Strategy #142
Inside Bar + Inside Bar (Double Inside)
Entry Logic
- Exact entry trigger: Buy on a close above the high of the first inside bar (the mother bar of the second inside bar). Sell on a close below the low of the first inside bar.
- Confirmation requirements: Breakout volume should be 2x the 20-period moving average of volume.
- Timeframe required: Daily chart.
- Location context: The double inside bar should form at a major weekly or monthly support or resistance level.
- Market condition requirement: A market that has been in a strong trend and is now in a deep consolidation.
Exit Logic
- Profit target(s): Target 1 at 1.5x the range of the mother bar. Target 2 at 3x the range of the mother bar.
- Scaling out rules: Exit 50% at Target 1. Trail the remaining position.
- Trailing stop rules: Use a trailing stop below the low of the previous candle for longs, and above the high for shorts.
- Exit on signal failure: If the breakout fails to follow through, exit the trade.
- Exit on opposite signal: An opposing double inside bar breakout is an exit signal.
- Exit on time expiration: Not applicable for daily charts.
- Exit on momentum loss: A divergence on a momentum oscillator can signal an exit.
Stop Loss Structure
- Hard stop location: Place the stop loss one tick below the low of the mother bar for a long, and one tick above the high for a short.
- Soft stop rules: Not used.
- Maximum dollar loss per trade: 1.5% of the trading account.
- Maximum percent loss per trade: 1.5%.
- Structural stop placement: The stop is placed at the opposite side of the mother bar.
Risk Management Framework
- Risk per trade: 0.75% of account equity.
- Maximum daily loss limit: Not applicable for daily charts.
- Maximum weekly loss limit: 3% of account equity.
- Maximum drawdown allowed: 20%.
- Risk-reward ratio requirement: Minimum 2:1 reward-to-risk ratio.
Position Sizing Model
- Recommended sizing approach: Position size is determined by the stop loss distance and the account risk limit.
- Volatility-based adjustment: The size of the mother bar determines the stop loss and position size.
- Conviction-based sizing: A+ setups get full size. B setups get half size.
- Scaling in rules: Do not scale into double inside bar breakout trades.
- Scaling out rules: Scale out at predefined profit targets.
Trade Filtering
- Market conditions to avoid: Avoid trading double inside bar breakouts in choppy, non-trending markets.
- Specific setups required: Look for double inside bars that form after a strong directional move.
- Stock/instrument requirements: High-volume stocks that are in a clear trend.
- Time of day restrictions: No specific time of day restrictions.
- Chop/news avoidance rules: Avoid trading around major news events.
Context Framework
- Trend direction assessment: The breakout should be in the direction of the prevailing trend.
- VWAP relationship: Not applicable for daily charts.
- Moving average relationship: The short-term moving averages should be aligned with the direction of the trade.
- Range location: The double inside bar should form after a period of expansion.
- Higher timeframe alignment: The direction of the breakout should align with the trend on the weekly and monthly charts.
Trade Management Rules
- When to move stop to breakeven: Move the stop to breakeven after the first profit target is reached.
- When to scale out: At 1.5R and 3R.
- When to add size: Do not add to the position.
- How to handle fast moves vs slow moves: In fast-moving markets, trail the stop more aggressively.
Time Rules
- Optimal trading window: Any time during the trading day.
- Times to avoid: Avoid trading during low-volume periods.
- Session-specific notes: The pattern can be found in all trading sessions.
Setup Classification
- A+ setup criteria: Double inside bar breakout in the direction of a strong trend, with high volume confirmation.
- A setup criteria: Double inside bar breakout with good volume, but some minor divergences.
- B setup criteria: Double inside bar breakout on average volume.
- C setup criteria: Low-volume breakout against the trend. Avoid.
Market Selection Criteria
- Instrument requirements: Liquid stocks and ETFs.
- Volume/liquidity requirements: High average daily volume.
- Volatility requirements: The stock should have a good daily range.
Statistical Edge Metrics
- Expected win rate: 45-55%.
- Average win size: 3R.
- Average loss size: 1R.
- Profit factor: 1.5 - 2.5.
- Expectancy per trade: Positive.
Failure Conditions
- Market conditions where strategy fails: Fails in choppy, sideways markets.
- Specific scenarios to avoid: Avoid breakouts that occur on low volume.
Psychological Rules
- Key mental discipline requirements: Requires patience to wait for the pattern to form and the discipline to act on the breakout.
Advanced Components
- Market regime detection: Use a filter to identify trending markets.
- Volatility/liquidity filters: Apply volume and volatility filters.
- Correlation filters: Be aware of market correlations.
- Multi-timeframe alignment: The breakout should be in the direction of the higher timeframe trend.
Location
- Where this setup is strongest: In strongly trending markets, after a deep consolidation.
- Where this setup is weakest: In range-bound markets.
- Location changes outcome: A double inside bar at a key support or resistance level is a stronger signal.