1. What this indicator is built for
The SMC indicator is designed for traders who follow structure, order blocks and liquidity concepts on:
- Gold (XAUUSD)
- Major Forex pairs (e.g. GBPUSD, EURUSD)
- Crypto & indices where liquidity sweeps are common
The goal isn't “signal chasing”. It's giving you a consistent framework for top-down analysis and repeatable execution.
2. Key features you'll see on the chart
- Market structure: BOS / CHOCH labels and swing structure so you can tell if price is stepping up or down.
- Liquidity & sweeps: equal highs/lows and key areas where stops are likely resting.
- Premium / discount: quickly see whether price is trading at a premium or discount inside a range.
- Order-flow bias: higher-timeframe structure bias so you stop fighting the dominant direction.
- Fair Value Gaps (FVG): imbalances where price often reacts or returns before continuation.
3. Recommended timeframes & markets
You can use the SMC indicator on any market, but it's best when you apply top-down structure:
- Higher timeframe bias: H4 / H1
- Execution: M30 / M15 / M5 depending on your style
- Especially strong on Gold (XAUUSD) and major Forex pairs
4. A Trader's Guide to Using the SMC Indicator (step-by-step)
This indicator is a professional toolkit designed to give traders an institutional perspective. The goal is not to blindly follow signals, but to build a market narrative — where price came from, where it may go next, and where the highest-probability entries exist.
Step 1 – Establish directional bias (top-down analysis)
- Choose your higher timeframe (e.g. 4H or Daily).
- Read structure: a series of HH/HL = uptrend, LH/LL = downtrend.
- Don't force trades against HTF bias — let the market show you the direction.
Step 2 – Define the narrative (liquidity target)
Once bias is set, identify the liquidity target:
- Bullish: target buy-side liquidity (BSL) / prior highs.
- Bearish: target sell-side liquidity (SSL) / prior lows.
Your job is to align entries so you can ride price toward that liquidity — not fight it.
Step 3 – Find your Point of Interest (POI)
- Use Premium & Discount zones: buy in discount, sell in premium.
- Look for Order Blocks (OB). Stronger OBs often form after a sweep + displacement.
- Fair Value Gaps (FVG) can act like “magnets” for retraces.
- Multi-timeframe zones carry more weight (e.g., 4H OB > 5M FVG).
Step 4 – Entry model (CHOCH → retrace → execute)
- Wait for price to tap your HTF POI.
- Drop to execution timeframe (15M / 5M; sometimes 1M for precision).
- Look for a CHOCH on a candle close:
- Longs → break of a short-term lower high (bullish shift).
- Shorts → break of a short-term higher low (bearish shift).
- Enter on the retrace into a fresh OB/FVG after CHOCH.
- Stops: beyond the POI (structured invalidation). Targets: your liquidity objective.
Step 5 – Example long trade (XAUUSD)
4H structure bullish. Price retraces into a 4H POI in discount and sweeps prior lows (SSL). On 15M, you get a bullish CHOCH and a clean FVG forms. You enter on the FVG retrace, stop below the POI low, and target the nearest buy-side liquidity (BSL).
5. Professional Trader's Review – Smart Money Concepts
Star Rating: 4.8 / 5 ⭐
This indicator is a comprehensive and well-executed toolkit for traders using Smart Money Concepts. It doesn't just draw zones — it helps you read price action through structure, liquidity and displacement, with a clear visual workflow suited for TradingView.
Key strengths
- Structure clarity (BOS/CHOCH): keeps you aligned with the market narrative.
- Liquidity framework: highlights areas where stops build (equal highs/lows) and where sweeps often occur.
- POI workflow: combines premium/discount with OB/FVG concepts for cleaner entries.
- Multi-timeframe usefulness: best practice top-down analysis for XAUUSD and major Forex pairs.
What to watch out for
- Don’t trade labels blindly: wait for confirmation (closed-candle CHOCH/BOS).
- Too many markings: if your chart feels busy, reduce visuals and focus on one POI + one trigger model.
- Risk management matters: SMC is a framework, not a guarantee.
Best use case: Traders who want a structured SMC workflow on TradingView for XAUUSD (Gold) and Forex — using HTF bias → POI → CHOCH → retrace entries.
6. Quick FAQ (SMC / BOS / CHOCH / Liquidity)
Does this work for scalping on M1/M5?▾
Yes, but only if you keep HTF bias. Most losses happen when traders scalp against structure. Use HTF POIs (H1/H4) and then execute on M5/M1 after CHOCH.
What markets are best for SMC?▾
XAUUSD (Gold) and major Forex pairs are great because liquidity behaviour is consistent. You can also apply it to Crypto and indices — just be strict with risk and volatility.
How do I avoid overtrading with SMC?▾
Limit yourself to: one HTF POI + one execution model (CHOCH → retrace into OB/FVG). If the setup isn’t clean, skip it. Consistency beats activity.
7. SMC screenshots & settings (4K)
Below are real 4K screenshots showing how A.K Pro Trader's Smart Money Concepts looks on TradingView, plus the key settings areas (inputs, concepts/zones, style and alerts).
8. Legal & risk disclosure
Educational content only: All A.K Pro Traders content and indicators are provided for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, investment, or trading advice.
Risk warning: Trading leveraged products such as forex, indices, commodities and crypto involves substantial risk and may not be suitable for all investors. You can lose more than your initial deposit. Always perform your own research, use appropriate risk management, and consider speaking with a licensed financial professional.
TradingView is a third-party platform. A.K Pro Traders is not affiliated with or endorsed by TradingView.
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Educational information only — not financial advice. Trading involves risk. Always use proper risk management and your own judgement.