As a price action trader, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned over the years is this:
When the market goes quiet, it’s usually preparing for something big.
Breakouts don’t always come out of nowhere.
They often emerge after an accumulation or consolidation phase — when price moves sideways, volume dries up, and most retail traders start losing patience.
But that’s when the smart trader leans in and watches carefully:
Is price repeatedly testing the same level without breaking it?
Are the candles getting tighter, forming compression or rejection wicks?
Is volume drying out… or starting to spike at key moments?
Then suddenly — a strong breakout candle.
Sometimes it’s a trap (false breakout)…
Other times, it’s a high-probability move that kicks off a full trend reversal or continuation.
Here’s how I approach it:
1. I always mark out liquidity zones and trap areas before the breakout.
2. I wait for volume confirmation before entering.
3. If structure breaks cleanly, I prefer pullback entries with tight risk.
Remember: entering on a breakout is easy.
The hard part is knowing which breakout is real — and which one is designed to trap emotion-driven trades.
The market gives you a chance every day.
But only those who truly see the structure will take it.