CHARTTHREAD

Free trading course

Learn to trade from levels

A step-by-step guide from how a market works to your first planned trade, in 18 modules, plus candlestick patterns read at levels and real chart cases. Written by a trader, in plain English.

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Core course

01FoundationsWhat a market is, who trades in it, which instruments exist, and how to read a chart.4 of 32 lessons02The four pillars of a tradeEvery trade stands on four pillars: the level, the energy, the direction and the point of entry.0 of 6 lessons03LevelsPillar one. What a level is, how to draw it exactly, the eleven types, and what makes a level stronger or weaker.3 of 32 lessons04EnergyPillar two. Whether the market has the power to reach a level and go through it: range, accumulation, impulse, volume and time.5 of 12 lessons05DirectionPillar three. Which way the market is leaning: trends, pullbacks and the bigger picture.1 of 9 lessons06BreakoutsWhen price goes through a level: what a real breakout looks like, and the prerequisites that come before it.4 of 20 lessons07False breakoutsWhen a breakout fails: why it happens, how to spot it, and how to trade it.1 of 7 lessons08BouncesWhen a level holds: the prerequisites for a bounce, and how to trade one.0 of 14 lessons09The point of entryPillar four. Exactly where and how to get into the trade.0 of 6 lessons10Risk managementSizing, stops, targets and loss limits: staying in the game.1 of 16 lessons11PreparationThe routine before the session: screening, watchlist, plan and journal.0 of 11 lessons12ExecutionGetting in and out: orders, fills and managing an open trade.0 of 11 lessons13Market contextNews, weekends, open interest and reading the market as a whole.0 of 7 lessons14PsychologyThe habits that cost more than any bad setup.0 of 10 lessons15Statistics and testingIs your method working? Expectancy, samples and honest tests.0 of 10 lessons16PracticeDrills that combine everything: from homework to a final test.0 of 6 lessons17Trading tips from experienceShort, practical lessons learned the hard way. This module keeps growing.0 of 5 lessons18Other approachesPopular ideas from other schools, and how a level trader reads the same chart.0 of 2 lessons

Candlesticks at levels

19Candlesticks: the basicsWhere candle patterns come from, and what they can and cannot tell you.0 of 3 lessons20Reversal patterns at a levelThe classic turning signals, read where they matter: at a level.0 of 11 lessons21Continuation patternsSignals that the move is not over yet.0 of 5 lessons22The dojiThe indecision candle, and why it matters most at a level.0 of 4 lessons23Candles and levels togetherWhere the book meets level theory.0 of 7 lessons24Candles and indicatorsThe book's indicator chapters, tested the level trader's way: does the indicator add anything a level does not?0 of 7 lessons

Research

25Candle patterns at levels: the researchTesting whether candle patterns at levels mean anything. Findings published as the data comes in.0 of 8 lessons

Full curriculum

Core course

01Foundations

  1. 1What is a market? Buyers, sellers and a priceQuestionComing soon
  2. 2What is a stock exchange, and how does it work?QuestionComing soon
  3. 3Which markets exist? Stocks, crypto, forex, commoditiesQuestionComing soon
  4. 4Classes of instruments: stocks, futures, options, commodities, cryptoQuestionComing soon
  5. 5Spot vs futures: what's the difference?QuestionComing soon
  6. 6What is a perpetual futures contract?QuestionComing soon
  7. 7Types of trading: scalping, day trading, swing and positionQuestionComing soon
  8. 8Day trader, swing trader or long-term investor: which are you?QuestionComing soon
  9. 9Long and short positions: what do they mean?QuestionComing soon
  10. 10How to profit when price falls: short selling explainedHow-toComing soon
  11. 11The four market players: long buyer, long seller, short seller, short buyerQuestionComing soon
  12. 12What each player does to price, and why it matters at a levelQuestionComing soon
  13. 13Bid and ask explained: where every trade happensQuestion
  14. 14What is a spread? The cost you pay on every tradeQuestion
  15. 15The order book: how a price is madeHow-toComing soon
  16. 16Types of orders: market, limit, stop and stop-limitQuestionComing soon
  17. 17What is slippage, and how do you avoid it?Question
  18. 18What is liquidity? Why some markets move smoothlyQuestion
  19. 19Maker vs taker fees: what trading really costsQuestionComing soon
  20. 20What is leverage? (And why it isn't the risk)QuestionComing soon
  21. 21Isolated vs cross margin: which is safer?QuestionComing soon
  22. 22What is liquidation, and how do you never get liquidated?How-toComing soon
  23. 23What is the funding rate, and who pays it?QuestionComing soon
  24. 24Price charts explained: line, bar and candlestickQuestionComing soon
  25. 25What is a candle? How to read a candlestickQuestionComing soon
  26. 26Bars vs candles: same data, different pictureQuestionComing soon
  27. 27What does a long wick mean?QuestionComing soon
  28. 28Timeframes explained: which ones are actually useful?QuestionComing soon
  29. 29Linear or log chart: which should you use?QuestionComing soon
  30. 30Where to find a good price chart, and which data to trustWhere to findComing soon
  31. 31The most common mistakes new traders makeQuestionComing soon
  32. 32Practice: read your first order bookPracticeComing soon

