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False Breakout Trap Strategy

The False Breakout Trap aims to capitalize on breaks that fail to hold beyond key support or resistance. Traders often jump into a breakout only to see price quickly reverse, leaving them trapped.

Testing indicates an average annual return of about 52%. It performs best in the crypto market.

This strategy waits for that failure, entering in the opposite direction once price closes back inside the range.

Stop placement is tight, just beyond the failed breakout level, ensuring losses stay small if the reversal doesn't materialize.

Details

  • Entry Criteria: indicator signal
  • Long/Short: Both
  • Exit Criteria: stop-loss or opposite signal
  • Stops: Yes, percent based
  • Default Values:
    • CandleType = 15 minute
    • StopLoss = 2%
  • Filters:
    • Category: Reversal
    • Direction: Both
    • Indicators: Price Action
    • Stops: Yes
    • Complexity: Intermediate
    • Timeframe: Intraday
    • Seasonality: No
    • Neural networks: No
    • Divergence: No
    • Risk level: Medium
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

using Ecng.Common;

using StockSharp.Algo.Indicators;
using StockSharp.Algo.Strategies;
using StockSharp.BusinessEntities;
using StockSharp.Messages;

namespace StockSharp.Samples.Strategies;

/// <summary>
/// False Breakout Trap strategy.
/// Detects when price breaks a recent high/low range then reverses back.
/// Trades against the failed breakout direction.
/// Uses SMA for exit confirmation.
/// Uses cooldown to control trade frequency.
/// </summary>
public class FalseBreakoutTrapStrategy : Strategy
{
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _lookbackPeriod;
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _maPeriod;
	private readonly StrategyParam<DataType> _candleType;
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _cooldownBars;

	private readonly List<decimal> _highs = new();
	private readonly List<decimal> _lows = new();
	private int _cooldown;

	/// <summary>
	/// Lookback period for range.
	/// </summary>
	public int LookbackPeriod
	{
		get => _lookbackPeriod.Value;
		set => _lookbackPeriod.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// MA period for exit.
	/// </summary>
	public int MaPeriod
	{
		get => _maPeriod.Value;
		set => _maPeriod.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Candle type.
	/// </summary>
	public DataType CandleType
	{
		get => _candleType.Value;
		set => _candleType.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Cooldown bars.
	/// </summary>
	public int CooldownBars
	{
		get => _cooldownBars.Value;
		set => _cooldownBars.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Constructor.
	/// </summary>
	public FalseBreakoutTrapStrategy()
	{
		_lookbackPeriod = Param(nameof(LookbackPeriod), 20)
			.SetRange(5, 50)
			.SetDisplay("Lookback", "Period for high/low range", "Range");

		_maPeriod = Param(nameof(MaPeriod), 20)
			.SetRange(5, 50)
			.SetDisplay("MA Period", "Period for SMA exit", "Indicators");

		_candleType = Param(nameof(CandleType), TimeSpan.FromMinutes(1).TimeFrame())
			.SetDisplay("Candle Type", "Type of candles to use", "General");

		_cooldownBars = Param(nameof(CooldownBars), 500)
			.SetRange(1, 1000)
			.SetDisplay("Cooldown Bars", "Bars to wait between trades", "General");
	}

	/// <inheritdoc />
	public override IEnumerable<(Security sec, DataType dt)> GetWorkingSecurities()
	{
		return [(Security, CandleType)];
	}

	/// <inheritdoc />
	protected override void OnReseted()
	{
		base.OnReseted();
		_highs.Clear();
		_lows.Clear();
		_cooldown = default;
	}

	/// <inheritdoc />
	protected override void OnStarted2(DateTime time)
	{
		base.OnStarted2(time);

		_highs.Clear();
		_lows.Clear();
		_cooldown = 0;

		var sma = new SimpleMovingAverage { Length = MaPeriod };

		var subscription = SubscribeCandles(CandleType);
		subscription
			.Bind(sma, ProcessCandle)
			.Start();

		var area = CreateChartArea();
		if (area != null)
		{
			DrawCandles(area, subscription);
			DrawIndicator(area, sma);
			DrawOwnTrades(area);
		}
	}

	private void ProcessCandle(ICandleMessage candle, decimal smaValue)
	{
		if (candle.State != CandleStates.Finished)
			return;

		if (!IsFormedAndOnlineAndAllowTrading())
			return;

		// Maintain rolling high/low window
		_highs.Add(candle.HighPrice);
		_lows.Add(candle.LowPrice);
		if (_highs.Count > LookbackPeriod + 1)
		{
			_highs.RemoveAt(0);
			_lows.RemoveAt(0);
		}

		if (_highs.Count < LookbackPeriod + 1)
			return;

		if (_cooldown > 0)
		{
			_cooldown--;
			return;
		}

		// Find highest high and lowest low of the previous N bars (excluding current)
		decimal rangeHigh = decimal.MinValue;
		decimal rangeLow = decimal.MaxValue;
		for (int i = 0; i < _highs.Count - 1; i++)
		{
			if (_highs[i] > rangeHigh) rangeHigh = _highs[i];
			if (_lows[i] < rangeLow) rangeLow = _lows[i];
		}

		// False upside breakout: candle broke above range high but closed below it
		var falseBreakUp = candle.HighPrice > rangeHigh && candle.ClosePrice < rangeHigh;
		// False downside breakout: candle broke below range low but closed above it
		var falseBreakDown = candle.LowPrice < rangeLow && candle.ClosePrice > rangeLow;

		if (Position == 0 && falseBreakDown)
		{
			BuyMarket();
			_cooldown = CooldownBars;
		}
		else if (Position == 0 && falseBreakUp)
		{
			SellMarket();
			_cooldown = CooldownBars;
		}
		else if (Position > 0 && candle.ClosePrice < smaValue)
		{
			SellMarket();
			_cooldown = CooldownBars;
		}
		else if (Position < 0 && candle.ClosePrice > smaValue)
		{
			BuyMarket();
			_cooldown = CooldownBars;
		}
	}
}