Chase the Gap

Gaps create opportunity – but only when they are handled correctly. Chasing price blindly after a gap often leads to poor entries, while waiting too long can mean missing the move entirely. The solution is simple and structured: chase the gap only after price confirms strength relative to VWAP.

What a gap tells you

A gap reflects an imbalance between supply and demand. Something changed overnight, and price is repricing quickly. • Buyers were willing to pay higher prices immediately • Sellers stepped aside at lower levels • Emotion and urgency are elevated early in the session This environment requires discipline, not impulse.

Why VWAP matters after a gap

VWAP helps determine whether the gap is being accepted or rejected. • Pullbacks below VWAP signal hesitation • Reclaims above VWAP show buyers regaining control • Strength away from VWAP confirms participation The goal is not to buy the dip into VWAP – it’s to buy strength away from it.

Important note

Buying as price rallies away from VWAP allows risk to be clearly defined. Entries should always have an obvious stop location.

How the trade is framed

This approach was first outlined years ago and remains consistent today. • Let the gap occur • Allow price to pull back and stabilize • Enter as price reclaims and moves higher from VWAP Even entries that feel “late” can still offer excellent opportunity when structure is intact.

Example

In a strong gap scenario, buying above VWAP with a stop just below a short-term low can still produce favorable results, even if the absolute low was missed.

Caution

Chasing without confirmation turns momentum into risk. VWAP provides the filter that separates impulsive trades from structured ones.

The takeaway

• Gaps reflect urgency and imbalance • VWAP helps determine acceptance of the gap • Buy strength away from VWAP, not weakness into it • Clear risk definition matters more than perfect timing Chase the gap with confirmation – or wait. Discipline is the edge.