02The four pillars of a trade

  1. 1The four pillars of a trade: level, energy, direction, entryQuestionComing soon
  2. 2Pillar one, the level: where the trade happensQuestionComing soon
  3. 3Pillar two, energy: can price get there, and beyond?QuestionComing soon
  4. 4Pillar three, direction: which way is the market leaning?QuestionComing soon
  5. 5Pillar four, the point of entry: exactly where to get inQuestionComing soon
  6. 6Example: one trade checked against all four pillarsExampleComing soon

03Levels

  1. 1What is a level? Support and resistance, done properlyQuestion
  2. 2Support and resistance zones vs levels: why an exact price winsQuestionComing soon
  3. 3How to draw a level, step by stepHow-toComing soon
  4. 4Why levels come from the daily chartQuestionComing soon
  5. 5The candle that forms a level: how to find itHow-toComing soon
  6. 6No level is strong on its own: why the situation decidesQuestionComing soon
  7. 7Level type 1: trend-change levelsQuestionComing soon
  8. 8Level type 2: false-breakout levelsQuestionComing soon
  9. 9Level type 3: mirrored levels, when support becomes resistanceQuestionComing soon
  10. 10Level type 4: limit-player levelsQuestionComing soon
  11. 11Level type 5: historical levelsQuestionComing soon
  12. 12Level type 6: IPO and listing levelsQuestionComing soon
  13. 13Level type 7: gap levelsQuestionComing soon
  14. 14Level type 8: abnormal-candle levelsQuestionComing soon
  15. 15Level type 9: consolidation levelsQuestionComing soon
  16. 16Level type 10: retracement levelsQuestionComing soon
  17. 17Level type 11: first-hour levelsQuestionComing soon
  18. 18Long tails: why the longest wick makes the strongest levelQuestionComing soon
  19. 19Shallow false breakouts make a level strongerQuestionComing soon
  20. 20Touches to the cent: why precision mattersQuestionComing soon
  21. 21Where a big move stopped: the level behind itQuestionComing soon
  22. 22Consolidation at the level: price resting on the lineQuestionComing soon
  23. 23Additional touches: when repeats confirm a levelQuestionComing soon
  24. 24Near misses: candles that almost touch the levelQuestionComing soon
  25. 25Round numbers: why $100,000 is a levelQuestionComing soon
  26. 26Deep false breakouts weaken a levelQuestionComing soon
  27. 27Sawed-through levels: when a level is used upQuestion
  28. 28How a broken level gets reconfirmedQuestionComing soon
  29. 29What makes a level strong? The full checklistQuestion
  30. 30Ten mistakes traders make when drawing levelsHow-toComing soon
  31. 31Where to find today's levels for any coinWhere to findComing soon
  32. 32Practice: draw the levels on bitcoin's daily chartPracticeComing soon

04Energy

  1. 1What is energy in the market?QuestionComing soon
  2. 2Average true range explained simplyQuestionComing soon
  3. 3Out of fuel: how far can price still go today?Question
  4. 4Accumulation or distribution: is the market loading or unloading?Question
  5. 5Stored energy: the quiet build-up before a moveQuestionComing soon
  6. 6Impulse energy: momentum, and why it runs outQuestionComing soon
  7. 7Volume energy: is real money behind the move?How-to
  8. 8Time energy: the best hours to trade cryptoQuestion
  9. 9Liquidation energy: why forced exits fuel big movesQuestionComing soon
  10. 10Speed of approach: fast or slow into a levelQuestionComing soon
  11. 11V-shaped moves: why a fast move into a level failsQuestion
  12. 12Calm days and wild days: reading volatilityQuestionComing soon

