 and MA20 to understand lag and the speed-vs-false-signal trade-off.Keep reading →
- Lesson 27 When Volatility Shrinks, It Eventually Expands AgainHow volatility alternates between squeeze and expansion, and why a squeeze alone never tells you which direction the next move will take.Keep reading →
- Lesson 28 RSI Overbought/Oversold: Common MythsDoes RSI above 70 always mean a drop is coming? Learn what RSI really measures — gains vs losses — and why trends keep it high.Keep reading →
Part 5 · Risk management
Indicator & technique library
How RSI, Bollinger Bands, moving averages and other tools were built, how to read them and how traders use them — explained on real SOL charts.
Indicator library
- RSI Indicator Explained: Formula, Settings and SignalsHow the RSI indicator works: Wilder's exact formula, why the default is 14, overbought/oversold levels, divergence, mistakes and a worked SOL example.Keep reading →
- Bollinger Bands Explained: Formula, Settings and UsesBollinger Bands explained: who created them, the exact standard deviation formula, the 20/2 default, how to read squeezes and band tags, plus a SOL example.Keep reading →
- Moving Averages Explained: SMA vs EMA, Formula, UsesMoving averages explained: how SMA and EMA are calculated, why 20/50/200 are standard, how to read slope and crossovers, plus a real SOL 4h example.Keep reading →
- MACD Indicator Explained: Formula, Settings and UsesHow the MACD indicator works: Gerald Appel's origin, the exact EMA formula, why 12/26/9, how to read crossovers, divergence, and a real SOL 4h example.Keep reading →
- Stochastic Oscillator Explained: Formula, Settings, UsesHow the Stochastic Oscillator works: the %K and %D formula, why 14-3-3 is the default, how to read crossovers and divergence, plus a worked SOL example.Keep reading →
- ATR Indicator Explained: Formula, Settings and UsesAverage True Range (ATR) explained: Wilder's formula, the 14 default, how to read volatility, ATR stops and sizing, plus a real SOL example.Keep reading →
- Volume & OBV Explained: Formula, Settings and How to UseOn-Balance Volume (OBV) explained for crypto traders: Granville's origin, the exact formula, default settings, how to read divergence, uses and mistakes.Keep reading →
- VWAP Indicator Explained: Formula, Settings and UsesVWAP explained for crypto traders: what it measures, the formula step by step, session and anchored settings, and how to read it on a chart.Keep reading →
- Ichimoku Cloud Explained: Formula, Settings, How to UseA complete guide to the Ichimoku Cloud: origin, the five lines and their formulas, 9/26/52 defaults, how to read it, and a real SOL chart example.Keep reading →
- Fibonacci Retracement Explained: Levels, Math and UsesFibonacci retracement explained: where the 0.236-0.786 levels come from, how to draw them on a swing, how traders actually use them, and when they fail.Keep reading →
- ADX Indicator Explained: DMI, Formula and Trend StrengthADX and DMI explained: Wilder's trend strength formula, why 14 and 25 are the defaults, how to read +DI and -DI, practical uses and failure modes.Keep reading →
- CCI Indicator Explained: Formula, Settings, SignalsHow the Commodity Channel Index works: Lambert's 1980 formula, the 0.015 constant, CCI 20 settings, reading extremes, plus a worked SOL example.Keep reading →
- Keltner Channels Explained: Formula, Settings and UsesKeltner Channels explained: the EMA and ATR formula, default 20/10 settings, how to read band breaks and pullbacks, plus a worked SOL/USDT example.Keep reading →
- Parabolic SAR Explained: Formula, Settings and UsesHow the Parabolic SAR works: Wilder's formula step by step, the 0.02/0.2 defaults, how to read flips, trailing-stop uses and a worked SOL example.Keep reading →
- Donchian Channels Explained: Formula, Settings, UsesDonchian Channels explained: origin, the exact highest-high/lowest-low formula, default 20 settings, breakout and exit uses, mistakes, and a real SOL example.Keep reading →
