Suspension Block
Also: ICT Suspension Block, suspension block, double volume imbalance candle
Visual Context Required
This concept requires chart visuals for full understanding.
The ICT Suspension Block is a single candlestick that has a volume imbalance at BOTH its high end (upper wick/high) AND its low end (lower wick/low) simultaneously — meaning there is an inefficiency above the candle's high relative to the previous candle AND an inefficiency below the candle's low relative to the following candle. The candlestick itself is "suspended" between two volume imbalances. It acts identically to a Fair Value Gap as a PD array: price is expected to return to it and react from within its range. Critical structural rule: the candlestick does NOT need to be an inefficiency itself — it need not have gone through only one pass. The suspension block is defined entirely by the presence of two volume imbalances framing the single candle, one at the high end and one at the low end. Wicks overlapping prior candles to the LEFT of the suspension block do NOT disqualify it. ICT explicitly states: "it does not matter if there's wicks that had already crossed over that to the left of it." The suspension block is graded using the same quadrant system as a wick or FVG: - Upper quadrant (75% level) - Consequent encroachment (50% midpoint — CE) - Lower quadrant (25% level) When price approaches the suspension block: - Bullish suspension block: expect support within its range; stop-loss entries and limit entries can be placed at CE or lower/upper quadrant - Bearish suspension block: expect resistance within its range Character inversion: After price reverses through and displaces past the suspension block, it can invert and behave as an Inversion Fair Value Gap — the former support becomes resistance (bullish → bearish) or vice versa. ICT introduced this concept publicly on October 1, 2025, stating explicitly: "I've never taught it before. I've never given it to anybody."
Identification7
- Locate a single candlestick on any timeframe.
- Check the HIGH end: there must be a volume imbalance between the high of this candle and the prior candle (i.e., a gap or insufficient overlap creating an inefficiency above the candle's high).
- Check the LOW end: there must be a volume imbalance between the low of this candle and the next candle (i.e., a gap or insufficient overlap creating an inefficiency below the candle's low).
- Both volume imbalances must be present simultaneously on the SAME single candle — this is the defining characteristic.
- The candlestick itself need not be an inefficiency (it can have had multiple passes). The only requirement is the two framing volume imbalances.
- Wicks from neighboring candles to the LEFT of the suspension block crossing through its range do NOT invalidate it.
- Grade the suspension block: apply a FIB or manual 25/50/75 quadrant levels across the candle's full range (high to low). Upper quadrant = 75%, CE = 50%, lower quadrant = 25%.
Entry4
- Bullish suspension block entry: wait for price to trade into the range; enter long at CE (consequent encroachment) or the lower quadrant level with stop below the low of the block.
- Bearish suspension block entry: wait for price to trade into the range; enter short at CE or the upper quadrant level with stop above the high of the block.
- Aggressive entry: at upper quadrant (bullish) or lower quadrant (bearish) on first touch.
- Conservative entry: at CE or lower quadrant after confirmation candle (bullish).
Stop3
- Bullish: below the low of the suspension block (below the lower volume imbalance).
- Bearish: above the high of the suspension block (above the upper volume imbalance).
- Tight version: one tick below the lower quadrant (bullish) or one tick above the upper quadrant (bearish).
Target2
- Short-term target: the draw on liquidity identified from the higher-timeframe context (sell-side or buy-side liquidity pool).
- As with all PD arrays: target is not the PD array itself but the liquidity beyond the current range.
Invalidation2
- If price closes a candle through and beyond the full range of the suspension block from the opposite side, the block's support/resistance character may be diminishing (treat like a filled FVG — watch for inversion behavior instead).
- If price closes a session (daily close) beyond the block, reassess whether inversion logic now applies.
Inferred Conditions (Unvalidated)
- The suspension block is most powerful when it appears at a time-anchored level: session open, within the first 30 minutes of the opening range, or inside a macro time window. This convergence elevates it to a 'loaded deal' setup per the Secret To Selecting PD Arrays framework (Oct 14, 2025).
- The suspension block functions as one of the strongest single-candle PD arrays because price is held in suspension between two algorithmic inefficiencies — both the upside and downside are 'unfinished business' until the algorithm resolves them.
- Per Oct 12, 2025 advanced liquidity session: the consequent encroachment of the suspension block is a high-precision level — ICT explicitly references 'consequent encroachment of the suspension block' as a target-level tool.
- When a suspension block appears inside a larger bullish FVG range and price holds above the CE of the suspension block during a retracement, this is exceptionally bullish — both inefficiencies above and the FVG are still open.
ICT Quotes
""this is my ICT suspension block...I've never taught it before. I've never given it to anybody.""
""Whenever you have one single candle that has a volume imbalance to the low and a volume imbalance to the high, that is going to act just like a fair value gap. And it does not matter if there's wicks that had already crossed over that to the left of it.""
""it's being suspended between two volume imbalances. That's why I named it suspension block. This is extremely strong. It's one of the most powerful.""
""the candlestick need not be inefficiency. In other words, it need not have any one single pass with the candlestick.""
Timeframes
Version History8 versions
ICT YT - 2025-10-01 - ICT Suspension Block and Review 09-30-2025.srt
""this is my ICT suspension block...I've never taught it before. I've never given it to anybody. Whenever you have one single candle that has a volume imbalance to the low and a volume imbalance to the…"
First public introduction. Brand-new PD array type, never previously taught. Core definition: single candle suspended between two volume imbalances (one at high end, one at low end). Acts like a FVG. Wicks to the left do NOT invalidate. Graded with upper quadrant, CE, lower quadrant. Can invert like an inversion FVG.
ICT YT - 2025-10-12 - Advanced ICT Liquidity Concepts 10-11-2025.srt
""the candlestick need not be inefficiency. In other words, it need not have any one single pass with the candlestick.""
