Section 6 · 9:30 AM Open
The Opening Range (9:30–9:45)
Let the arena form before you fight in it
The opening range is the arena. Breakout is the signal.
The Opening Range is the high and low established in the first 5–15 minutes of trading. It represents the zone of initial price discovery — buyers and sellers finding equilibrium. A breakout above the range high on volume is a long signal. A break below the range low is a short signal. The key rule: do not enter during formation. You are watching, marking levels, and waiting for the break.
3 things to know
The opening range high and low become the most important support and resistance levels for the entire morning session.
The 15-minute ORB captures the majority of initial price discovery while filtering out the noisiest early seconds.
Volume on the breakout candle must exceed the average candle volume — a quiet breakout is a false breakout.
Dive Deeper
During Range 9:30–9:45
- Price oscillating between range low and range high
- Volume building but no directional conviction
- No clear entry trigger present
- Hands off — you are only marking levels
- Alerts set at range high and range low
After Breakout 9:46+
- Price breaks range high with volume surge on close
- Entry fires at breakout candle close
- Stop defined below range low (opposite boundary)
- Target: measured move equal to range width above breakout
- Risk-reward clearly defined before entry
Key vocabulary — tap each card
Practice
ORB Execution Protocol
Mark the First 5-Min High and Low
At 9:35, mark the high and low of the first 5-minute candle. This is your initial range boundary.
Update Range Through 9:45
As each candle completes, extend range only if a new high or low is made. Contracting range = coiling energy.
Set Alerts at Both Boundaries
Set price alerts at range high and range low. Do not watch the screen — let the alert bring you in.
Enter on Volume-Confirmed Breakout
When a candle closes above the range high with volume at least 1.5x the prior candle, enter long. Stop goes below range low.
Did you know?
Stocks breaking their 15-minute ORB high with volume at least 1.5x the prior candle produced profitable follow-through over 60% of the time across 5,000+ trades.