Reference · The dynamic process

Method Flow — chart-open to trade-close

Knowing what depends on what doesn't tell you what to click first. This is the sequence — open the platform, close the trade — that the schema only hints at.

Seventeen decision nodes across four bands: Scan (am I allowed to look?), Identify (is there a setup?), Structure the trade, and Manage. Every node links to the chapter that defines its concept. Loop-back arrows are the re-evaluation cycle.

The flow — 17 nodes, 4 bands

Solid arrow = "yes, continue." Dashed arrow = "no, skip / cancel." Amber arrow = loop back. Click any decision box to jump to the chapter that defines it.

A · Scan am I allowed to look? 1 · Open chart Layer 4 · ch 4.4 — bias scanner. Direction is decided by the tape, not your forecast. 2 · Bias scan red or green right now? Layer 3 · ch 3.2 — HTF cascade / confluence. Lower TFs only matter when the higher TF gives them permission. 3 · HTF cascade which TF is in control today? Layer 3 · ch 3.1 — time-and-levels. Trading below your level-density floor is noise, not edge. 4 · Time-and-levels filter lowest TF allowed today? B · Identify is there a setup? no SKIP — wait Layer 1 · ch 1.1 — origin / hold / break. The setup vocabulary; nothing trades that you can't first name. 5 · Origin / hold / level scan what setups are on the chart? Layer 1 · ch 1.2 — pure vs non-pure. A touched level has already paid out; don't trade it twice. 6 · Pure? untouched on its native TF? Layer 4 · ch 4.2 — break-origin detector. Edge dies when price is too far from the level; chasing pays the spread, not you. 7 · Proximity OK? near enough to act on? no SKIP — wait C · Structure the trade build the order Layer 3 · ch 3.4 — greedy entry / refinement. Greedy gets a better fill at lower hit rate; lazy fills more often at worse R. 8 · Lazy or greedy entry? refine in or take the touch? Layer 5 · ch 5.1 — stop placement. Stop is where the thesis is wrong, not where the loss is comfortable. 9 · Stop placement where is the thesis wrong? Layer 5 · ch 5.3 — leverage. Size falls out of stop distance and risk budget — never the other way around. 10 · Size / leverage how much, given the stop? Layer 5 · ch 5.2 — TP cascade / averaging. Plan exits before entry; in-trade decisions are biased decisions. 11 · TP cascade where do you scale out? TRADE — order placed 12 · Order live D · Manage loop until resolved Layer 3 · ch 3.3 — origin / unfilled order management. An unfilled order whose origin TF closed against you is no longer the same trade. 13 · TF closed against thesis? cancel unfilled? yes CANCEL Layer 2 · ch 2.3 — time-arrayed trend. Each closed bar votes for or against the thesis; trade what closes, not what wicks. 14 · TF closing as expected? hold or cut? yes — hold no 15 · Re-evaluate / cut loop · re-scan from #2 16 · TP hit / stop / invalidation Layer 5 · ch 5.4 — liquidity / close-and-journal. The trade isn't done until it's recorded; un-journaled trades teach nothing. 17 · Close and journal record what the chart taught.

Companion table — every node

Same flow, scannable as a list. Print-friendly. Each link goes to the chapter that defines the concept.

# Band Node Decision asked Why it matters Chapter
1 — Open chart (anchor — session begins) Every flow needs a defined start; without it, decisions float. —
2 A · Scan Bias scan Red or green right now? Direction is decided by the tape, not your forecast. 4.4
3 A · Scan HTF cascade Which TF is in control today? Lower TFs only matter when the higher TF gives them permission. 3.2
4 A · Scan Time-and-levels filter Lowest TF allowed today? Trading below your level-density floor is noise, not edge. 3.1
5 B · Identify Origin / hold / level scan What setups are on the chart? Nothing trades that you can't first name in the vocabulary. 1.1
6 B · Identify Pure? Untouched on its native TF? A touched level has already paid out — don't trade it twice. 1.2
7 B · Identify Proximity OK? Near enough to act on? Edge dies with distance; chasing pays the spread, not you. 4.2
8 C · Structure Lazy or greedy entry? Refine in or take the touch? Greedy buys better fill at lower hit rate; lazy fills more often at worse R. 3.4
9 C · Structure Stop placement Where is the thesis wrong? Stop is where the idea is invalidated, not where the loss feels acceptable. 5.1
10 C · Structure Size / leverage How much, given the stop? Size falls out of stop distance and risk budget — never the other way around. 5.3
11 C · Structure TP cascade Where do you scale out? Plan exits before entry; in-trade decisions are biased decisions. 5.2
12 — Order live (anchor — fill received) The pivot from "build" to "manage"; different rules apply on each side. —
13 D · Manage TF closed against thesis? Cancel unfilled? An unfilled order whose origin TF closed against you is no longer the same trade. 3.3
14 D · Manage TF closing as expected? Hold or cut? Each closed bar votes for or against the thesis; trade what closes, not what wicks. 2.3
15 D · Manage Re-evaluate / cut (action — loops back to #2) The re-scan loop is the difference between a method and a one-shot guess. —
16 D · Manage TP hit / stop / invalidation (anchor — trade resolves) Resolution is the only honest feedback signal the market gives you. —
17 D · Manage Close and journal Record what the chart taught. An un-journaled trade teaches nothing; the loop is closed by writing it down. 5.4