Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding Intraday Trading
3. Importance of a Trading Strategy
4. Key Factors for a Successful Intraday Strategy
5. Top 4 Best Intraday Trading Strategies
   • 1. Moving Average Crossover Strategy
   • 2. Breakout Trading Strategy
   • 3. VWAP (Volume Weighted Average Price) Strategy
   • 4. Opening Range Breakout (ORB) Strategy
6. Intraday Risk Management Techniques
7. Best Timeframes and Market Sessions
8. Choosing the Right Stocks for Intraday
9. Common Mistakes Traders Make
10. Recommended Tools and Resources
11. Conclusion
12. FAQs

Introduction

Intraday trading is the art and science of capitalizing on short-term market movements by executing trades within the same trading day. Unlike long-term investing, intraday trading is not about the fundamentals of a company—it’s about timing, momentum, price action, and most importantly, strategy.

The intraday market is volatile, which means both risks and opportunities are high. While some traders treat it as a casino, the successful ones approach it like a business—with structure, rules, and a tested strategy.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the best intraday strategy and dissect what makes certain strategies more effective than others. By the end, you’ll have a clear, actionable roadmap that you can test and adapt to your trading style.

Understanding Intraday Trading

Intraday trading, also known as day trading, involves:

• Buying and selling securities within the same day
• Capitalizing on small price movements
• Relying heavily on technical indicators
• Using leverage to amplify returns

Popular intraday instruments include:

• Stocks
• Index Futures (e.g., Nifty, Bank Nifty)
• Options
• Commodities and Forex

Importance of a Trading Strategy

Without a defined strategy, intraday traders fall prey to:

• Emotional decisions
• Overtrading
• Random entries and exits
• Inconsistent results

A trading strategy provides:

• A structured approach
• Defined entry and exit points
• Risk control
• The discipline needed to thrive in fast markets

Key Factors for a Successful Intraday Strategy

Before diving into strategies, ensure your system includes:

1. Volatility: Look for stocks that move.
2. Volume: High liquidity ensures fast execution.
3. Clear Entry/Exit: Precise conditions to act on.
4. Risk-Reward Ratio: At least 1:2 or higher.
5. Stop-Loss Rules: To protect your capital.
6. Position Sizing: Trade size aligned with risk.

Top 4 Best Intraday Trading Strategies

1. Moving Average Crossover Strategy

What it is:
This strategy uses two exponential moving averages (EMAs)—a short-term and a long-term one (commonly 9 EMA and 21 EMA).

Buy Signal: When 9 EMA crosses above 21 EMA
Sell Signal: When 9 EMA crosses below 21 EMA

Chart Timeframe: 5-minute or 15-minute
Ideal Market Condition: Trending markets

Additional Filters:

• Confirm trend direction using RSI > 50
• Avoid trading during news events

Pros:

• Simple and effective
• Works well in strong trends

Cons:

• False signals in sideways markets

2. Breakout Trading Strategy

What it is:
Traders identify support and resistance levels and place trades when the price breaks out of these levels with volume confirmation.

Tools Needed:

• Horizontal trendlines
• Volume profile or OBV indicator
• Candlestick patterns (Marubozu, Engulfing)

When to Enter:

• After a breakout candle closes above resistance or below support
• Volume spike is present

Risk Control:

• Place stop-loss just below/above breakout level

Example:
If Nifty breaks above 22,500 with strong volume and momentum, it can rally quickly.

Pro Tip: Avoid breakout trades during lunch hours (12:00–2:00 PM IST) as volume tends to drop.

3. VWAP (Volume Weighted Average Price) Strategy

What it is:
VWAP acts as a dynamic support/resistance level. Institutions often place trades near the VWAP.

How it works:

• Buy: When price bounces from VWAP on high volume
• Sell: When price rejects VWAP after a pullback

Chart Timeframe: 5-minute
Indicators Used: VWAP + RSI + MACD (optional)

Ideal Market Condition: Trending or reversing after a gap-up/gap-down

Pros:

• Highly accurate when combined with volume
• Good for both entry and exit signals

External Reference:
Investopedia – VWAP Explained

4. Opening Range Breakout (ORB) Strategy

What it is:
Traders identify the high and low of the first 15 or 30 minutes of the trading session. A breakout from this range is used to trigger trades.

Steps:

1. Mark high and low of the first 15 minutes (9:15 AM to 9:30 AM)
2. Enter when price breaks above or below this range
3. Volume confirmation is key

Best for: High-momentum stocks, especially post news or earnings

Advantages:

• Trades start early in the day
• Works well with gap-up/gap-down stocks

Risk Management:
Tight stop-loss (below the range for long, above the range for short)

Intraday Risk Management Techniques

Risk management is the backbone of profitability. Here’s how to protect your capital:

• Set a maximum daily loss limit (e.g., 2–3% of capital)
• Use trailing stop-losses to lock in profits
• Never trade more than 5x margin, even if your broker offers more
• Risk per trade should not exceed 1–2% of total capital
• Journal every trade: note entry, exit, reason, and result

Best Timeframes and Market Sessions

Best Time to Trade (IST):

• 9:15 AM to 11:00 AM – High volatility and volume
• 2:00 PM to 3:15 PM – Second wave of momentum

Avoid:

• Midday (12:00 PM – 2:00 PM) due to low activity

Choosing the Right Stocks for Intraday

Not all stocks are fit for intraday trading. Here’s what to look for:

• High Daily Volume (at least 500,000 shares)
• Price above ₹100 for smooth execution
• Volatile stocks with 2-5% daily range
• News/Events: Earnings, upgrades, or government policy changes

Use tools like:

• Chartink Stock Screener
• NSE India Gainers/Losers
• TradingView Pre-Market Movers

Common Mistakes Traders Make

1. Overtrading due to FOMO
2. Ignoring stop-loss
3. No predefined plan or setup
4. Holding trades too long
5. Using too many indicators
6. Not journaling or analyzing trades

Recommended Tools and Resources

Charting Platforms:

• TradingView
• Zerodha Kite

Brokers for Intraday:

• Zerodha (Low brokerage)
• Upstox (Fast execution)

News/Scanners:

• Moneycontrol
• Economic Times Markets
• NSE Top Movers

Practice Tools:

• Paper Trading on TradingView
• Sensibull for option strategy testing

Conclusion

The best intraday strategy is one that suits your personality, trading style, and risk appetite. Whether you’re drawn to moving average crossovers, VWAP reversals, or breakout trading, the key lies in:

• Mastering one strategy
• Backtesting it
• Managing risk
• Being emotionally disciplined

Consistency beats complexity in trading. Focus on perfecting one setup rather than hopping between many.

📌 Final Tip: Keep learning, journaling, and reviewing. The market rewards patience, preparation, and practice—not luck.

FAQs

1. What is the best intraday strategy for beginners?

Beginners should start with VWAP or Moving Average Crossover strategies due to their simplicity and reliability.

2. How much capital do I need for intraday trading?

You can start with ₹5,000–₹25,000. However, ₹50,000+ gives better flexibility with position sizing and risk control.

3. Can I do intraday trading without technical indicators?

Yes, some traders use price action alone, but most combine it with basic indicators like RSI or VWAP for confirmation.

4. What is the best time to trade intraday?

Between 9:15 AM – 11:00 AM IST, as it has high volatility and directional movement.

5. How can I avoid losses in intraday trading?

Use strict stop-loss, never over-leverage, and stick to a predefined strategy. Avoid emotional or revenge trading.