Turtle Soup, Liquidity & Stop Hunts Explained

Wyckoff shows you what smart money is doing. CRT shows you exactly when and where to enter. Together, they create a powerful trading system that combines big-picture analysis with precise execution.

Why Combine Wyckoff and CRT?

Imagine having two superpowers: X-ray vision to see through walls (Wyckoff) and super hearing to detect the smallest sounds (CRT). Together, they make you nearly unstoppable.

Wyckoff Method shows you the big picture - what smart money is doing over days and weeks. Candle Range Theory gives you precise entry and exit points within those larger patterns.

The Perfect Partnership

Wyckoff Provides:

• Market context and direction
• Smart money intentions
• Key levels and ranges
• Long-term bias

CRT Provides:

• Precise entry timing
• Intraday execution
• Risk management levels
• Short-term opportunities

The Integration Framework

Step 1: Wyckoff Context (Daily Timeframe)

Start with the daily chart to identify the Wyckoff phase:

Accumulation: Look for sideways movement after downtrend
Markup: Rising trend with higher highs and lows
Distribution: Sideways movement after uptrend
Markdown: Falling trend with lower highs and lows

Step 2: CRT Execution (4H/1H Timeframes)

Use CRT concepts to find precise entries within the Wyckoff context:

Killzones: London (8-10 AM GMT), New York (1-3 PM GMT)
Fair Value Gaps: Price imbalances that need to be filled
Order Blocks: Supply and demand zones
Liquidity Grabs: Stop hunts above/below key levels

Practical Integration Examples

Example 1: Accumulation + Spring + CRT

EUR/USD Accumulation Setup

Daily Context (Wyckoff):

EUR/USD in accumulation range: 1.0800 - 1.0900
Phase B: 3 weeks of sideways movement
Spring occurs: Drop to 1.0785, quick reversal

4H Execution (CRT):

Wait for London killzone (8-10 AM GMT)
Look for liquidity grab below 1.0800
Entry on return above 1.0800 (spring confirmation)
Target: Fair Value Gap at 1.0850, then range high 1.0900

Example 2: Distribution + Upthrust + CRT

Gold Distribution Setup

Daily Context (Wyckoff):

Gold in distribution range: $2000 - $2050
Phase B: 4 weeks of sideways movement
Upthrust occurs: Rally to $2065, quick reversal

4H Execution (CRT):

Wait for New York killzone (1-3 PM GMT)
Look for liquidity grab above $2050
Entry on return below $2050 (upthrust confirmation)
Target: Bearish order block at $2020, then range low $2000

Key Integration Points

1. Killzones Align with Wyckoff Events

Major Wyckoff events (springs, upthrusts, breakouts) often happen during CRT killzones when institutional traders are most active.

Pro Tip: Springs and upthrusts during London or New York killzones have much higher probability of success than those occurring during quiet Asian session hours.

2. Fair Value Gaps Mark Wyckoff Levels

Fair Value Gaps often form at key Wyckoff levels:

Accumulation range high: Bullish FVG on breakout
Distribution range low: Bearish FVG on breakdown
Spring reversal point: Bullish FVG as price recovers
Upthrust reversal point: Bearish FVG as price falls back

3. Order Blocks Confirm Wyckoff Zones

CRT order blocks often align with key Wyckoff support and resistance levels:

Accumulation support: Bullish order blocks form
Distribution resistance: Bearish order blocks form
Spring low: Strong bullish order block created
Upthrust high: Strong bearish order block created

Multi-Timeframe Analysis

The Three-Timeframe Approach

Daily: Wyckoff Context

Identify the current Wyckoff phase and key levels. This gives you the big picture bias.

4-Hour: CRT Setup

Look for CRT patterns that align with the daily Wyckoff bias. Find your entry zones.

1-Hour: Precise Timing

Use killzones and order flow to time your exact entry and exit points.

Trade Management Integration

Entry Rules

Wyckoff Alignment: Trade only in direction of Wyckoff bias
CRT Confirmation: Wait for killzone activity and order flow confirmation
Volume Validation: Ensure volume supports the move (VSA principles)
Risk Management: Position size based on distance to invalidation level

Exit Strategy

Use both Wyckoff and CRT for optimal exits:

Partial profits: Take profits at CRT targets (FVGs, order blocks)
Trail stops: Move stops to CRT support/resistance levels
Final target: Wyckoff measured moves and phase transitions
Exit signals: Wyckoff reversal patterns or CRT momentum shifts

Advanced Integration Techniques

1. Composite Man Psychology

Think like the "Composite Man" (smart money) using both methods:

Accumulation: Use CRT to buy on liquidity grabs during quiet accumulation
Markup: Use CRT pullbacks to add to winning positions
Distribution: Use CRT to sell on liquidity grabs during quiet distribution
Markdown: Use CRT rallies to add to short positions

2. Session Bias Integration

Different trading sessions favor different Wyckoff activities:

Asian Session: Often quiet consolidation within Wyckoff ranges
London Session: Major Wyckoff events often begin here
New York Session: Follow-through and continuation of London moves
Overlap Periods: Highest probability for springs and upthrusts

Common Integration Mistakes

❌ Ignoring Wyckoff Context

Don't take CRT long signals during Wyckoff distribution phases, or shorts during accumulation phases.

❌ Over-Trading CRT Signals

Not every order block or FVG is a trade. Only take setups that align with the Wyckoff bias.

❌ Wrong Timeframe Focus

Don't let small timeframe CRT noise override larger timeframe Wyckoff trends.

Building Your Integrated System

Daily Routine

Market Analysis: Check daily charts for Wyckoff phases and key levels
Bias Formation: Determine if you're looking for longs, shorts, or staying flat
CRT Setup Scan: Look for 4H setups that align with your Wyckoff bias
Execution Plan: Mark killzones and key CRT levels for the day
Trade Management: Monitor positions using both Wyckoff and CRT criteria

Weekly Review

Analyze how Wyckoff phases evolved during the week
Review which CRT setups worked best in current Wyckoff context
Identify any missed integration opportunities
Adjust bias for the coming week based on Wyckoff development

Key Takeaways

✓Wyckoff provides context and direction, CRT provides precise timing
✓Major Wyckoff events often occur during CRT killzones
✓Use three timeframes: Daily for Wyckoff, 4H for CRT setups, 1H for timing
✓Never trade CRT signals that go against the Wyckoff bias
✓Combine both methods for entries, exits, and risk management

Next Steps

Complete your Wyckoff education by learning the simplified approach to Point and Figure counting for measuring price targets.

Read Point & Figure Counting Simplified →

Risk Disclaimer

VaderDan