Introduction
Patience Before Precision
Every trader wants the perfect entry,
but Smart Money doesn’t chase price, it waits for it.
A true entry isn’t just about clicking buy or sell.
It’s about timing, confirmation, and aligning with Smart Money’s intent.
When you understand what makes a valid entry,
you stop reacting to movement, and start trading structure.
What Is a Smart Money Entry?
The Definition:
📊 A Smart Money Entry is an execution point within a confirmed zone of interest,
after liquidity has been taken and intent has been shown through displacement or structure shift.
💬 In simple terms:
A Smart Money Entry happens when the market shows proof of who’s in control —
not before.
It’s the moment you step in after manipulation,
before expansion.
The Three Pillars of a Valid Entry
Every Smart Money Entry aligns with three key confluences:
1️⃣ Liquidity Event → A sweep or manipulation (e.g., stop hunt, inducement).
2️⃣ Displacement / Structure Shift → A clear move showing Smart Money control.
3️⃣ Return to a Premium or Discount Zone → Price retraces into a key area (FVG or OB).
💡 No liquidity, no displacement, no confirmation = no entry.
The Ideal Smart Money Entry Sequence
Here’s the logical flow every high-probability entry follows:
1️⃣ Liquidity Builds: equal highs/lows attract retail orders.
2️⃣ Liquidity Is Taken: a sweep clears the stops.
3️⃣ Displacement Candle Forms: Smart Money enters with force.
4️⃣ Fair Value Gap (FVG) or Order Block (OB) Appears: origin of intent.
5️⃣ Price Returns to Mitigate or Fill Gap: your entry zone.
6️⃣ Confirmation Entry: CHoCH or mini displacement signals go-time.
💬 The market always tells you when to enter, if you’re patient enough to wait.
How to Mark an Entry Zone on TradingView
1️⃣ Identify the liquidity sweep (equal highs/lows taken).
2️⃣ Mark the displacement candle that confirms direction.
3️⃣ Highlight the FVG or OB that formed after displacement.
4️⃣ Use the Premium/Discount tool (50% line) to check if price is optimal.
5️⃣ Wait for retest and confirmation (CHoCH or smaller timeframe structure shift).
6️⃣ Execute with a clear stop loss below/above the zone.
💬 Pro Tip:
Entries should be planned, not reactive.
If you can’t explain your confluence, it’s not a Smart Money entry.
Example
Bullish Entry
- Price sweeps Sell-Side Liquidity (SSL) below equal lows.
- A strong displacement candle confirms bullish intent.
- A Fair Value Gap appears just below structure.
- Price retraces into that FVG (in discount).
- CHoCH on lower timeframe confirms continuation.
- Entry is taken at the mitigation point → price expands upward.
📍 Liquidity → Confirmation → Entry.
The Do Nots
Common Mistakes Traders Make
❌ Entering before confirmation
→ Always wait for displacement or CHoCH.
❌ Trading without confluence
→ Liquidity + structure + imbalance = complete setup.
❌ Chasing price after displacement
→ Let price return. The retest is your entry.
Final Thoughts
A Smart Money Entry isn’t luck, it’s logic.
It’s the art of patience meeting precision.
When you stop forcing trades and start waiting for liquidity, displacement, and confirmation,
you’ll realise the best entries don’t feel emotional, they feel inevitable.