Table of Contents
This episode features Lithuanian trader Dovydas Pinskus—nearly a decade in the markets, known for technical precision, live-trading accountability, and turning disciplined process into real returns. He breaks down why profitable trading isn’t guessing but reacting, and how he refined his approach from scattered tactics to a step-by-step system built on bias, liquidity, and confirmation. If you’re a beginner or leveling up from demo to live, Dovydas’ plain-spoken focus on testing your edge and protecting capital will land.
In this breakdown, you’ll learn Dovydas’ exact framework: weekly bias, daily structure, 30-minute liquidity, and 5-minute confirmations—plus how he “shaves” risk when timeframes disagree and manages positions with 1:3 targets, partials, and occasional runners. We cover the psychology gap between backtesting and execution, the “two-loss stop” rule to keep you from tilt, and why session timing (London/New York) matters as much as lines on a chart. By the end, you’ll have a beginner-friendly playbook you can practice today: set the bias, wait for the liquidity grab, confirm the shift, and execute without drama.
Dovydas Pinskus Playbook & Strategy: How He Actually Trades
Core Bias Framework (top-down to execution)
Before you chase any candle, know your bias. This is Dovydas’ backbone: start wide, narrow fast, then execute where the risk is smallest and the information is richest. The goal is to trade with the path of least resistance and let lower timeframes fine-tune timing.
- Weekly → define trend and HTF premium/discount zones; trade with the dominant swing unless a clear reversal structure forms.
- Daily → mark key highs/lows, imbalances, and liquidity pools you expect to be raided soon.
- 30-minute → map session ranges, VWAP or midlines, and the most recent swing structure that the intraday price is respecting.
- 5-minute (or 1–3m if you’re nimble) → wait for a market structure shift after a deliberate liquidity grab before you even think “entry.”
- If timeframes disagree, reduce size by 50% or skip; only full size when Weekly/Daily bias aligns with intraday structure.
Liquidity First: where price is likely to go before it goes
Dovydas prioritizes where stops sit. Price often tags those areas, then moves. You’ll anticipate the sweep instead of reacting to it, so your entries follow the smart side of volatility rather than becoming its victim.
- Pre-session, mark obvious equal highs/lows, prior day high/low, Asian range extremes, and swing highs/lows with clustered wicks.
- Expect a stop-hunt into those pools during London and New York opens; plan for the reaction, not the first touch.
- No trade inside the middle of a range: wait for the sweep at the edge, then confirmation back inside the structure.
- Skip setups where the nearest opposing liquidity is closer than your target (poor R: R); you need room for at least 2R cleanly.
Sessions & Timing: when the edge actually shows up
The edge isn’t “always on.” Dovydas concentrates his effort where volume concentrates: open drives and session overlaps. That keeps you out of the chop and focused on windows with real follow-through.
- Primary windows: London open (first 90 minutes) and New York open to lunch (first 2 hours).
- Stand down 10 minutes before and after high-impact news unless the plan is a post-news reversal setup.
- If price expands strongly pre-open into a marked liquidity pool, look for the fade back into structure once the session kicks in.
- Two high-quality windows beat five low-quality stabs—limit yourself to 1–3 planned trades per session.
Entry Model: confirmation over prediction
You’re not guessing tops/bottoms; you’re trading a shift after the stop-run. Dovydas wants the market to prove intent, then he joins with defined risk and clear invalidation.
- After a sweep, require a break of minor structure (BOS/CHOCH) on your trigger timeframe.
- Enter on the first clean retrace to the origin of the shift (e.g., last up/down candle, small imbalance, or clear micro-support/resistance).
- Place stops beyond the sweep extremity plus a small buffer; never inside the wick that just ran the stops.
- If the retrace misses by a tick, let it go—no chasing; the edge is in repetition, not rescue.
Risk Sizing & Daily Guardrails
Survival is a rule set, not a hope. Dovydas hard-codes limits so one bad day can’t erase a month. Your job is to make sure math works even when you’re not at your best.
- Fixed fractional risk per trade (e.g., 0.5%–1%); never scale risk to “make back” losses.
- Daily stop: max two consecutive losses or −2R total—shut it down for the day.
- Weekly drawdown cap (e.g., −6R): reduce risk by 50% until back above the threshold.
- Only scale up risk after 20+ trades at current size showing positive expectancy.
Trade Management: turn good entries into paid outcomes
The entry is the start, not the result. Dovydas systematizes exits so winners pay and losers stay small, removing the need for hope mid-trade.
- First partial at +1R to pay costs; move stop to break-even only after structure confirms (new HL/LH prints).
- Core target at next obvious liquidity pool or measured move (2R–3R typical); leave a small runner when HTF space is open.
