Retests are one of the most overlooked opportunities in Forex trading. Many traders enter breakout trades immediately, but professional traders wait for the retest to confirm price reaction and improve risk-to-reward.
This post explains how to trade retests effectively using Smart Money Concepts (SMC).
What is a Retest?
- A retest occurs when price breaks a key level (support, resistance, OB) and then returns to test that level again.
- Retests confirm the strength of the breakout or level, providing safer entry points.
Retests are safer and often yield better reward-to-risk trades than entering immediately after a breakout.
Step 1: Identify Key Levels
Mark zones using higher timeframes (H4/Daily):- Support & Resistance
- Order Blocks (OB)
- Fair Value Gaps (FVG)
- Liquidity zones
Retests are most reliable at strong zones where institutions place orders.
Step 2: Watch for Breakout
- Wait for price to break above resistance or below support
- Ensure candle closes beyond the level for confirmation
- Avoid wick-only breakouts, which are prone to reversal
Breakouts set the stage for retests.
Step 3: Wait for Price to Retest
- After breakout, price often returns to the broken level
- Observe for pullback to OB, FVG, or liquidity zone
- Retest validates the strength of the breakout
Patience is key — entering on retest increases accuracy and reduces false entries.
Step 4: Confirm Market Structure (MS)
- Check trend alignment:
- Uptrend → Higher Low holds → bullish retest
- Downtrend → Lower High holds → bearish retest
- Look for Break of Structure (BOS) or Change of Character (CHoCH) if trend reversal occurs
MS confirmation ensures retest aligns with Smart Money direction.
Step 5: Enter Trade on Candle Confirmation
High-probability retest entry:- Price pulls back to broken level / OB / FVG
- MSS confirms trend continuation
- Candle confirmation appears (pin bar, engulfing, rejection)
- Enter trade
- Stop loss beyond OB or liquidity zone
- Risk 1–2% per trade
Example — Buy Retest
- H4 chart shows uptrend
- Resistance broken at bullish OB
- Price retests OB → rejection pin bar forms
- MSS confirms Higher Low → Enter Buy
Example — Sell Retest
- H4 chart shows downtrend
- Support broken at bearish OB
- Price retests OB → bearish engulfing forms
- MSS confirms Lower High → Enter Sell
Tips for Trading Retests
- Only trade retests in the direction of the trend
- Combine with OB, FVG, liquidity, and MSS
- Wait for candle confirmation before entering
- Avoid chasing retests too early
- Track trades and risk 1–2% per trade
Retests are one of the safest and most precise entry methods in Forex trading.
Final Message
Retests allow traders to enter trades with precision and lower risk:Trading retests with Smart Money Concepts ensures high-probability setups and consistent profits.Identify key level → wait for breakout → observe retest → confirm MSS → candle confirmation → enter → manage risk