• Home
  • Forums
  • Trades
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Market
  • Brokers
  • Login
  • Join
  • User/Email: Password:
  • 2:17pm
Menu
  • Forums
  • Trades
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Market
  • Brokers
  • Login
  • Join
  • 2:17pm
Sister Sites
  • Metals Mine
  • Energy EXCH
  • Crypto Craft

Options

Bookmark Thread

First Page First Unread Last Page Last Post

Printable Version

Similar Threads

Fractal alerts based on when fractal is confirmed 0 replies

Fractal Geometry....Trading? 153 replies

Fractal based trendline indicator, horizontal fractal S/R indicator 6 replies

Charles Drummond Geometry 22 replies

Non-deleting Fractal to Fractal Trendlines mq4 2 replies

  • Trading Systems
  • /
  • Reply to Thread
  • Subscribe
  • 256
Attachments: Fractal Geometry
Exit Attachments

Fractal Geometry

  • Last Post
  •  
  • Page 1 23456 15
  • Page 1 234 15
  •  
  • Post #1
  • Quote
  • First Post: Edited Feb 17, 2021 12:18am Jan 31, 2021 9:03pm | Edited Feb 17, 2021 12:18am
  •  Expo33
  • Joined Aug 2013 | Status: Member | 2,407 Posts | Online Now
Hello traders and welcome to the thread.

This strategy is based on fractal geometry for lack of a better term. It might sound complicated but it's really quite simple and elegant in its application. (At least I think it is). My system provides a stress-free mechanical way of looking at price action. We use manual drawing in conjunction with a modified fractal indicator. I prefer a clean chart and a clean heart.

The sole intent of this thread is to build a community of hard-working productive pip harvesters. Period.

Rules:

#1) Political/Ideological arguments will not be tolerated here.
#2) Rudeness, racial slurs, or vulgarity will also not be tolerated here.

Disclaimer: Although I'll be attaching a live trade explorer, it's assumed that individuals are responsible for their own actions. My live trades are not recommendations, they are solely for the purpose of illustrating this system. Trading incurs risk and should be taken seriously. It's advised that you test this strategy on a demo account.

THE STRATEGY

We use the "first touch" principle. This means we buy/sell based on the first touch of a fractal line.

1) Fractal lines are derived by using the midpoints of impulse waves.

*****The modified fractal indicator is the basis for these derivations*****

Before discussing certain rules I think it's best to post a couple of examples for visual reference. Of course, these are cherry-picked to illustrate the strategy and to make it easier to understand these simple derivations.

CAD/JPY 1H CHART ILLUSTRATING THE FRACTAL DIAGONAL LINE DERIVATION.
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge

Name: CADJPYH1.png
Size: 56 KB


USD/CAD 4H - ANOTHER EXAMPLE
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge

Name: USDCADH4.png
Size: 46 KB


RULES/OBSERVATIONS

#1) Fractals A, B , C, and D must be alternating highs and lows and vice versa.

#2) Major fractals are better than minor fractals but both are valid. Fractal D is the completion of our structure and can only appear after the 7th candle close (minor fractal). Major fractals appear after the 12th candle close.

#3) There can be NO other fractals between AB, BC, or CD

#4) We are looking for "uniform" impulse waves. We don't want to see messy, jagged price action between our fractal points.

#5) When fractal D appears we can then draw our structure. At this point, we want to see "price separation" from our fractal line (FL).

#6) Be EXTREMELY accurate in your drawing making sure your fractal line goes perfectly through each impulse wave midpoint. Entries are everything and can be remarkably different if the drawing is inaccurate.

#7) Note that some brokers use New York candle close time and some don't. Also, different spreads may affect when or if a fractal actually prints so you can get different structures or no structure at all for the same pair. The theory is still valid as long as you are consistent with your drawings.

#8) You do not have to buy/sell the first touch. If you feel that there is too much fundamental momentum when price is approaching your fractal line, then you can wait to see if price breaks through your fractal line with a convincing candle close past that line. Then you can buy/sell the other side of the line upon the first retracement back to the line. In essence, this would be like a trend continuation trade.