- If price stalls and prints opposing signals before the first partial, cut early at −0.5R; don’t “wish” it back.
- Never widen stops. If invalidated, flat—then re-assess for a fresh setup.
A+ vs B Setups: grade the impulse, grade the context
Not all signals are equal. Dovydas separates the cream from the noise so size and expectations match reality.
- A+ requires: HTF bias aligned, clean pre-marked liquidity taken, decisive structure shift, and room to next target ≥2R.
- B setup: missing one of the A+ ingredients; trade at half size or pass if the week’s already green.
- No-trade if HTF levels are messy, news is imminent, or spread/volatility skews your stop beyond acceptable risk.
Pattern Library (used with liquidity + shift)
Patterns are tools, not predictions. Dovydas uses simple, repeatable cues that pair with the liquidity sweep and structure shift—no curve-fitting, just execution.
- Rejection block + shift: long wick into pool, fast reclaim, break of micro-structure → retrace entry.
- Breaker flip: failed breakout past prior high/low, immediate reclaim, then continuation back through the range.
- Fair-value gap tap: displacement creates a small imbalance; first return fills it, then trend resumes.
- Consolidation raid: range builds, one-sided stop-run, reversal through the range to the opposite boundary.
Precision Levels & Tools
Levels guide you; rules protect you. Keep your chart clean and let a few well-chosen tools do the heavy lifting.
- Mark prior day/week high/low, session highs/lows, and clear swing points; avoid clutter beyond that.
- Optional guides: session VWAP, midline of range, and a rolling average true range to set a realistic target distance.
- One higher timeframe for context, one intraday for mapping, one trigger timeframe for execution; no indicator stacking.
Pre-Trade Checklist (read out loud before clicking)
A checklist keeps emotion out and process in. Dovydas externalizes the rules so discipline doesn’t depend on mood.
- HTF bias set? Key liquidity pools marked? Room to 2R target available?
- News window clear? Session window active? Spread/vol acceptable for stop size?
- Sweep happened? Structure shift printed? Entry level defined with invalidation beyond the sweep?
- Risk sized correctly? Daily/weekly limits intact? If two losses hit, you’re done.
Post-Trade Review & Metrics
Progress is measured, not imagined. Dovydas tracks tags and outcomes so the playbook evolves toward what actually pays.
- Journal tags: session, setup type (A+/B), direction, liquidity cue used, R multiple achieved, management actions taken.
- Weekly review: top 10 trades by R and bottom 10 by process violations; cut a pattern that underperforms across 30+ samples.
- Expectancy sheet: win rate, average win (R), average loss (R), frequency by session; size up only when expectancy and sample size support it.
Common Failure Modes & Fixes
You’ll drift—everyone does. The point is to notice and correct quickly. Dovydas bakes countermeasures into the workflow.
- Chasing after a sweep: mandate the structure shift first; no shift, no trade.
- Overtrading midday chop: restrict entries to pre-defined session windows; alarms off outside them.
- Moving stops: replace with a rule—either structural invalidation or time-based exit if momentum dies.
- Revenge trading: two-loss lockout, chart closed, review later; process over pride.
Scaling & Account Growth Rules
Compounding is earned by consistency, not by hope. Dovydas treats size as a privilege that the stats must justify.
- Increase risk by 25% after every +10R net gain with drawdown under your cap; roll back after −6R.
- Withdraw a portion at new equity highs to de-risk psychology; keep your “operating stake” stable.
- Add size only to A+ setups for the first two weeks after a scale-up to validate the new clip.
Implementation Plan for Newcomers (first 30 days)
You don’t need to do everything at once. Start with structure, then layer in nuance as you collect reps.
- Days 1–5: map HTF levels and session highs/lows; no trades, just mark sweeps and shifts that would have triggered.
- Days 6–15: take only one setup per session, fixed 0.5% risk, journal every parameter, and screenshot your chart.
- Days 16–30: review 20–30 trades, identify your highest-expectancy combo (session + pattern), and narrow focus to that play.
- At 30 days: keep what pays, cut what doesn’t, and formalize your personal A+ checklist.
Size Risk First: Fixed-R Rules That Survive Every Market Day
Dovydas Pinskus starts every decision with risk, not entries, because the math decides whether your edge gets paid. He runs a fixed-R framework, so every loss is the same size and every winner is measured against that unit, removing the temptation to “feel” your way into size. That means choosing a constant percent risk per trade and sticking to it, whether the setup looks pretty or not. The outcome is consistency: smooth equity curves beat streaky hero trades.
He also enforces a hard daily stop—two losses or −2R and he’s flat—so one choppy session can’t wreck the week. Before clicking, he checks if volatility makes his stop sensible; if ATR or session range is too wide, size down or skip it. Winners scale by R-multiples and structure, not vibes, and stops never widen once the trade is live. In short, Dovydas Pinskus treats sizing as a system, because strategy without fixed risk is just gambling with better screenshots.
