Liquidity & Refining
Timeframes (HTF & custom)
Rule: HTF liquidity generally dominates LTF — same idea applies to liquidity levels.
HTF additions (example): add 2D, 3D, 4D, 5D, 6D, 2W, 3W (and similar) so major pools are visible. Customize further if needed (4W, 18D, etc.).
LTF ideas (examples):
| TF | Idea |
|---|---|
| 23H | Smooths noise by dropping one low-activity hour |
| 22H | Doesn't align to one classic session; can reveal different liquidity vs 24H (crypto 24/7 context) |
| 20–21H | Drops several low-volume transition hours |
| 12H | Spans major session overlaps |
| 10H | Off "standard" grid; can surface hidden liquidity |
Add all hour-based TFs down toward 1H if you use this workflow — "trimming" below that is optional.
Dragon timeframe (1390 minutes)
1390 minutes (~23h10m) — shifts away from broker-dependent daily open/close. Goal: see how price delivers without being locked to a retail daily candle. Some OBs may show here that don't on 23H. (Community nickname "Dragon" in ICT-adjacent circles.)
Hidden order blocks (HOBs)
Liquidity often relates to FVGs / imbalances, but not every FVG is tradable:
- In price discovery, there may be no prior structure for a clean entry reference.
- Very wide FVGs make order placement ambiguous.
(P)HOBs
HOB: for entries, some traders use only the bodies of the two candles forming the block (open/close), not the full wick range used for "classic" OB marking.
- Mid of the block is often the primary reference for orders (often confluent with Fib levels).
- Classic OBs may still include wicks as the zone to watch; HOBs bias toward body liquidity behind inefficiency.
PHOB (partial hidden OB): only part of the order is "visible" — institutional partial fills / hidden size narrative.
Stacked FVGs above a HOB
When multiple FVGs stack above a HOB:
- Retail may focus on the obvious gaps while deeper liquidity sits at the HOB.
- Each gap is a "layer" price must traverse — can add compression before reaction at the base.
- More unfilled structure above can reinforce defense of the lower HOB (narrative framing).
Fibonacci confluence
Fib levels (premium/discount, extensions) stack with liquidity zones. Sometimes alignment is on obvious swings; sometimes levels come from LTF swings and look "random" until you see the smaller structure.
Order block refining (multi-timeframe trim)
When no FVG is available, OBs alone can be the reference. OBs exist on multiple TFs — drill from HTF → LTF to trim the most relevant pocket.
ORAI-style example: identify a 4D OB, then refine with 12H + 10H + 8H OBs layered (different colors / opacity ~20%, darker = lower TF).
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Educational content — not personalized financial advice.