05Direction

  1. 1What is a trend? Higher highs and lower lowsQuestionComing soon
  2. 2How to spot a trend in ten secondsHow-toComing soon
  3. 3Global vs local trend: which one wins?Question
  4. 4Impulse and pullback: why price moves in wavesQuestionComing soon
  5. 5Is the market trending or chopping?QuestionComing soon
  6. 6Bull market or bear market? How to tellQuestionComing soon
  7. 7Does Bitcoin move the whole market?QuestionComing soon
  8. 8When the trend turns: reading a reversal at a levelQuestionComing soon
  9. 9Practice: mark the trend on five real chartsPracticeComing soon

06Breakouts

  1. 1The three things price can do at a levelQuestionComing soon
  2. 2What is a breakout?QuestionComing soon
  3. 3Breakout prerequisite 1: small candles on the approachQuestionComing soon
  4. 4Breakout prerequisite 2: closes right at the levelQuestionComing soon
  5. 5Breakout prerequisite 3: the squeezeQuestion
  6. 6Breakout prerequisite 4: accumulation right under the levelQuestionComing soon
  7. 7Breakout prerequisite 5: volatility shrinking before the breakQuestionComing soon
  8. 8Breakout prerequisite 6: range left in the dayQuestionComing soon
  9. 9Breakout prerequisite 7: repeated touches in a short timeQuestionComing soon
  10. 10Breakout prerequisite 8: no pullback from the levelQuestionComing soon
  11. 11Breakout prerequisite 9: the trend behind the breakQuestionComing soon
  12. 12Breakout prerequisite 10: empty space beyond the levelQuestionComing soon
  13. 13Breakout prerequisite 11: volume building at the levelQuestionComing soon
  14. 14Breakout prerequisite 12: a big move with only a small pullbackQuestionComing soon
  15. 15The breakout checklist: five signs a break is realHow-to
  16. 16Two breakout patterns that actually repeatExample
  17. 17How to trade a breakout, step by stepHow-toComing soon
  18. 18Retests: why the second touch tells the truthQuestion
  19. 19Example: one breakout from plan to exitExampleComing soon
  20. 20Practice: breakout or not? Ten chartsPracticeComing soon

07False breakouts

  1. 1False breakouts: how to spot a fakeoutHow-to
  2. 2Why false breakouts happen: the trap, step by stepQuestionComing soon
  3. 3One-candle and two-candle false breakoutsQuestionComing soon
  4. 4How to trade a false breakoutHow-toComing soon
  5. 5Where do stop losses cluster?QuestionComing soon
  6. 6Example: a false breakout traded start to finishExampleComing soon
  7. 7Practice: spot the fakeout, ten chartsPracticeComing soon

08Bounces

  1. 1What is a bounce from a level?QuestionComing soon
  2. 2Bounce prerequisite 1: a level a big player holdsQuestionComing soon
  3. 3Bounce prerequisite 2: the day's range already spentQuestionComing soon
  4. 4Bounce prerequisite 3: a fast approach on big candlesQuestionComing soon
  5. 5Bounce prerequisite 4: no accumulation at the levelQuestionComing soon
  6. 6Bounce prerequisite 5: the first touch after a long timeQuestionComing soon
  7. 7Bounce prerequisite 6: a tired local move against the bigger trendQuestionComing soon
  8. 8Bounce prerequisite 7: a round number at the levelQuestionComing soon
  9. 9Bounce prerequisite 8: long tails rejecting the levelQuestionComing soon
  10. 10Bounce prerequisite 9: volume fading into the levelQuestionComing soon
  11. 11Bounce prerequisite 10: a big move already behind itQuestionComing soon
  12. 12How to trade a bounce off a levelHow-toComing soon
  13. 13Example: a bounce from plan to exitExampleComing soon
  14. 14Practice: bounce or break? Ten chartsPracticeComing soon

09The point of entry

  1. 1Where exactly to enter at a levelHow-toComing soon
  2. 2Breakout or bounce? How to decide before price arrivesQuestionComing soon
  3. 3Limit or market order at a level?QuestionComing soon
  4. 4The buffer: how far from the level to place your orderHow-toComing soon
  5. 5Entering on a lower timeframe without losing the daily pictureHow-toComing soon
  6. 6When not to trade a levelQuestionComing soon

