Mapping structure at the open

The first twenty minutes after you sit down should produce a map, not a trade. Rushing into the open without overnight context is how structure shifts get misread — especially when Asia range breaks fool you into fading a London continuation.

Minute 0–5: Overnight extremes

Mark Asia high and low on your execution timeframe. Note whether price closed the prior NY session near either extreme or mid-range. Mid-range closes often produce false breaks in the first thirty London minutes.

Minute 5–12: Higher-timeframe bias

On the 15-minute or 1-hour chart, label the active swing sequence. Write one sentence: “Bias long until sub 4485” or “Range — no bias until break of 4520/4450.” That sentence is your stand-down authority.

Minute 12–18: Liquidity map

Circle equal highs and lows, obvious gaps, and the prior day’s close. These are sweep candidates, not entry signals. If your plan requires a sweep before shift, patience starts here.

Minute 18–20: First-hour rule

Set a personal rule for the first hour: observe only, or half size. Workshop attendees pick one and log adherence weekly. The rule matters less than consistency.

After the open

When a shift appears, run the five checkpoint fields before clicking. If the open violates your bias sentence, update the sentence — do not cling to the pre-open label.

This routine is module six in our curriculum and is practised aloud on workshop day one.