- Stochastic RSI Explained: Formula, Settings and UsesHow the Stochastic RSI works: its origin, exact formula, the 14·14·3·3 defaults, how to read it, practical uses, mistakes, and a worked SOL example.Keep reading →
- Williams %R Explained: Formula, Settings and SignalsHow Williams %R works: Larry Williams' formula, why 14 periods, overbought and oversold zones, practical uses, failure modes and a real SOL/USDT example.Keep reading →
- Money Flow Index (MFI) Explained: Formula and SettingsThe Money Flow Index (MFI) is a volume-weighted RSI. Learn the formula, the 14-period default, 80/20 levels, divergences and its limits in crypto trading.Keep reading →
- Bollinger BandWidth and the Squeeze ExplainedHow Bollinger BandWidth and the squeeze work: origin, exact formula, default settings, how to read compression, practical uses and a real SOL 4h example.Keep reading →
- ROC and Momentum Explained: Formula, Settings, SignalsRate of Change (ROC) and Momentum explained: the exact formula, why 12 is a common setting, how to read the zero line, and where these oscillators fail.Keep reading →
- Pivot Points Explained: Formula, Settings and UsesHow pivot points work: the classic floor-trader formula, P/R1/S1 levels, Woodie, Camarilla and Fibonacci variants, and how crypto traders read them 24/7.Keep reading →
- Volume Profile Explained: POC, Value Area and SettingsVolume Profile explained for crypto traders: how the POC and value area are calculated, default settings, how to read the shape, and where the tool fails.Keep reading →
- Golden Cross and Death Cross Explained: Rules & UsesGolden cross and death cross explained: how the 50/200 moving average crossover is calculated, how to read it, where it fails, plus a real SOL daily example.Keep reading →
- Chaikin Money Flow (CMF): Formula, Settings and UsesHow Chaikin Money Flow works: the money flow multiplier formula, why the default is 20 periods, how to read it, and a worked SOL/USDT 4h example.Keep reading →
Trading techniques
- RSI Divergence Explained: Signals, Rules and LimitsHow RSI divergence works: the calculation behind it, regular vs hidden signals, settings, practical uses, failure modes and a real SOL/USDT 4h example.Keep reading →
- Trend Following Explained: Rules, Signals and LimitsHow trend following works: the theory and history, moving-average and breakout rules, settings, signals, common mistakes and a worked SOL/USDT 4h example.Keep reading →
- Breakout Trading Explained: Rules, Levels, ExamplesHow breakout trading works: the logic, the 20-bar channel formula, settings, entry and failure modes, plus a measured 4h SOL/USDT example.Keep reading →
- Mean Reversion Strategy Explained: Formula and SettingsMean reversion explained for crypto traders: theory, history, the z-score and band formula, settings, uses, failures and a real SOL example.Keep reading →
- Support and Resistance Explained: Levels, Zones, UsesHow support and resistance levels are found, why they form, default pivot and clustering settings, practical uses, mistakes, and a worked SOL/USDT example.Keep reading →
- Range Trading Explained: Rules, Setups and LimitsRange trading explained: how to define support and resistance boundaries, measure range width, read breakouts and false breaks, with a real SOL/USDT example.Keep reading →
- Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA) in Crypto: Formula and UsesDollar-cost averaging explained: how the average cost is calculated, cadence choices, where DCA helps and fails, plus a worked SOL/USDT example.Keep reading →
- Grid Trading Explained: Formula, Settings and UsesHow grid trading works: the ladder formula, arithmetic vs geometric spacing, level and step choices, regime dependence, risks and a SOL/USDT example.Keep reading →
- Multi-Timeframe Analysis: Method, Settings and UsesHow multiple timeframe analysis works: top-down method, resampling math, timeframe ratios, practical uses, mistakes, and a worked SOL/USDT example.Keep reading →
