These three entry approaches show up repeatedly across short-term trading education, in various names. None is inherently superior — each trades off timing against confirmation differently.
Breakout Entry
Enter as soon as price closes beyond a defined level (a prior high/low, an opening range, a consolidation boundary). This captures a move as early as possible but accepts more false-breakout risk since there's less confirmation at entry.
Pullback/Retest Entry
Wait for price to break a level, then pull back to retest it before entering. This adds confirmation — the level has now been tested — at the cost of later timing and the risk that price never comes back to retest at all. See breakout retest explained for the underlying concept.
Momentum Continuation Entry
Enter in the direction of a move that's already clearly underway, rather than at the very start of it — for example, after a strong impulsive candle, on a brief pause before the move likely continues. This skips waiting for a specific level and instead reacts to visible strength, but means entering after some of the move has already happened.
Many traders combine these — for example, requiring a breakout with real momentum behind it, rather than treating each approach as a completely separate system.
None of These Work Every Time
Every entry style above has a corresponding failure mode: breakouts can reverse, retests can fail to hold, and momentum can stall right after you enter. That's why an entry strategy is only half of a trade plan — the exit side matters just as much. See options scalping exit strategies for that half.
Pair This With an Exit Plan
An entry without a planned exit is only half a strategy — see the exit side next.
Read Exit Strategies