Trading Bootcamp Episode 11: Points of Interest

Blog & Video Release Date

September 2, 2025

at

1:14 am

Trading Bootcamp Episode 11: Points of Interest

Points of interest guide your trading by giving you predefined levels to wait for. Here’s how to mark them, wait for them, and trade from them with discipline.

Introduction

Points of interest (POIs) are the levels you prepare ahead of time that help guide your trading decisions. Instead of reacting impulsively during a session, you come in with levels already marked and wait for price to interact with them. This approach brings structure, patience, and discipline into your trading routine.

What Are Points of Interest?

A point of interest is a level on your chart where you expect price to react. Once price reaches that level, you drop to a lower timeframe to look for your entry model. Without a POI, you’re just chasing random moves.

The main POIs I focus on are:

  • Fair Value Gaps (FVGs)

  • Buy-side and Sell-side Liquidity (swing highs/lows that haven’t been taken yet)

  • Stat Map Levels (by Two Degrees, which can give extra precision)

Why Use POIs?

  • They align with higher timeframe order flow.

  • They provide context for your entry model.

  • They force patience by giving you specific areas to wait for.

How I Mark Them

Every morning before the session starts, I mark my POIs on the hourly (sometimes 4H). For example:

  • On NQ, I might mark a swing low and an hourly fair value gap.

  • On ES, I may do the same, adding a 4H FVG if it’s clean.

  • On Gold, I’ll often combine hourly gaps with Stat Map levels.

Then, I set alerts so I don’t have to stare at the screen. If price doesn’t reach my POI during my session, I don’t trade—it’s that simple.

Example Walkthrough

Let’s say I’m bearish on the day. At 9:00 a.m., I’ve marked a bearish hourly FVG and a buy-side liquidity level.

  1. Price trades up into that zone.

  2. On the 5M chart, I look for my entry function—such as a stop run into the level followed by displacement.

  3. If I get it, I sell the retest of the breaker, targeting 2–3R at the next low.

If price digs into the POI without invalidation (no hourly close beyond it), I stay patient. If it closes above, that level is no longer valid, and I move on.

Checklist for Using POIs

  • ✅ Define your daily bias first.

  • ✅ Mark POIs aligned with that bias (don’t mark both sides).

  • ✅ Wait for price to hit your POI.

  • ✅ Drop to your entry timeframe (5M, 1M).

  • ✅ Look for your model (stop run + displacement + breaker).

  • ✅ Execute only if conditions are met.

Final Thoughts

POIs make trading structured and repeatable. If price doesn’t hit your level, that’s fine—wait for the next session or the next day. The edge comes from trading at the right spots, not from always being in a trade.

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