#9) We aren't trying to predict some big trend change. We are scalping fractal lines using higher time frames.

#10) Don't hesitate to enter a bit early with a FOMO trade. Maybe one entry a few pips before the line and one on the touch, then take profits on one early and let the other run if it's going in your favor. Be creative with your micromanagement.

Indicators/Template:
Attached File
File Type: ex4 ADR_v2(1).ex4   11 KB | 506 downloads

Attached File
File Type: ex4 Pip Counter.ex4   28 KB | 478 downloads

Attached File
File Type: ex4 pipvalue and spread.ex4   6 KB | 473 downloads

Attached File
File Type: ex4 lastmanstandingindicatorv11.ex4   12 KB | 608 downloads

Attached File
File Type: tpl FRACTALNEW.tpl   10 KB | 539 downloads


The EA that can open trades on your fractal lines is here with a link to the rules:
https://www.forexfactory.com/thread/...at-trend-lines
Attached File
File Type: ex4 EA to open position at TL (1).ex4   8 KB | 156 downloads | Uploaded Feb 9, 2021 2:03pm


What time frame and pairs does this work for?

This strategy can be used on any pair. I find it works best for me on 30M, 1H, and 4H time frames. For pairs with a large average daily range, I will sometimes consider a 15M time frame.

What makes a good potential structure?

I've found that the most important quality of a good structure is to have impulse waves that are fairly uniform and that are not too close together, not too short, not too long. There can be no other fractals inside any impulse wave. The structure consists of 4 fractals. The fractals can be minor or major. Minor fractals have a period of 7 candles. Major fractals have a period of 12 candles.

I suggest scouring your charts and looking for some nice even impulse waves and then drawing your structure to see what happened. After a while, finding these simple structures will become very easy.

How to set SL/TPs?

This is a personal choice but this is how I do it. I use a percentage of the 20-day average daily range (ADR indicator).

For example, let's assume our pair has a 20 day ADR OF 100 PIPS.

30MIN AND 1H chart:

SL = 20% of 100 pips = 20 pips
TP = 30% of 100 pips = 30 pips

4H chart

SL = 30% of 100 pips = 30 pips
TP = 40% of 100 pips = 40 pips

In this way, I can figure out my risk management parameters in advance and have them set in stone before the trade activates.

What if my trade gets stopped out?

No problem assuming you have used prudent risk management. If my trade gets stopped out, it tells me that price has strong momentum. If my trade was a sell of the first touch and I get stopped out, I just wait for a retrace back to the fractal line and buy on the retouch of the same line. And vice versa.

******************************************************************************************************************
"Pride always comes before destruction...." -Proverbs 16:18
  • Post #2
  • Quote
  • Feb 1, 2021 10:29am Feb 1, 2021 10:29am
  •  well72
  • | Joined Apr 2012 | Status: Member | 110 Posts
Hello friends!
Always interested in graphical trading methods. And finally, a new interesting method. Thank Expo33!
I drew a little and experimented with lines. The results are interesting, I think)

These experiments:
Attached Images (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge

Name: EURAUDH1.png
Size: 56 KB Click to Enlarge

Name: GBPAUDH1.png
Size: 53 KB Click to Enlarge

Name: AUDCHFH1.png
Size: 53 KB Click to Enlarge

Name: AUDUSDH1.png
Size: 52 KB
Click to Enlarge

Name: GBPAUDH1.png
Size: 51 KB Click to Enlarge

Name: GBPNZDH1.png
Size: 52 KB Click to Enlarge

Name: USDCADH1.png
Size: 53 KB
Greed causes poverty
2
  • Post #3
  • Quote
  • Feb 1, 2021 1:45pm Feb 1, 2021 1:45pm
  •  Expo33
  • Joined Aug 2013 | Status: Member | 2,407 Posts | Online Now
Quoting well72
Disliked
Hello friends! Always interested in graphical trading methods. And finally, a new interesting method. Thank Expo33! I drew a little and experimented with lines. The results are interesting, I think) These experiments: {image} {image} {image} {image} {image} {image} {image}
Ignored
Hello well72.

