Day Trading an Opening Range Breakdown | Tradingsim Video Lessons

Jun 22, 2016

Written by:
Al Hill

✓ Reviewed by Kunal Vakil, Co-Founder of TradingSim · Updated Mar 31, 2026

The Opening range Breakdown (ORB)

One of my favorite day trading setups is an opening range breakdown on a morning gap. What I look for in the ORB is a strong gap down with larger than normal volume. I want to see the stock taking out key support areas and ideally like to see it breaking to multi-month lows with little in the way of downside support. It is also important that you exercise patience in the morning and stalk the trade. The initial move down on the open is typically supported and a small relief rally ensues. You want to be careful not to get caught up in any short squeeze. Let the dust settle in the first 15 minutes or so and let the trade come to you. Ideally, you will get the squeeze higher and then watch that bounce quickly fizzle out and head back down to the lows of the day. Stocks gapping down into strong support areas are bound to test those levels multiples times before cracking through these levels. You may need to give it some time to setup and you may even need to take a couple small losses if the short doesn’t go in your favor in a hurry. This is where your discipline will come into the picture. You are not going to get every trade right. Even though the trade might eventually work out, your timing might not be ideal. Word to the wise, take quick losses in the morning and don’t be afraid to put the trade back on if it tries to go in your direction again.

Click on our youtube video below to see how we traded an opening range breakdown on SYF. If you liked our video, subscribe to our YouTube channel to see more trade reviews!

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Tags: Awesome Day Trading Strategies

About the Author

Al Hill

Co-Founder & CEO, TradingSim

Alton Hill is the Co-Founder of TradingSim with over 18 years of trading experience. He completed the Design Thinking Bootcamp at Stanford’s D.School and brings expertise in Product Development to create the best trading simulation experience. His strategy focuses on trend-following systems, targeting high-volatility stocks with strong primary trends using the 15-minute chart.

View all posts by Al Hill →

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