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THE MARKET STRUCTURE PLAYBOOK

How To Trade Market Structure

Watch the full video alongside our detailed notes and extra learning resources in this full cheat sheet companion guide.

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01
Section 1 0:45

Market Structure

What you'll learn: The three things price can do - uptrend, downtrend, or range - and the three-candle swing rule that anchors every other concept in this video.

Key Moments
Core Concepts
Critical Takeaways
  • Price only does three things on any chart, on any time frame: go up, go down, or chop sideways.
  • A swing needs three candles. The middle one is the highest (high) or lowest (low). No middle, no swing.
  • Higher highs + higher lows = uptrend. Lower highs + lower lows = downtrend. Anything else is a range.
  • If you can't tell whether the chart is trending, it isn't. That's a range, not a "barely trending" market.
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02
Section 2 3:49

Two Time Frames

What you'll learn: Why a single chart lies to you, and the simple rule for using a high time frame and low time frame together so you stop trading against the bigger picture.

Key Moments
Core Concepts
Critical Takeaways
  • Trade with at least two time frames. One lies. Two together tells the truth.
  • The HTF gives bias. The LTF gives entries. Don't reverse them.
  • When the LTF disagrees with the HTF, that's noise. Wait for them to sync.
  • The best entries happen the moment the LTF flips back into agreement with the HTF.
03
Section 3 7:57

Market Structure Break

What you'll learn: What an MSB looks like in an uptrend and a downtrend, and why every break of a higher high (or lower low) is your sign that the trend wants to keep going.

Key Moments
Core Concepts
Critical Takeaways
  • An MSB is a sign the trend wants to continue. Above prior HH in an uptrend, below prior LL in a downtrend.
  • An MSB requires a CLOSE through the level. A wick that gets rejected is a sweep, not a break.
  • Pullbacks after an MSB usually become higher lows (uptrend) or lower highs (downtrend). Don't fight them.
  • After an MSB, the bigger trade is with the trend, not against it.
04
Section 4 10:27

Market Structure Shift

What you'll learn: What an MSS looks like, why it signals a potential reversal, and how to tell the difference between trend-ending behaviour and a noisy pause.

Key Moments
Core Concepts
Critical Takeaways
  • An MSS is the trend's first warning shot. The HL (or LH) just got broken. The trend may be ending.
  • "Potential" is the operative word. An MSS doesn't guarantee reversal - it raises the odds.
  • Watch the next swing. A lower high after the MSS in an uptrend = reversal confirming.
  • Memorise the pair: MSB = continuation. MSS = potential reversal.
05
Section 5 13:29

Putting It Together

What you'll learn: A full daily-uptrend-to-downtrend walkthrough, and the exact LTF moment to take a high-conviction trade once the structure flips.

Key Moments
Core Concepts
Critical Takeaways
  • The HTF flips first. The LTF catches up. Your job is to wait for the LTF.
  • A "lower high" on the daily can look like a full uptrend on the hourly. Zoom out before you zoom in.
  • The MSS on the LTF is your "wait is over" signal. Both time frames now agree.
  • Entry quality compounds with time-frame agreement. One time frame = noise. Two = signal.
06
Section 6 17:05

Chart Examples

What you'll learn: Real charts on Bitcoin and EurUSD that show MSB, MSS, ranges, and the daily-vs-hourly trap that catches retail traders every cycle.

Key Moments
Critical Takeaways
  • Structure should be visible. If you can't tell whether you're in a trend, you're in a range.
  • Mark swing highs and lows on the HTF first. Don't draw lines on every wiggle.
  • The trap pattern: HTF says one thing, LTF says the other. The LTF reversal is your trade.
  • Big displacement candles are big money entering. They often happen the moment the time frames sync.
  • Bitcoin's weekly MSS in late 2024 took price from 110K to 60K. That's the cost of ignoring an MSS.
Practical Tip

If structure isn't visually obvious, skip the chart. The best trades are the ones you don't have to argue for.

Quick Reference

Every abbreviation, in one place

Bookmark this panel - it's the cheat sheet for the cheat sheet.
SH / SL Swing High / Low
HH / HL Higher High / Low
LH / LL Lower High / Low
HTF High Time Frame
LTF Low Time Frame
MS Market Structure
MSB Market Structure Break
MSS Market Structure Shift
BTC Bitcoin
FX Foreign Exchange (forex)
SFP Swing Failure Pattern
Putting It All Together

Your Structure Playbook

Apply these in order, every session. After enough reps they become reflex.

1

Pick your time frames

One HTF (daily, weekly, 4H), one LTF (1H, 15m). Always at least two.

2

Mark swing highs and lows

Use the three-candle rule. Middle candle is highest (high) or lowest (low).

3

Read the trend

On the HTF, are you making higher highs and higher lows? Lower highs and lower lows? Or neither (range)?

4

Watch for MSB or MSS

MSB = continuation, your entry zone. MSS = potential reversal, your exit signal.

5

Drop to the LTF

When the HTF gives you a direction, look on the LTF for the equivalent setup forming.

6

Wait for the sync moment

Take entries only when LTF and HTF agree on direction. The asymmetric trades live there.

7

Practice on Breakout

Start a trading test at breakoutprop.com. Real markets, structured risk - the best way to learn.

Put it to work
Take what you learned here into a real evaluation. Pass, get funded, keep 80-90% of profits.
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