Playbook

Opening Dip Reclaim (ODR) Strategy

A disciplined 20-minute SPY options playbook designed for the market open volatility window (6:33–6:53am PT). This strategy focuses on capturing the reclaim of opening dips with strict risk management.

Select Scenario

Position Tracker

Waiting for Entry
Entry Premium
Current Premium
P/L %
P/L ($)
1 contract × 100

ODR Strategy Simulation

Good Day

Clean dip and reclaim pattern leads to profit target

6:30 AM ETCandle 1 / 30
$583.05$583.86$584.66$585.47$586.27$587.086:30 AM6:35 AM6:40 AM6:45 AM6:50 AM6:55 AM
Speed:
1x
Opening Range
VWAP

Signal Timeline

Sounds on
Opening Range Begins6:30 AM

Market opens. First 5 minutes establish the Opening Range (OR). Watch for high and low of this period.

Opening Range Set6:34 AM$584.86

OR High: $585.19 | OR Low: $584.86. Now watching for price to dip to VWAP or OR Low.

Dip Detected!6:39 AM$584.07

Price dipped to VWAP zone ($584.84). This is the first condition for entry. Now watching for reclaim.

VWAP Reclaimed!6:44 AM$584.12

Price closed back above VWAP ($584.54). Second condition met. Now need hold confirmation.

Hold Confirmed!6:46 AM$584.52

Price held above VWAP for 2 consecutive candles. All entry conditions met!

🎯 ENTRY SIGNAL6:47 AM$584.52

Enter LONG at $584.52. Buy 0DTE/1DTE Call at nearest strike. Set stop loss at -25%.

💰 PROFIT TARGET HIT6:56 AM$585.95

Exit at $585.95. +20% profit target reached. Close position and done for the day!

Opening Range Begins

Market opens. First 5 minutes establish the Opening Range (OR). Watch for high and low of this period.

Core Concept

The ODR strategy capitalizes on a common market pattern: the initial volatility at market open often creates a dip that gets reclaimed within the first 20 minutes. By waiting for confirmation of the reclaim, we enter with higher probability setups.

The Pattern:

  1. 1. Market opens with volatility (6:30 AM PT)
  2. 2. Price dips toward VWAP or Opening Range Low
  3. 3. Price reclaims the level and holds
  4. 4. Enter long on confirmation, exit at target or time stop

Entry Criteria

Wait for Opening Range (6:30–6:35)

Mark the high and low of the first 5 minutes

Price dips toward VWAP or OR-Low

Wait for the dip, don't chase

Reclaim + Hold confirmation

Price closes above level AND holds for at least 1 candle

Trend filter passes (Safer Mode)

Price above Premarket VWAP OR Yesterday's Close

Exit Rules

Profit Target

Take profits at +20% premium (adjustable 10-35%)

Stop Loss

Exit at -25% premium (hard stop at -35%)

Time Stop

Exit by 6:48-6:50 AM PT regardless of P/L. Must be out by 6:53.

Risk Management

One trade maximum per day

No revenge trading after a loss

Daily loss cap: $60 (adjustable)

One mistake can erase multiple small wins

Limit orders only

Never market order at the open

1DTE ITM recommended

Better survivability than 0DTE

What NOT to Do

Don't buy red panic candles during the dip

Don't enter before 6:35 AM PT

Don't hold past 6:53 AM PT

Don't trade on major news days without extra caution

Don't average down on a losing position

Don't take a second trade after hitting daily cap

Safer Mode (Recommended)

Safer Mode adds additional filters to reduce the number of trades but improve quality:

1DTE ITM contracts only

No 0DTE trades for better survivability

Trend filter required

Price must be above Premarket VWAP OR Yesterday's Close

Trend Filter Options:

  • OR (default): More practical, more trades
  • AND: Stricter, fewer but higher quality trades

Trading Timeline (Pacific Time)

6:30 AM — Market Opens

Do nothing. Let spreads stabilize. Confirm no major news.

6:33 AM — Preparation

Begin marking Opening Range. Turn on VWAP indicator.

6:35 AM — Opening Range Complete

OR High/Low established. Watch for dip toward VWAP/OR-Low.

6:35–6:45 AM — Entry Window

Wait for dip + reclaim + hold. Enter only on confirmation.

6:48–6:50 AM — Time Stop Warning

Begin exiting if target not hit. Don't hold hoping for more.

6:53 AM — Hard Exit

Must be completely out of position. No exceptions.