Welcome here and thanks for posting and for using the template. Your drawings are correct for the system. However, to keep it simple for everyone, we stick to the two basic methods (if you could keep the clones out of the drawings it would make everything neater and simpler to analyze, especially for anyone new to this type of method.)

To be clear as to how we should post, I'll use the GBP/AUD chart. Well spotted!!! I'll put it on the watchlist for tonight. Thanks for saving me time scouring the charts! A nice clean structure with uniform waves with nice spacing and form.

GBP/AUD 1H DIAGONAL FRACTAL LINE (valid and waiting to buy on the first touch)
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge

Name: GBPAUDH1.png
Size: 37 KB

GBP/AUD 1H TRIANGLE WITH CONVERGENT HORIZONTAL LINE (valid in 34 hours after our triangle converges at X)
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge

Name: GBPAUDH1TRIANGLE.png
Size: 38 KB


All we do now is wait. We remain aware of the fundamentals/news events, etc. Fundamentals, order flow, dynamic traders, manipulation may all be drivers of price but we don't try or need to predict price movement. We only need to have our structure in place. Then we are ready for the first touch.
"Pride always comes before destruction...." -Proverbs 16:18
1
  • Post #4
  • Quote
  • Feb 1, 2021 7:04pm Feb 1, 2021 7:04pm
  •  Expo33
  • Joined Aug 2013 | Status: Member | 2,407 Posts | Online Now
From our watchlist, we didn't buy the first touch of structure #1 as it occurred right around the daily reset time where spreads widen considerably. Interestingly enough, a second structure developed at that time so we waited until liquidity picked up enough to tighten the spread. Price ended up on the sell side of structures 1 and 2 and so we initiated a sell. Updated chart from our watchlist below.

We aren't looking for huge moves. Risking 13 pips to win 19. Kind of a scalping method for higher timeframes but can be used as a continuation trade.

EUR/JPY 30MINUTE CONFLUENT DIAGONALS
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge

Name: EURJPYM30.png
Size: 44 KB
"Pride always comes before destruction...." -Proverbs 16:18
1
  • Post #5
  • Quote
  • Feb 1, 2021 11:30pm Feb 1, 2021 11:30pm
  •  Expo33
  • Joined Aug 2013 | Status: Member | 2,407 Posts | Online Now
Quoting Expo33
Disliked
From our watchlist, we didn't buy the first touch of structure #1 as it occurred right around the daily reset time where spreads widen considerably. Interestingly enough, a second structure developed at that time so we waited until liquidity picked up enough to tighten the spread. Price ended up on the sell side of structures 1 and 2 and so we initiated a sell. Updated chart from our watchlist below. We aren't looking for huge moves. Risking 13 pips to win 19. Kind of a scalping method for higher timeframes but can be used as a continuation trade....
Ignored
We took a 14 pip loss here and move on to the next opportunity.
"Pride always comes before destruction...." -Proverbs 16:18
  • Post #6
  • Quote
  • Edited at 5:09am Feb 2, 2021 3:26am | Edited at 5:09am
  •  Gleam
  • | Joined Mar 2016 | Status: Member | 159 Posts
Hi, Expo33
First of all, thanks for interesting idea. How long is valid our projected entry line...till new set up appear or other..? And some of mine entries if I am understand correct them..
Attached Images (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge

Name: EURJPYM30.png
Size: 50 KB Click to Enlarge

Name: USDCADH1.png
Size: 52 KB Click to Enlarge

Name: USDCHFH1.png
Size: 47 KB Click to Enlarge

Name: AUDCHFH1.png
Size: 64 KB
1
  • Post #7
  • Quote
  • Feb 2, 2021 10:28am Feb 2, 2021 10:28am
  •  rosone
  • | Joined Jun 2020 | Status: Member | 10 Posts
Hi Expo33 interesting Thread. My compliments. But I donn't understand well when at Touch I CAN BUY or I CAN SELL.
Can you please explain better with trades as example and pertinent scrrenshots.
Thank you very much.
  • Post #8
  • Quote
  • Feb 2, 2021 12:12pm Feb 2, 2021 12:12pm
  •  Expo33
  • Joined Aug 2013 | Status: Member | 2,407 Posts | Online Now
Quoting Gleam
Disliked
Hi, Expo33 First of all, thanks for interesting idea. How long is valid our projected entry line...till new set up appear or other..? And some of mine entries if I am understand correct them.. {image} {image} {image} {image}
Ignored
Hi Gleam. Welcome and thanks for posting. Your charts are all perfect and you make some interesting points that I forgot to put in the first post.

How long is an untested line valid? Theoretically, forever. However, I find that the longer it takes to test a line the less chance it has to be successful. Having said that, I find that steeper angled lines have a better chance of succeeding because the price has to travel further and further to reach that line.

What do you do when the 7th candle close is near or on the line? Another excellent question that I forgot to address on post #1. I originally never traded in that situation unless there was a distinct price separation from the line. I'm still observing that situation and it seems that it may be profitable to buy/sell whatever side of the line the 7th candle closes on. Still a work in progress.

In looking at you're charting, all correct. Using the 20% of the 20 day ADR for a stop loss principle, you're EUR/JPY AND USD/CHF would have initially held up with that size stop loss at least giving an opportunity to take some pips or move to break even before the line eventually was broken.

Your AUD/CHF structures are both valid and the first touch sell worked perfectly and would have been a nice winning trade with full TP.

Breakfast time here, back soon. Well done you are right on point with your structures and questions. I'll try to update the first post to address those issues I forgot about.

Cheers.
"Pride always comes before destruction...." -Proverbs 16:18
2
  • Post #9
  • Quote
  • Edited at 3:16pm Feb 2, 2021 2:33pm | Edited at 3:16pm
  •  Expo33
  • Joined Aug 2013 | Status: Member | 2,407 Posts | Online Now
Quoting rosone
Disliked
Hi Expo33 interesting Thread. My compliments. But I donn't understand well when at Touch I CAN BUY or I CAN SELL. Can you please explain better with trades as example and pertinent scrrenshots. Thank you very much.
Ignored
Hi rosone and welcome here.

I have added some rules/comments on post #1

From post #1. I'm not sure I can make it clearer. Just keep looking at the new posts that have examples and hopefully it will become clearer.
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge

Name: CADJPYH1.png
Size: 56 KB
"Pride always comes before destruction...." -Proverbs 16:18
  • Post #10
  • Quote
  • Edited at 3:17pm Feb 2, 2021 2:51pm | Edited at 3:17pm
  •  Expo33
  • Joined Aug 2013 | Status: Member | 2,407 Posts | Online Now
UPDATE

#1) I have decided to keep the triangle horizontal line theory out of the thread to make things simpler. That way we can focus 100% on fractal lines derived from impulse wave midpoints.

#2) We scrapped the watchlist on post #1 as it will be easier to post the setups we are watching on the thread on a daily basis anyways.
"Pride always comes before destruction...." -Proverbs 16:18
  • Post #11
  • Quote
  • Feb 2, 2021 2:54pm Feb 2, 2021 2:54pm
  •  Gleam
  • | Joined Mar 2016 | Status: Member | 159 Posts
Quoting Expo33
Disliked
{quote} Hi Gleam. Welcome and thanks for posting. Your charts are all perfect and you make some interesting points that I forgot to put in the first post. How long is an untested line valid? Theoretically, forever. However, I find that the longer it takes to test a line the less chance it has to be successful. Having said that, I find that steeper angled lines have a better chance of succeeding because the price has to travel further and further to reach that line. What do you do when the 7th candle close is near or on the line? Another excellent...
Ignored
Thanks, and keep going. I like Geometry.
1
  • Post #12
  • Quote
  • Feb 2, 2021 3:40pm Feb 2, 2021 3:40pm
  •  Expo33
  • Joined Aug 2013 | Status: Member | 2,407 Posts | Online Now
Here is an example that has very short impulse waves that I normally don't like to trade. Also, there is very little price separation when fractal D appears. However, it illustrates the very nature of our fractal line which theoretically describes the plane of price action going forward.

