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Timeframes

Multi-Timeframe Hierarchy

The strategy uses four timeframe tiers, each serving a distinct analytical purpose. Higher timeframes establish context; lower timeframes refine execution.

Timeframe Role Indicators Purpose
W1 / D1 Bias Bias AI Weekly and daily draw-on-liquidity direction. Determines whether the strategy looks long or short for the session.
H1 / H4 Structure Session Hunt AI, OB AI Session range boundaries, higher-timeframe order blocks, institutional supply/demand zones.
M15 Entry TF OB AI Order blocks and FVGs that define the entry zone. These are the structures price must return to before continuing toward the DOL.
M5 Precision Session Hunt AI (macros), OB AI Macro window timing for entry execution, precise FVG levels within M15 order blocks, tick-level refinement.

Analysis Flow

The strategy processes timeframes top-down in a strict sequence. Each tier gates the next -- if a higher timeframe does not confirm, the lower timeframe is not consulted.

graph TD
    A[W1/D1: Bias AI] -->|Bias non-neutral?| B[H1/H4: Structure]
    A -->|Bias neutral| Z[NO TRADE]
    B -->|Hunt locked?| C[M15: Entry TF]
    B -->|Hunt invalid| Z
    C -->|Unspent OB exists?| D[M5: Precision]
    C -->|No OB in path| Z
    D -->|In macro window?| E[SETUP VALID]
    D -->|Outside window| F[WAIT for macro]

Tier 1: Bias (W1 / D1)

Indicator: Bias AI

What it answers: Which direction is the draw on liquidity?

The Bias AI table on the daily chart shows whether the current candle's bias is bullish, bearish, or neutral. The weekly row provides higher-timeframe confirmation.

  • Bullish bias: Draw on PDH (previous day high). The strategy looks for long setups.
  • Bearish bias: Draw on PDL (previous day low). The strategy looks for short setups.
  • Neutral bias: An outside bar closed inside the previous range. No directional conviction. No trade.

The daily bias is the primary directional filter. Weekly bias serves as a confluence factor but does not override daily.

Tier 2: Structure (H1 / H4)

Indicators: Session Hunt AI, OB AI

What it answers: Has one side of the session been swept? Are there institutional structures in the path?

Session Hunt AI on H1 defines the session range and tracks whether the high, low, or both have been swept. A valid hunt requires exactly one side swept:

  • HUNT_HIGH: Session high swept. Draw on the low side. Aligns with bearish daily bias.
  • HUNT_LOW: Session low swept. Draw on the high side. Aligns with bullish daily bias.
  • INVALID: Both sides swept. No clear directional hunt. No trade.

OB AI on H1/H4 identifies higher-timeframe order blocks that act as major supply/demand zones. These provide context for where M15 order blocks have the most significance.

Tier 3: Entry (M15)

Indicator: OB AI

What it answers: Is there an unspent order block in the path between current price and the DOL target?

On M15, OB AI plots order blocks with associated FVG zones. The strategy requires at least one unspent (solid-line) order block positioned between the current price and the draw-on-liquidity target.

  • For a long setup: A bullish OB below current price, with the DOL (PDH) above.
  • For a short setup: A bearish OB above current price, with the DOL (PDL) below.

If no unspent OB exists in the path, the setup is invalid regardless of bias and hunt alignment.

Tier 4: Precision (M5)

Indicators: Session Hunt AI (macro windows), OB AI

What it answers: Is the entry timing optimal? What are the exact FVG levels?

On M5, the strategy refines the entry:

  • Macro windows: Session Hunt AI identifies ICT macro windows (e.g., 09:50--10:10, 10:50--11:10 ET). Entries during active macro windows receive a confluence bonus.
  • FVG levels: OB AI on M5 provides the most precise aggressive and safe FVG levels within the order block zone identified on M15.
  • Distance check: The ATR banner on OB AI provides the stop distance in ticks. Price must be within ATR distance of the target OB to qualify as "at or near."

Timeframe Interaction Rules

  1. No bottom-up overrides: A strong M5 signal cannot override a neutral D1 bias.
  2. Higher TF OBs take precedence: If an H1 OB and an M15 OB overlap, the H1 OB defines the zone; the M15 OB refines the entry within it.
  3. Macro windows are M5-only: Macro timing is only relevant at the precision tier. It is a confluence factor, not a gate.
  4. One timeframe per indicator read: The strategy reads each indicator at its designated timeframe. It does not scan Bias AI on M5 or Session Hunt AI on D1.

Polling and Scan Cadence

Timeframe Tier Scan Frequency Rationale
W1 / D1 Once at session open Bias changes only on new candle close
H1 / H4 Every 15 minutes Structure develops over hours
M15 Every 5 minutes OBs can form or get mitigated within minutes
M5 Every 60 seconds Precision timing requires near-real-time reads

The scan cadence is configurable. The values above are defaults optimized for the NY session on ES/NQ.