The Strat Scanner: How to Build Your Playbook

1. Inside Bars (Type 1) — The Setup Before the Setup

Inside bars are where everything begins. They represent consolidation — the price is tightening, and
something is about to break in either direction, like a pressure cooker.

What to scan for:

• Daily inside bars
• Weekly inside bars (perfect for Sunday night prep)
• Inside bars + full timeframe continuity

How to trade them:

• Wait for a break of the inside bar high (if green) or low (if red)
• Confirm direction with larger timeframe continuity – 60m breaking higher? Check Daily and Weekly!
• Enter with your stop on the other side of the 1-bar

2. 2-1-2 Reversals — Clean, Structured Trend Flips

This is one of the most popular Strat combos. It shows a directional candle, a pause, and then a reversal in
the opposite direction.

Structure:

• 2-bar in one direction
• 1-bar (inside bar)
• 2-bar in the opposite direction

Why it works:

• The inside bar is your risk box
• The reversal confirms a change in control

Bullish example: 2d-1-2u   Bearish example: 2u-1-2d

3. 3-1-2 Setups — Power Moves

These are big. The outside bar (3) tells you there’s range expansion — price is reaching beyond prior highs
and lows. The inside bar says “pause,” but the 2-bar shows you where we’re going.

Why it works:

• Price discovery, expansion (3-bar) → compression (1-bar) → directional choice (2-bar)
• Usually has high momentum, follow-through

This is a go-to setup when looking for explosive continuation.

4. Timeframe Continuity (FTC) Scans — Stack the Deck

This is where you increase your odds. When the month, week, day, and hour are all pointing the same
direction, you’re not fighting the trend — you’re joining it.

Scan for:

• Monthly, weekly, and daily candles that are all green or all red

Use case:

• Combine FTC with other setups to only trade with momentum

5. 2-2 Reversals — Pivot Signals

These show up when price moves in one direction, then fully reverses.

Structure:

2u → 2d (or 2d → 2u)

Why it matters:

• Signals aggressive change in direction
• Often occurs at top/bottom of a broadening formation
• Great for traders who like to catch turning points with tight risk

6. Broadening Formation Scans — Context Matters

Broadening formations tell you where price is discovering new highs and lows. They’re not random — they’re
structured chaos.

Scan for:

• Candles that take out both previous highs and lows
• 3-bars (outside candles)

Advanced filter:

• 3-bar + green = potential reversal back up
• 3-bar + red = potential reversal back down

7. Inside Bar + Full FTC — Highest Probability

If you see an inside bar on the daily, and all higher timeframes are aligned, you’ve got a setup with
structure, direction, and a tight stop.

Scan for:

• Inside bar + M/W/D/H all same color

Why it works:

• You’re only trading when price is coiled and aligned

8. Hammer / Shooter Scans — Early Warnings

Candlestick context matters. A hammer or shooter after a directional move can signal a shift.

Scan for:

• Hammers (bullish reversal)
• Shooters (bearish reversal)

Ideal use:

• Precursor to a 2-2 reversal
• Confirm with FTC or upcoming inside bar

9. Gap + Strat Combo — Momentum Out of the Gate

Gaps are emotional. When you combine a gap with a Strat setup, you’ve got something special.

Scan for:

• Pre-market gap + 1-2-2 or 2-1-2
• Add a volume filter to find real interest

Use this as part of your morning prep to ride the early action.

10. Simultaneous Breaks — The Green Light

These happen when multiple timeframes break at once — say, the daily and weekly both go 2u.

Scan for:

• Inside bar on higher timeframe
• Break confirmed on intraday

Why it’s powerful:

• Confirms broad directional agreement
• Usually leads to fast continuation

Summary Table