ICT HRLR and LRLR — High and Low Resistance Liquidity Runs Explained

ICT's HRLR and LRLR concepts describe the quality and character of price delivery as it moves toward a liquidity target. A High Resistance Liquidity Run (HRLR) is one where price moves toward its target but with significant friction — chop, pullbacks, slow grinding movement. A Low Resistance Liquidity Run (LRLR) is one where price moves toward its target almost without resistance — large, clean displacement candles with minimal pullbacks. Understanding which type of run you are in directly affects how you manage your trade, where you move your stop, and whether you add to your position.

High Resistance Liquidity Run (HRLR)

A High Resistance Liquidity Run occurs when price is moving toward a liquidity target but encounters significant opposing pressure along the way. This manifests as overlapping candles, frequent pullbacks that retrace 50%+ of the prior swing, multiple small FVGs being left and immediately filled, and a general lack of momentum. Price is getting there — but slowly and with effort.

HRLR conditions typically indicate that institutional interest in the move is moderate, not dominant. There are competing institutional forces — some selling into the rally (for a bullish HRLR) or buying into the decline (for a bearish HRLR). The move will still likely reach its target, but the path is messier and stop management becomes more challenging.

In an HRLR, trailing stops aggressively is dangerous — the frequent pullbacks will stop you out before the target is reached. Instead, use wider stop placement and wait for the full target to be reached before taking profit, or use partial take-profit at the midpoint with a breakeven stop on the remainder.

Low Resistance Liquidity Run (LRLR)

A Low Resistance Liquidity Run is the opposite — price moves toward its target with minimal friction, displaying the characteristics of strong institutional commitment: large-bodied candles, minimal overlapping wicks, FVGs left in the wake of the move that price does not immediately fill, and sustained momentum across multiple candles or multiple sessions.

LLRs are the premium ICT trade management opportunity. When you recognize an LRLR developing, you can trail your stop more aggressively and consider scaling into additional entries on any minor retracements into the FVGs left by the displacement. The strong institutional momentum suggests the target will be reached quickly and the move can potentially extend beyond the original target.

Identifying HRLR vs LRLR in Real Time

• diamondCount the number of opposing candles as price moves toward the target. More than 40% opposing candles = HRLR. Less than 20% opposing candles = LRLR.
• diamondMeasure the retracement depth of pullbacks. Pullbacks retracing more than 50% of the previous swing = HRLR. Pullbacks retracing less than 30% = LRLR.
• diamondCheck if FVGs left during the move are being immediately filled. Immediate FVG fills indicate HRLR. FVGs left open and respected indicate LRLR.
• diamondMonitor the candle body-to-wick ratio. High-wick candles with small bodies = HRLR. Large-bodied candles with minimal wicks = LRLR.

Using HRLR/LRLR for Position Sizing

HRLR and LRLR also guide initial position sizing. When the HTF context and daily bias suggest an LRLR is setting up — clean displacement from a significant PD Array with strong structural alignment — this warrants a full-sized position. When the HTF context is mixed or the entry zone is less clean, suggesting an HRLR is more likely, reduce position size by 25-50% to accommodate the messier price action and wider stop requirement.

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