Trade Mechanics Over Prediction: Wait, Confirm, Execute, Then Manage Like Pro
Dovydas Pinskus doesn’t try to outguess the market; he makes the market show its hand. He waits for a liquidity sweep and a clear structure shift before even thinking about entry, because confirmation beats prediction over a large sample. Once the shift prints, he executes on the first clean retrace with his stop beyond the sweep extremity, not inside the wick that just trapped everyone. That small discipline—wait, confirm, execute—turns randomness into repeatability.
After entry, Dovydas Pinskus manages the position like a checklist, not a mood. He takes partials at predefined R-multiples, moves to break-even only after structure confirms, and lets runners breathe when higher timeframes have space. If momentum dies or an opposing signal appears before the first partial, he cuts early and keeps the loss controlled. The result is a boring, professional loop: the setup proves itself, the trade is taken, and the management rules cash the ticket or cap the damage.
Volatility-Based Allocation: Scale Exposure With ATR, Session Range, Not Ego
Dovydas Pinskus sizes trades to the market’s mood, not his own confidence level. When ATR expands or the opening range stretches, he reduces position size so the same stop distance still costs the same fixed R. If volatility contracts and structure is tight, he allows slightly larger size because the stop is naturally closer. This keeps risk per trade constant in dollars while adapting to changing price speed.
He also caps total exposure per session, so a wild London or New York open can’t overlever the account. Targets and partials are set relative to current range statistics, ensuring that a 2R goal actually fits inside the day’s typical movement. If spreads blow out or slippage spikes around news, he either halves the size or passes entirely. The rule is simple and unemotional: Dovydas Pinskus lets volatility dictate clip size so survival and compounding aren’t left to luck.
Diversify Edge by Underlying, Strategy, and Duration—Not Just Tickers
Dovydas Pinskus spreads his edge across different “dimensions,” not just more symbols. He mixes underlyings (FX majors, indices), strategies (trend continuation after a sweep, range fade post-stop-run), and durations (scalps during opens, swing holds when higher timeframes align). This cuts correlation shock—when one idea misfires, another profile often still pays. He pre-allocates risk per bucket so no single playstyle can dominate the day’s P&L.
Dovydas Pinskus also staggers entries and exits by time horizon to avoid one candle deciding everything. If the intraday scalp hits the target, he may keep a reduced runner only when the daily structure agrees; if not, he flattens and looks for the next uncorrelated setup. He avoids stacking three trades that are secretly the same exposure—same direction, same catalyst, same session impulse. Real diversification means distinct logic and distinct timing, so one narrative can’t sink the whole boat.
Define Risk, Define Reward: Kill Undefined Risk and Respect Drawdown Guardrails
Dovydas Pinskus treats undefined risk like a fire hazard—if a trade can gap beyond your plan or has no clean invalidation, it’s off the table. He sets stops at structural levels, not arbitrary pips, and pairs them with pre-declared profit targets so every position has a known payoff profile. If the market changes character mid-trade, he reduces size or exits instead of “hoping” it comes back. Reward is planned, not prayed for: partials pay the bills, runners earn the bonus only when higher timeframes support it.
He also hard-codes drawdown rules: daily lockout after −2R, weekly throttle at a preset max loss, and no adding to losers—ever. When a sequence of losses hits, Dovydas Pinskus automatically cuts risk until the stats recover, keeping compounding intact. He reviews each violation like a referee, tagging the exact moment the rules were broken and rewriting the trigger that allowed it. Define risk, define reward, and guard the downside ruthlessly—the upside takes care of itself when the floor is solid.
In the end, Dovydas Pinskus’ edge is a disciplined circuit: set a clear higher-timeframe bias, stalk liquidity where other traders place stops, and only pull the trigger after a visible structure shift—no guessing, just reacting. He contrasts his early, scattered approach with today’s step-by-step system and emphasizes that emotions fade when execution is bound to rules and a repeatable process built on bias → liquidity → confirmation. He treats support/resistance as future fuel for stop-runs, prefers entries after those sweeps, and keeps weekly/daily bias in control even when lower timeframes tempt a flip.
Timing and risk rules do the heavy lifting. He focuses on London and New York, waits for prices to come into prepared levels, and only then hunts for confirmation—exceptions don’t define the rule. He shaves risk when momentum is one-sided or when price “hangs” around levels, avoids becoming the liquidity himself, and caps the damage with lockouts: two losses end the day; four end the week. Underpinning it all is an obsession backed by testing—strategy, risk management, and trade management form his profitable triangle, and every rule ties back to that.
