Sequential Learning Path for ICT & Smart Money
Concepts (SMC)
Main Takeaway
Follow this structured, source-verified sequence to master ICT and SMC, progressing from
foundational principles to advanced strategy execution on EURUSD.
1. Foundations of Market Mechanics
Sources: Michael Huddleston’s YouTube content; Equiti (2025)
1.1 Understand Institutional Order Flow and Liquidity Pools: buy‐side vs. sell‐side liquidity [1] [2]
1.2 Learn Market Structure basics: higher highs/lows and lower highs/lows across timeframes [3]
[4]
2. Core SMC Framework
Sources: Tradethepool (2025); ForexBee (2023)
2.1 Identify Order Blocks: last opposite‐direction candle before strong moves [5] [6]
2.2 Recognize Fair Value Gaps (FVGs): three‐candle inefficiencies to be filled [7] [8]
2.3 Grasp Liquidity Sweeps: institutional stop‐hunts beyond structural levels [9] [10]
3. Session Timing & Cycles
Sources: HowToTrade (2025); InnerCircleTrader.blog (2025)
3.1 Map Kill Zones:
London (2–5 AM EST)
New York (8:30–11 AM EST)
Asian prep (8–10 PM EST)
3.2 Study the Power of Three cycle: Accumulation, Manipulation, Distribution [11] [12]
4. Structural Insights
Sources: Scribd (2025); Opofinance (2025)
4.1 Analyze Market Structure Shifts (MSS): trend reversals via swing breaks [13]
4.2 Learn Breaker Blocks vs. Mitigation Blocks: polarity flips and failed moves [14] [15]
5. Risk & Psychology
Sources: Opofinance (2025); GitHub (2023)
5.1 Implement Structural Stop Placement: order block/FVG invalidation levels [16]
5.2 Master Position Sizing: 1–2% account risk per trade, pip‐based calculations
5.3 Cultivate Trader Mindset: process focus, patience, discipline
6. Practical Chart Work
Sources: TrendSpider Blog (2025); TradingView Scrips (2023–2024)
6.1 Manually mark on EURUSD charts:
Order blocks (4H, Daily)
FVGs (1H, 15 min)
Liquidity pools and MSS
6.2 Journal price behavior during kill zones
7. Demo & Backtesting
Sources: Forextester (2025); TradingView backtests (2023–2025)
7.1 Apply ICT setups in a demo account, following strict entry/exit rules
7.2 Conduct backtests on historical EURUSD data: measure win rate, R-R, drawdown
8. Advanced Strategy Implementation
Sources: HowToTrade PDFs (2024–2025); ForexFactory threads (2025)
8.1 Silver Bullet Strategy: time-based FVG + liquidity sweep entries [17] [18]
8.2 Liquidity Sweep Strategy: mechanical stop-hunt reversals on 15 min [19] [20]
8.3 Order Block Strategy: confluence with FVGs for high-prob reversal zones [6] [5]
8.4 Optimal Trade Entry (OTE): Fibonacci 62–79% retracements with confluence [21] [22]
9. Performance Review & Iteration
Sources: Phidias Prop Firm (2025); TraderVue (2025)
9.1 Track key metrics: consistency rate, average return, drawdown
9.2 Refine strategies based on journal insights and evolving market conditions
9.3 Transition from demo to live trading only after achieving 65–75% consistency in demo
10. Continuous Learning & Community Engagement
Sources: Inner Circle Trader forums; reputable trading blogs
10.1 Subscribe to ICT creator’s updates and new tutorials
10.2 Participate in peer review communities for chart critiques
10.3 Regularly revisit core concepts to adapt to shifting market dynamics
By following this source-verified sequence, you will build a robust understanding of ICT and
SMC—from foundational theory through advanced EURUSD strategies—ensuring systematic skill
development and long-term trading success.
⁂
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE6GruXMcFM
2. https://www.equiti.com/sc-en/news/trading-ideas/what-is-the-smart-money-concept-smc-in-forex-an
d-how-can-you-use-it/
3. https://tradethepool.com/ict-market-structure-shift/
4. https://innercircletrading.blog/ict-market-structure/
5. https://forexbee.co/order-block-and-fair-value-gap/
6. https://www.tradingview.com/script/5n6Lawvs-ICT-Concept-TradingFinder-Order-Block-FVG-Liquidity
-Sweeps/
7. https://www.tradingview.com/chart/BTCUSDT.P/XrrOfC4G-Mastering-ICT-Concepts-The-Ultimate-Trad
ing-Strategy-Guide/
8. https://www.tradingview.com/script/YmAeBTG0-Simple-ICT-Order-Blocks-and-Fair-Value-Gaps-by-Go
wtham-Kannakaje/
9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo1t1K5ZMQY
10. https://liquidityfinder.com/news/why-smart-money-concepts-work-the-truth-behind-liquidity-and-pric
e-action-5de79
11. https://www.fluxcharts.com/articles/trading-strategies/ict-strategies/ict-power-of-three
12. https://howtotrade.com/blog/power-of-3-ict/
13. https://innercircletrader.net/tutorials/ict-market-structure-shift/
14. https://innercircletrader.net/tutorials/ict-mitigation-block-explained/
15. https://ghosttraders.co.za/breaker-blocks-vs-mitigation-blocks-key-differences/
16. https://blog.opofinance.com/en/ict-risk-management/
17. https://fxopen.com/blog/en/what-is-the-ict-silver-bullet-strategy-and-how-does-it-work/
18. https://howtotrade.com/trading-strategies/ict-silver-bullet/
19. https://tradingfinder.com/education/forex/ict-liquidity-sweep-liquidity-run/
20. https://www.forexfactory.com/thread/1344374-ict-liquidity-sweep-and-liquidity-run-strategy-tflab
21. https://howtotrade.com/blog/optimal-trade-entry-ict/
22. https://tradingfinder.com/education/forex/ict-optimal-trade-entry-pattern/