10Risk management

  1. 1How much should you risk per trade? The risk formulaQuestion
  2. 2Where to put your stop lossHow-toComing soon
  3. 3Why a short stop works behind a strong levelQuestionComing soon
  4. 4Position size from volatility: the calculation explainedHow-toComing soon
  5. 5How much leverage should you use?QuestionComing soon
  6. 6Risk-reward ratio explained: why aim for three to oneQuestionComing soon
  7. 7Where to take profit: targets at the next levelHow-toComing soon
  8. 8Take profit first: close half, let the rest runHow-toComing soon
  9. 9Moving the stop to breakeven: when it helps and when it hurtsHow-toComing soon
  10. 10Daily, weekly and monthly loss limitsHow-toComing soon
  11. 11Why you should never average downQuestionComing soon
  12. 12How long can a losing streak last?QuestionComing soon
  13. 13What a losing streak does to your accountQuestionComing soon
  14. 14When three trades are really oneQuestionComing soon
  15. 15Example: sizing a real trade step by stepExampleComing soon
  16. 16Practice: calculate size, stop and targetPracticeComing soon

11Preparation

  1. 1A trader's morning routine in fifteen minutesHow-toComing soon
  2. 2How to scan a hundred coins for setupsHow-toComing soon
  3. 3How to choose which coins to tradeHow-toComing soon
  4. 4How to build a watchlistHow-toComing soon
  5. 5How to write a trading plan (with a template)How-toComing soon
  6. 6If-then scenarios: plan every outcome in advanceHow-toComing soon
  7. 7What to check before every trade: a checklistHow-toComing soon
  8. 8How to keep a trading journalHow-toComing soon
  9. 9Where to find free market dataWhere to findComing soon
  10. 10The weekend review: learning from last week's tradesHow-toComing soon
  11. 11Practice: build tomorrow's planPracticeComing soon

12Execution

  1. 1Stop-limit vs stop-market ordersQuestionComing soon
  2. 2What your orders really costQuestionComing soon
  3. 3The trades your limit orders missQuestionComing soon
  4. 4How to place a futures trade on Binance, step by stepHow-toComing soon
  5. 5How to place a futures trade on Bybit, step by stepHow-toComing soon
  6. 6How to manage an open tradeHow-toComing soon
  7. 7Scaling in and out: partial entries and exitsHow-toComing soon
  8. 8Exiting early: good judgement or fear?QuestionComing soon
  9. 9One coin, two exchanges: price spreads explainedQuestionComing soon
  10. 10Example: a trade from plan to exitExampleComing soon
  11. 11Practice: execution drills on a demo accountPracticeComing soon

13Market context

  1. 1What is the market doing right now? A five-minute checkMarket readComing soon
  2. 2What is the market doing this week? A reading templateMarket readComing soon
  3. 3Why crypto behaves differently at the weekendQuestionComing soon
  4. 4How news moves prices, and why levels still workQuestionComing soon
  5. 5Which news moves crypto? Using an economic calendarWhere to findComing soon
  6. 6Open interest explainedQuestionComing soon
  7. 7Example: reading the market before a big moveExampleComing soon

14Psychology

  1. 1Why we cut winners early and hold losers too longQuestionComing soon
  2. 2Fear of missing out: how to stop chasingHow-toComing soon
  3. 3Revenge trading: how to break the cycleHow-toComing soon
  4. 4Overtrading: the signs and the fixQuestionComing soon
  5. 5How to get through a losing streakHow-toComing soon
  6. 6Why you hesitate at good setupsQuestionComing soon
  7. 7Discipline: how to follow your own rulesHow-toComing soon
  8. 8Process over outcome: judging a trade correctlyQuestionComing soon
  9. 9How to stop watching charts all dayHow-toComing soon
  10. 10Should you trade full time?QuestionComing soon

15Statistics and testing

  1. 1Win rate explained: why 40% can be profitableQuestionComing soon
  2. 2Expectancy: is your strategy actually profitable?QuestionComing soon
  3. 3How to count your results in RHow-toComing soon
  4. 4Drawdown: what it is and how deep is normalQuestionComing soon
  5. 5How many trades before you can trust your results?QuestionComing soon
  6. 6How far do your trades go against you?QuestionComing soon
  7. 7Why backtests lie, and how to make them honestQuestionComing soon
  8. 8How to test a level strategy without writing codeHow-toComing soon
  9. 9Is trading gambling? What separates the twoQuestionComing soon
  10. 10Practice: analyse your last twenty tradesPracticeComing soon