- ATR Stop-Loss Explained: Formula, Settings and UsesHow to place a stop-loss with ATR: Wilder's formula, multiplier and period settings, ratcheting vs rolling trails, and a real SOL/USDT 4h example.Keep reading →
- Scaling In and Scaling Out: Entry Ladders ExplainedScaling in and out explained: how to build a position in tiers, calculate the average entry, size the risk, and when laddering helps or hurts a trade.Keep reading →
- Volatility Squeeze Breakouts: Setup, Rules and ExamplesHow volatility squeeze breakouts work: Bollinger Band vs Keltner Channel math, settings, how to read a squeeze, failure modes and a real SOL example.Keep reading →
Smart money concepts (SMC/ICT)
- Smart Money Concepts and ICT Explained: A Clear GuideWhat smart money concepts (SMC) and ICT trading mean: origins, key vocabulary, how to mark a chart, the workflow, criticisms and a SOL example.Keep reading →
- Market Structure, BOS and CHoCH Explained for TradersHow to mark swing highs and lows, define trend, and tell a break of structure (BOS) from a change of character (CHoCH) — rules, limits, SOL example.Keep reading →
- Order Blocks Explained: Definition, Rules and RetestsOrder blocks in smart money concepts: what they are, how to mark them step by step, retests, breakers, failure modes, and a worked SOL 4h example.Keep reading →
- Fair Value Gaps (FVG) Explained: Rules, Reading, UsesWhat a fair value gap is, the exact three-candle rule, size filters, how traders use FVGs as entries or targets, failure modes and a SOL example.Keep reading →
- Liquidity Sweeps Explained: Stop Hunts, Rules, ExamplesWhat a liquidity sweep (stop hunt) is, how to mark one with exact rules, how traders use it, where it fails, and a real SOL 4h example.Keep reading →
- ICT Kill Zones and Session Times Explained for CryptoWhat ICT kill zones are, the exact session windows in UTC and New York time, how to mark them, and what SOL/USDT hourly data actually shows.Keep reading →
- Breaker Blocks Explained: ICT Rules, Retests, ExampleWhat a breaker block is in ICT and smart money concepts: how a failed order block flips, exact marking rules, variations, retests and a 4h SOL example.Keep reading →
Smart money deep dive
- Equal Highs and Lows: Liquidity Pools ExplainedWhat equal highs and equal lows (EQH/EQL) are, exact rules for marking liquidity pools, how traders read sweeps, and an honest SOL/USDT example.Keep reading →
- Premium, Discount and OTE Zone: Rules, Levels, ExamplePremium, discount and the OTE zone explained: the dealing range, 50% equilibrium, the 62-79% Fibonacci band, how to mark it, and a measured SOL 4h example.Keep reading →
- Displacement, Imbalance and Volume in ICT ExplainedWhat displacement and imbalance mean in ICT/SMC, how to mark them using ATR and relative volume, and what one SOL/USDT 4h window actually showed.Keep reading →
- Volume Confirmation for SMC Setups: RVOL, Profile, POCHow to check SMC order blocks, breaks and sweeps against volume: relative volume, volume profile, POC and value area, with a worked SOL 4h example.Keep reading →
- Top-Down Multi-Timeframe Analysis in SMC ExplainedHow top-down multi-timeframe analysis works in SMC: define higher-timeframe bias mechanically, filter 4h BOS and CHoCH, with a worked SOL example.Keep reading →
- Sweep, CHoCH and Entry: The SMC Entry Model ExplainedHow the SMC entry model works: liquidity sweep, change of character, FVG or order block entry, 2R target — rules, variants and a tested SOL example.Keep reading →
Candlestick patterns deep dive
- Candlestick Patterns: Full Guide, Rules and EvidenceA practical guide to candlestick patterns: anatomy, exact detection rules, how to read them, and a pooled test on 20 crypto perpetuals and 125,000 4h candles.Keep reading →
- Engulfing Candle Pattern: Rules, Context and EvidenceHow bullish and bearish engulfing candles are defined, how to read them in context, and what 10,836 cases on 4h crypto charts actually showed.Keep reading →
