How to Use the S/R Card
The S/R card is a context + decision tool. It keeps you trading around key levels instead of chasing mid-air candles.
Read.. Analyze.. Mark.. Snipe.. Your job is to wait for price to come to you.
1) What This Card Is (and Is NOT)
- A map of key pivots (Support / Resistance / PP).
- A distance tool: how close you are to a decision level.
- A environment check: tight vs wide conditions (compression).
- A confluence hint: when multiple timeframes cluster near the same zone.
- A buy/sell signal service
- A prediction machine
- A reason to trade when price is in the middle of nowhere
2) How to Read It (Top to Bottom)
This selects which pivot set is “active” for the main levels.
Day traders live on Daily. Swing traders respect Weekly. Position respects Monthly.
Tip: don’t mix up “active pivots” with “alignment zones.” Alignment is separate and can still matter.
“Nearest” tells you the closest decision level right now. If price is far from levels, you’re usually in mid-zone noise.
RAMS: if you’re not near a level… you don’t need a plan yet. You need patience.
RVOL is the crowd size. Levels matter more when participation is real. Low RVOL can still move… but it’s easier to get faked out.
These are scenario prompts, not signals. They tell you what “must happen” for buyers or sellers to prove control at the nearby level.
Tip: let price do the talking. Triggers protect you from forcing trades.
These are the pivot levels. The small pill numbers show how far each level is from current price. Use them to understand:
- Where you are (near support, near resistance, or mid-zone)
- Where the magnets are (next levels above/below)
- Where risk is clean (entries near levels, not in the middle)
3) Compression (This Is Your “Environment” Meter)
Compression tells you if price is boxed in between nearby support/resistance (tight) or if the space is wide (wide). This matters because it changes your expectations:
Smaller room. More chop risk. You need cleaner confirmation and tighter execution.
Balanced. You can trade normally, but still respect nearby walls.
More room. Bigger swings possible… but don’t confuse “wide” with “safe.”
4) D/W/M Alignment Zones
Alignment zones appear when multiple timeframes cluster near the same price area. That’s confluence behavior.
When levels from different timeframes agree, the level tends to attract more attention. More eyes = more reactions.
Treat it like a “battle zone.” You don’t predict the winner… you wait for reaction + confirmation.
Note: PRICE tells you where we ARE. VOLUME tells you where we are GOING.
5) RAMS Playbooks (Day • Swing • LEAPS)
- Use the S/R card to find the nearest decision level (support or resistance).
- Respect compression: tight environments demand cleaner confirmations.
- Use RVOL as the lie detector: if participation is weak, be defensive.
- Execute around levels: reaction .. retest .. confirmation (no chasing).
- Anchor yourself with Daily + Weekly context (don’t get hypnotized by 5m noise).
- Use 1H pivots to plan entries, but respect higher timeframe alignment zones.
- Look for pullbacks into support stacks and avoid buying directly into stacked resistance.
- Let the market “accept” levels before sizing up.
Swing rule: you don’t need the exact bottom… you need alignment and structure.
- Monthly + Weekly zones are your “big map.”
- Add on pullbacks into major support clusters, not after extended runs into resistance.
- Use compression + distance to avoid buying when the reward is already consumed.
- Think like a business: define invalidation, protect capital, stay patient.
6) Common Mistakes (That Kill Good Traders)
If price is not near a meaningful level, you’re usually flipping coins. DON'T do coin flips.
Tight conditions often mean chop. Wide conditions can mean whipsaws. Either way… adjust expectations.
The card literally shows you where the walls are. Don’t buy at the ceiling.
Participation is the fuel. Without fuel, breakouts are often traps.
7) Quick Start (If You’re New)
- Select your timeframe (Daily is the best default for most users).
- Check “Nearest” and decide: near a wall or in the middle?
- Read compression: is it a clean environment or a warning label?
- Use RVOL to judge participation (strong fuel vs weak fuel).
- Only plan trades around levels. Let price prove it.
Disclaimer
RAMS Off The Charts provides market data and analytical tools for educational purposes only. Nothing on this site is financial advice, investment advice, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Trading involves risk, and you are responsible for your own decisions, risk management, and outcomes. Past performance does not guarantee future results.