16Practice

  1. 1Homework: find tomorrow's levelPracticeComing soon
  2. 2Four pillars drill: score five setupsPracticeComing soon
  3. 3Plan a trade, then compare it with what happenedPracticeComing soon
  4. 4Read the market: three charts, three storiesPracticeComing soon
  5. 5Quiz: twenty questions on the foundationsPracticeComing soon
  6. 6Final test: plan five trades from scratchPracticeComing soon

17Trading tips from experience

  1. 1One bullet per idea: why you should enter only onceQuestionComing soon
  2. 2Stop trading after a big win, tooQuestionComing soon
  3. 3If you can't say where a level came from, don't trade itQuestionComing soon
  4. 4Missing a move costs nothing; chasing one costs moneyQuestionComing soon
  5. 5Close the charts when you hit your loss limitHow-toComing soon

18Other approaches

  1. 1What are order blocks? A level trader's viewQuestionComing soon
  2. 2Fair value gaps and imbalances: what they really areQuestionComing soon

Candlesticks at levels

19Candlesticks: the basics

  1. 1Japanese candlesticks: where they come fromQuestionComing soon
  2. 2Candle patterns without a level mean little: here's whyQuestionComing soon
  3. 3Bullish and bearish candles: how to tell them apartQuestionComing soon

20Reversal patterns at a level

  1. 1Hammer and hanging man at a levelQuestionComing soon
  2. 2Bullish and bearish engulfing at a levelQuestionComing soon
  3. 3Dark-cloud cover and piercing patternQuestionComing soon
  4. 4Morning star and evening star at a levelQuestionComing soon
  5. 5Shooting star and inverted hammer at a levelQuestionComing soon
  6. 6Harami and harami cross: the pause before a turnQuestionComing soon
  7. 7Tweezer tops and bottoms: two touches, one priceQuestionComing soon
  8. 8Belt-hold and counterattack linesQuestionComing soon
  9. 9Three black crows and two crowsQuestionComing soon
  10. 10Triple tops and bottoms: three mountains, three riversQuestionComing soon
  11. 11Rounded and tower tops and bottomsQuestionComing soon

21Continuation patterns

  1. 1Windows (gaps): why price comes back to themQuestionComing soon
  2. 2Tasuki gaps and gapping playsQuestionComing soon
  3. 3Rising and falling three methodsQuestionComing soon
  4. 4Three white soldiers: strength or exhaustion?QuestionComing soon
  5. 5Separating lines and side-by-side white linesQuestionComing soon

22The doji

  1. 1What is a doji, and what does it mean at a level?QuestionComing soon
  2. 2Doji after a long candle: trend tired?QuestionComing soon
  3. 3Long-legged and gravestone dojiQuestionComing soon
  4. 4Tri-star: the rarest reversalQuestionComing soon

23Candles and levels together

  1. 1Candles at support and resistance: the combination that mattersQuestionComing soon
  2. 2Springs and upthrusts: the candle side of a false breakoutQuestionComing soon
  3. 3Change of polarity: candles at a mirrored levelQuestionComing soon
  4. 4Candles at a pullback levelQuestionComing soon
  5. 5Candles and volume: which signals have money behind them?QuestionComing soon
  6. 6Stacking signals: when several candle patterns agreeQuestionComing soon
  7. 7Practice: name the pattern, then find the levelPracticeComing soon

24Candles and indicators

  1. 1Candles and moving averages: help or noise?QuestionComing soon
  2. 2Candles and RSI at a levelQuestionComing soon
  3. 3Candles and the stochastic oscillatorQuestionComing soon
  4. 4Candles and open interest in futuresQuestionComing soon
  5. 5Candles and Elliott waves: a sceptic's lookQuestionComing soon
  6. 6Candles and market profileQuestionComing soon
  7. 7Lessons from a lifetime of candle charts: what the book gets rightQuestionComing soon

Research

25Candle patterns at levels: the research

  1. 1Do candle patterns at levels mean anything? The question and the methodMarket readComing soon
  2. 2Hammers at daily levels: what the data showsMarket readComing soon
  3. 3Engulfing patterns at levels: what the data showsMarket readComing soon
  4. 4Dojis at levels: signal or noise?Market readComing soon
  5. 5Stars at levels: morning, evening and shooting stars testedMarket readComing soon
  6. 6The same pattern away from a level: does it still work?Market readComing soon
  7. 7Which candle patterns survive fees and slippage?Market readComing soon
  8. 8What we built into chartthread, and what we left outMarket readComing soon