- Harami Candle and Inside Bars: Rules, Data and UsesHow the harami candle pattern and the inside bar are defined and calculated, how to read contraction after a strong move, plus pooled crypto test data.Keep reading →
- Morning Star and Evening Star Candlesticks ExplainedMorning star and evening star candlestick patterns: exact three-candle rules, ATR thresholds, context filters, and pooled results from 20 crypto perpetuals.Keep reading →
- Three White Soldiers and Three Black Crows ExplainedHow three white soldiers and three black crows are defined, calculated and read, plus an honest test on 124,920 crypto 4h candles and a SOL example.Keep reading →
- Tweezer Tops and Bottoms: Rules, Context and EvidenceTweezer tops and bottoms explained: the exact two-candle rule, the 0.1 ATR tolerance, how to read them in context, and what a 21,306-case test showed.Keep reading →
- Marubozu Candlestick Explained: Rules, Data and UsesWhat a marubozu candle is, the exact body-to-range and ATR rules, how to read strong candles, and what 1,538 crypto cases actually did afterwards.Keep reading →
- Pin Bars and Rejection Wicks: Rules, Context, EvidenceA pin bar is a candle with a tiny body and one long rejection wick. Exact ratios, trend and volume context, and a 10,948-case test on 4h crypto data.Keep reading →
- Candlestick Patterns with Volume and Trend Context TestedDo candlestick patterns work better with trend and volume context? Rules, formulas and a pooled 4h test on 20 crypto perpetuals, with the exact numbers.Keep reading →
Daily chart lesson
One picture a day to learn how charts really move. A new topic every day.
Guides
- Bull, Sideways and Bear Markets: Rule-Based Trading GuideHow to tell bull, sideways and bear markets apart, why traders lose money differently in each, and how rule-based strategies handle them, limits included.Keep reading →
- TradingView Invite-Only Indicators: Access, Setup, AlertsHow TradingView invite-only indicators work: getting access with your username, adding one to a chart, setting alerts, and fixing a missing tab.Keep reading →
- SOL Perpetual Futures Indicator: CYH Pullback StrategyWhat the CYH Pullback Strategy indicator draws on SOLUSDT.P 30- and 15-minute charts, how its TradingView alerts work, what it can't do, and its risks.Keep reading →
- How to Read a Backtest: 8 Checks Before You Trust ItWhat to check before trusting a trading backtest: costs, trade count, drawdown, market regimes, in-sample tuning, cherry-picking, sizing and overfitting.Keep reading →
- Max Drawdown (MDD) Explained: Meaning, Math and RecoveryWhat maximum drawdown means, how to calculate it, why a 30% loss needs a 43% gain to recover, and how leverage can push drawdowns past 100%.Keep reading →
- Crypto Futures Liquidation, Margin and Funding ExplainedHow liquidation, cross vs isolated margin and funding rates work on crypto perpetual futures, with simple examples and the mistakes beginners make.Keep reading →
- Pullback Trading Strategy Explained: Rules, Waves, LimitsWhat pullback trading is, how trends move in waves, why entries and exits should be rules, and how the approach behaves in bull, sideways and bear markets.Keep reading →
- Crypto Futures Position Sizing: Leverage vs Risk per TradeHow to size a crypto futures position from stop distance and fixed risk per trade, why high leverage is not small risk, and how fees and drawdowns bite.Keep reading →
- Pullback vs Reversal: How to Tell the DifferenceHow to tell a pullback from a trend reversal: healthy pullback signs, reversal warnings, common tools and their limits, and how rules handle the doubt.Keep reading →
- TradingView Alerts Guide: Setup, Limits, Not WorkingHow to set alerts on a TradingView indicator or strategy, choose once per bar close, pick notifications, and fix alerts that don't fire or fire late.Keep reading →
- TradingView Strategy Tester Explained: Read Every MetricWhat each Strategy Tester number means, why zero commission inflates results, and how to compare two TradingView strategies fairly.Keep reading →