Opening range breakout analysis for intraday charts
The opening range breakout is one of the most popular intraday setups for SPY, QQQ and high-volume stocks, but most bad ORB trades come from the same mistakes: a range that's too wide, a breakout without volume, or chasing far from the level.
The ORB lens marks the opening range on your chart, checks the breakout candle, volume and room to the next level, and tells you if the chart doesn't actually show the session open. ORB needs an intraday chart, and if yours isn't one, the breakdown says so instead of guessing.
The 6 rules your chart is graded on
Weights add up to 100. Each rule passes or fails with a one-line reason, and code converts the points to an A–F grade.
The opening range (first 5/15/30 min) is visible with a clear high and low.
A candle closed decisively outside the range (not just a wick).
Volume increased on the breakout candle(s).
A retest of the range edge held (or price hasn't fallen back inside).
Price is on the breakout side of VWAP or the day's trend.
The range isn't unusually wide, so risk stays manageable.
What it marks on your chart
- Opening range high
Clear high of the first range.
- Opening range low
Clear low of the first range.
- Breakout candle
Decisive close beyond the range.
- Volume
Volume rose on the break.
- VWAP
Price is on the breakout side of VWAP.
Closes, not wicks
Opening range breakouts fail most often on wicks that poke through and snap back. A full candle close beyond the range, with volume, and a retest that holds is what separates a real breakout from a trap.
Who it's for: Day traders and 0DTE options traders working the first hour of the session.
Questions
What timeframe should I upload?
A 1–15 minute chart that shows the session open. The opening range is usually the first 5, 15 or 30 minutes.
Does it work for options?
Yes. Options traders upload the underlying's chart (SPY, QQQ, TSLA and so on). The breakdown reads price action on the underlying.
What if I upload a daily chart?
You'll get a clear 'doesn't fit this chart' result with a better-fitting strategy suggested, rather than a made-up ORB read.
Learn the concepts
Support is an area where buying has stepped in before, slowing or reversing declines.
A breakout and retest is a three-step sequence: price breaks through a well-defined level, comes back to test it from the other side, and holds.
The opening range is the high and low price set during the first part of the trading session, often the first 5, 15 or 30 minutes.
Try the Opening Range Breakout lens on your chart
Upload a screenshot and get a clear breakdown in about 10 seconds. Your first 3 are free, no card needed.