Clarification: the single candle at the center of the suspension block does not itself need to qualify as an inefficiency (no single-pass rule applies to the block candle). The structure is defined by the two surrounding volume imbalances, not the character of the center candle. Also, the consequent encroachment of the suspension block is referenced as a precision entry/target level.
ICT YT - 2025-10-14 - ICT Secret To Selecting Algorithmic PD Arrays 10-14-2025.srt
""suspension, block. It comes down to it here, and then rallies up the bodies stop below the upper quadrant.""
Live demonstration: during a strong bullish run, price retraced to a suspension block and held above the upper quadrant before resuming higher — showing that in extremely bullish conditions, price may not even reach CE before reversing. The suspension block is confirmed as a key reference for holding runners in trending markets.
25 - From Vision To Execution.en.srt
"Oh, here's the daily chart. And I just recently in 2025 released another PD array. It's the suspension block. It's an inefficiency. Now, normally folks would look at this candlesticks low to that cand…"
LIQUIDITY VOID DISTINCTION: ICT explicitly clarifies that the suspension block is NOT a liquidity void. A liquidity void is when there is NO trading at all — an actual gap with zero buying and selling. The suspension block has had trading (buying and selling occurred within the candle), but the inefficiency is framed by the two volume imbalances at each end. Also confirms the suspension block range is defined by the candle's open and close (body), not its full wick range when identifying the core inefficiency between the two volume imbalances.
18 - How Do I Engage Markets When I Don't Have An Initial Bias？.en.srt
"So the suspension block in here it drew up into that. And the consequent encroachment of this suspension block, then we're probably just going to hammer around inside the range."
Consequent encroachment of the daily suspension block used as a key reference level for determining whether price is bullish or bearish. If price stays below the CE of the suspension block, it is likely to consolidate. If price trades above the CE, the upper half acts as an inversion fair value gap (bearish). Gradient levels on the suspension block are introduced — the block is graded from high to low using quadrant levels, and each gradient level acts as a draw on liquidity or a resistance/support reference. The daily suspension block's gradient levels are carried forward onto intraday charts as key reference points.
17 - ICT Technical Review ⧹ NQ Futures March ⧹ February 03, 2026.en.srt
"And that daily suspension block turn inversion fair gap that's bearish. That's the midpoint of that. So we get a SMT divergence."
Suspension block inversion: when price trades through and past the suspension block, it can turn into an inversion fair gap. The midpoint (CE) of the inverted suspension block acts as a resistance level. Combined with SMT divergence between ES and NQ at the suspension block level, this provides a high-probability short setup. Also demonstrates grading the discount wicks below the suspension block with gradient levels for identifying draws on liquidity below.
15 - ICT 2026 Smart Money Concepts Lecture ⧹ February 11, 2026.en.srt
"There's a volume imbalance at the top. There's a volume of bounce at the low. So that's why I toggle. I want to see where all the volume imbalances are. And if there's a setting option that I when I t…"
TRADINGVIEW TOGGLE RULE: ICT explains that different TradingView volume imbalance settings can show or hide the lower volume imbalance of a suspension block. The correct setting is the one that reveals BOTH volume imbalances (at high and low). If toggled wrong, you won't see the volume imbalance at the low and won't identify the suspension block. Users should toggle the setting until both imbalances appear on the same candle. The gradient levels from the daily suspension block's high to low are mapped onto intraday charts as key support/resistance references.
09 - ICT 2026 Market Commentary ⧹ March 08, 2026.en.srt
"has a volume imbalance which makes it a suspension block. It's a bside and balance cell sign efficiency array, but it has a volume imbalance at the bottom where the bodies don't touch and the bodies d…"
Application on dollar index daily chart. Identifies a BISI (buyside imbalance sellside inefficiency) with a volume imbalance at the bottom as a suspension block. Adds practical body-position rule: when price retraces into a bullish suspension block, bodies should stay in the upper half (lighter/non-volume- imbalance area). Bodies entering the lower half where the volume imbalance exists is undesirable. Wicks can enter the lower half but body closes should remain above the midpoint for the block to maintain its bullish support character.
Notes
The Suspension Block is a genuinely new PD array type introduced publicly for the first time on October 1, 2025. It has no prior documentation in the ICT corpus. Key distinctions from related concepts: - Fair Value Gap: requires a 3-candle structure with a gap between candle 1's high and candle 3's low (bullish FVG). The suspension block is a SINGLE candle. - Order Block: requires identifying the last down-close (bullish OB) or up-close (bearish OB) candle before a displacement. The suspension block is identified by the TWO volume imbalances framing it, not by its close direction. - Rejection Block: identified by a long wick with specific close-to-high ratio. The suspension block requires imbalances on BOTH ends simultaneously. The suspension block is the only known ICT PD array defined by the presence of imbalances on BOTH sides of a single candle simultaneously. Per Oct 14, 2025 demonstration: the suspension block is particularly useful for holding positions through retracements in trending markets — when the bodies of consolidation candles coalesce near the CE or upper quadrant (in a bullish context), this "encroachment" around the block level signals continuation rather than reversal. See also: fair-value-gap.yaml, inversion-fair-value-gap.yaml, rejection-block.yaml, order-block.yaml, volume-imbalance.yaml
Asymmetry Notes
Symmetrical. A bullish suspension block is a candle with a lower volume imbalance (support character) AND an upper volume imbalance (upside target character) — price approaching from below is supported; the upper imbalance represents the next draw. A bearish suspension block has the same dual-imbalance structure but in a premium (distributing) context. The inversion character mirrors the Fair Value Gap inversion: once the market displaces through and beyond the block, it transitions from support to resistance (or vice versa), functioning as an Inversion Suspension Block.