EUR/USD 4H FRACTAL LINE ILLUSTRATING MULTIPLE PRINCIPLES
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge

Name: EURUSDH4.png
Size: 57 KB
"Pride always comes before destruction...." -Proverbs 16:18
  • Post #13
  • Quote
  • Feb 2, 2021 3:50pm Feb 2, 2021 3:50pm
  •  Expo33
  • Joined Aug 2013 | Status: Member | 2,407 Posts | Online Now
Done trading for the day as the daily reset is near. I will post some new potential setups later for tonight's action.

Please don't hesitate to post any setups or ask questions. No question is stupid and every question helps me be accountable and get better as a trader and as a person. It also helps us all learn when we consider different viewpoints.

Also added rules/comments to post #1 and will add/update as I remember any other important points. Always a work in progress with everyone's help.
"Pride always comes before destruction...." -Proverbs 16:18
  • Post #14
  • Quote
  • Feb 2, 2021 7:21pm Feb 2, 2021 7:21pm
  •  Expo33
  • Joined Aug 2013 | Status: Member | 2,407 Posts | Online Now
Another interesting illustration.

As I said in post #1, I generally only look at the 15-minute time frame for pairs with the biggest ADRs.

In this example we see a few things:

#1) Fairly uniform impulse waves. Nice spacing and roughly parallel
#2) Four major fractals
#3) Good price separation when D appears

This structure developed several hours before a major fundamental news event. The RBA rate statement. As retail traders, we don't have the advantage that insiders do neither can we predict fundamental outcomes. Dynamic trading entities may be the market movers and may have inherent order filling advantages during major events but that doesn't matter to us and it doesn't preclude us from being successful.

Check out the chart and my little commentary. Hopefully, you can glean something useful from this setup.

EUR/AUD 15 MINUTE CHART
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge

Name: EURAUDM15.png
Size: 49 KB
"Pride always comes before destruction...." -Proverbs 16:18
  • Post #15
  • Quote
  • Feb 2, 2021 7:35pm Feb 2, 2021 7:35pm
  •  Expo33
  • Joined Aug 2013 | Status: Member | 2,407 Posts | Online Now
Another example - potential trade after our fractal line is broken

EUR/USD 30 MINUTE CHART
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge

Name: EURUSDM30.png
Size: 47 KB
"Pride always comes before destruction...." -Proverbs 16:18
  • Post #16
  • Quote
  • Edited at 7:50pm Feb 2, 2021 7:38pm | Edited at 7:50pm
  •  Expo33
  • Joined Aug 2013 | Status: Member | 2,407 Posts | Online Now
Watchlist for tonight

There are setups all day every day. We don't need to trade everything we find. Maybe there are some other confluent factors that you like to use. Just have the structure in place so you are ready for the moment.

These two pairs have been inversely correlated on the hourly for this week so if price is about to touch one FL make sure to check the other chart first. It might affect your decision to enter or not.

USD/CAD 1H CHART
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge

Name: USDCADH1.png
Size: 41 KB


CAD/JPY 1H CHART
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge

Name: CADJPYH1.png
Size: 41 KB
"Pride always comes before destruction...." -Proverbs 16:18
  • Post #17
  • Quote
  • Feb 3, 2021 2:29am Feb 3, 2021 2:29am
  •  Gleam
  • | Joined Mar 2016 | Status: Member | 159 Posts
Quoting Expo33
Disliked
Watchlist for tonight There are setups all day every day. We don't need to trade everything we find. Maybe there are some other confluent factors that you like to use. Just have the structure in place so you are ready for the moment. These two pairs have been inversely correlated on the hourly for this week so if price is about to touch one FL make sure to check the other chart first. It might affect your decision to enter or not. USD/CAD 1H CHART {image} CAD/JPY 1H CHART {image}
Ignored
Hi, Expo33
Morning in Europe . Thanks for the explanations. Still, one more question doesn’t give me peace of mind. I used your pictures to formulate the question if you do not mind.
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge

