Fair value gap fill

A fair value gap is a three-candle pattern where the middle candle moves so fast that the first and third candles' wicks don't overlap. Price often returns to fill that gap before continuing.

Smart money strategiesIntermediateConfirmed on candle close

Watch it play out

Replay plays a setup this strategy already finished and stops so you can call it. Live watches for the next one on Bitcoin (BTC-USD, 1-minute candles). Either way a setup is marked only when a candle closes, then it's locked and plays out to its target or its stop. Nothing to trade here.

How the live chart applies the rules
  • 1-minute candles. The chart runs every strategy on 1-minute Bitcoin candles from Coinbase, whatever timeframe the strategy page suggests. Times are New York time.
  • Closed candles only. Levels, triggers and stops are read when a candle closes. Entry is that candle's close.
  • One setup at a time. While a setup is playing out, the same strategy doesn't start another.
  • Sensible risk only. A setup counts only if its stop is between a quarter and 6 times the average candle range (ATR 14) from entry (wider for session-range strategies), and its target is at least 0.75R away.
  • How a setup ends. At its target or its stop. If one candle touches both, the stop counts. A setup also ends at any exit its page names, and after 120 candles (longer for trend and session strategies) if nothing is hit.
  • Replays. A replay plays the latest setup this strategy finished on the live chart's recent history, sped up. It's the same setup the live chart confirmed, with the same entry, stop and result. If the strategy hasn't finished one recently, the replay uses example candles and says so.
  • The trading day. A day runs 6:00 PM to 6:00 PM ET, like futures. VWAP restarts at 6:00 PM, and "yesterday" means the last full trading day.

How Fair value gap fill works

TargetStopCandle 1 high and candle 3 low never touchReturn into the gap
Example drawing, not live market data.
1Where's the level?
The gap between candle 1's high and candle 3's low (for a bullish gap).
2What's the trigger?
Price returns into the gap and a candle closes back in the original direction.
3Where is it wrong?
Beyond the far side of the gap.
4Where does it end?
2R.
Markets
Futures, Forex, Crypto
Timeframes
1m to 15m
Sessions
London and New York
Also called
FVG, imbalance

What it means

A fair value gap is a three-candle pattern where the middle candle moves so fast that the first and third candles' wicks don't overlap. Price often returns to fill that gap before continuing.

How it is confirmed without repainting

The gap exists only after candle 3 closes, so it is drawn from that point on and never before.

When it fails

A candle closes completely through the gap.

Education only. Prop Firm Duel does not provide trade signals or financial advice. This page explains how the strategy is commonly defined. Past results never guarantee future results.

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