Name: CADJPYH1.png
Size: 69 KB
Attached Image
  • Post #18
  • Quote
  • Feb 3, 2021 6:44am Feb 3, 2021 6:44am
  •  Gleam
  • | Joined Mar 2016 | Status: Member | 159 Posts
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge

Name: EURJPYH1.png
Size: 59 KB
  • Post #19
  • Quote
  • Edited at 10:51am Feb 3, 2021 10:37am | Edited at 10:51am
  •  Expo33
  • Joined Aug 2013 | Status: Member | 2,407 Posts | Online Now
Quoting Gleam
Disliked
{quote} Hi, Expo33 Morning in Europe . Thanks for the explanations. Still, one more question doesn’t give me peace of mind. I used your pictures to formulate the question if you do not mind. {image} {image}
Ignored
Hey there friend. You're welcome and good evening in Lithuania.

I live on the west coast USA. Possibly the worst time zone to live in to be a trader. I should move to Lithuania. London open is midnight here and I sleep like 9:30pm to 4-5am and like to do a home workout when I get up. Also raising and homeschooling my 9-year-old daughter myself. I miss so many setups overnight that's why I need the EA to buy/sell the trendline touch. Still looking for a better one. 730am now and liquidity will dry up for the day in a few hours. Still, many good setups happen when I'm sleeping.

Both are valid. In the first example the 7th candle closes near the line and the first impulse wave AB is a bit messy. I wanted to use a nice clean example with price separation for the first post.

The second one is completely valid as well. Not the cleanest structure however as the first impulse wave AB is pretty messy. I only drew the most recent structure as that is the one that will be tested first.

I also didn't want to confuse people initially until they got comfortable with drawing a single correct structure. Here is that USD/CAD chart with a new fractal giving the most recent setup which of course was a nice winner that I missed while I was trying to be Arnold Swcharzenneger this morning

USD/CAD 1H CHART (FIRST TOUCH SELL QUICKLY DROPPED 30 PIPS)
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge

Name: USDCADH1.png
Size: 43 KB


From last night's watchlist, another nice easy winner. Unfortunately, the EA didn't buy as price was 2 pips from touching the line. If was awake I likely would have entered manually. Sometimes when using the EA overnight I'll move the line parallel a few pips just to get in a few pips early so I don't miss a trade.

CAD/JPY 1H CHART (PRICE GOT 2 PIPS FROM LINE THEN POPPED UP 20 PIPS)
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge

Name: CADJPYH1.png
Size: 41 KB
"Pride always comes before destruction...." -Proverbs 16:18
  • Post #20
  • Quote
  • Feb 3, 2021 10:47am Feb 3, 2021 10:47am
  •  Expo33
  • Joined Aug 2013 | Status: Member | 2,407 Posts | Online Now
Quoting Gleam
Disliked
{image}
Ignored
One thing I like about this strategy is that even if price doesn't reach the full the TP it usually "pops" off the line a little bit initially so you can move the SL to break even if you want.

Looks like price moved up about 18 pips on this trade before retracing back down so you get to take partial profits if you want. At least you get the option to micromanage.
"Pride always comes before destruction...." -Proverbs 16:18
  • Trading Systems
  • /
  • Fractal Geometry
  • Reply to Thread
    • Page 1 23456 15
    • Page 1 234 15
5 traders viewing now, 2 are members:
drsa1970
,
Expo33
  • More
Top of Page
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
About FF
  • Mission
  • Products
  • User Guide
  • Media Kit
  • Blog
  • Contact
FF Products
  • Forums
  • Trades
  • Calendar
  • News
  • Market
  • Brokers
  • Trade Explorer
FF Website
  • Homepage
  • Search
  • Members
  • Report a Bug
Follow FF
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

FF Sister Sites:

  • Metals Mine
  • Energy EXCH
  • Crypto Craft

Forex Factory® is a brand of Fair Economy, Inc.

Terms of Service / ©2021