Welcome to MBLS Trading Lab
Hi, I'm Leonid. If you're new to trading and not sure where to begin, you're in the right place.
I've been trading since 2011, so I know exactly what it feels like to be a beginner. I went through plenty of ups and downs before I understood what trading is really about and how to approach the markets.
Along the way, I've traded forex, futures, stocks, ETFs and options, and each market taught me something different. Today I specialize in stocks, so everything I teach on this site is built around US stocks and ETFs.
My goal is to help you avoid the mistakes I made early on, without spending years learning them the hard way. The most common one? Jumping straight to strategies, indicators and "secret setups" before understanding the basics: how to read a chart, where price tends to turn, and how to protect your money.
Here, you'll learn the foundations first, in plain language, with each lesson building on the last. You won't find hype, hot tips or shortcuts, just the skills that actually matter, taught one step at a time.
Below, you'll see what's covered, how it all fits together, and exactly where to start.
What you'll learn here
Everything on this site comes back to four skills. Together, they are the foundation every trader needs, whatever style or market you end up choosing.
Reading a price chart
What each candlestick tells you, and how to see what buyers and sellers are doing.
Spotting key levels and patterns
Support and resistance, candlestick patterns like the Hammer, and why where a pattern appears matters more than the pattern itself.
Managing risk
How much to risk on a trade, where stops go, and why small losses are what keep you in the game.
Thinking clearly
Patience, discipline and realistic expectations, because the hardest part of trading is usually the trader.
How learning works here
Learning to trade happens in two stages. First you understand an idea, then you practice it until it becomes a skill.
Stage 1 · Free
Understand it: the free articles
What is this pattern or idea, and why does it matter? This is where everyone starts, and it's free.
Stage 2 · Members
Practice it: the MBLS Learning Lab
This is where knowledge turns into skill. New content arrives every single week: you'll see the patterns from the articles on real charts, test yourself with practice exercises, plan setups step by step and get your questions and charts reviewed. It's the bridge between reading about trading and actually being able to read a chart with confidence.
Here's how the free articles and the Learning Lab compare:
| Free articles | MBLS Learning Lab |
|---|
| What you get | The knowledge: what a pattern or concept is and why it matters | The skill: how it plays out on real US stock and ETF charts, when it works and when it fails |
| Real chart reviews | Examples inside each article | A new Weekly Chart Breakdown every Sunday |
| Practice | Read at your own pace | "Spot the setup" exercises, trade-plan practice and a trading journal |
| Tools | None | Cheat sheets, checklists, a position-size worksheet and templates |
| Personal help | None | Monthly Q&A with reviews of your own charts |
| Updates | New articles regularly | New content every week, and new tools added over time |
| Price | Free | $5/month for founding members, then $9/month |
The articles give you the knowledge. The Learning Lab gives you the practice, the tools and the feedback to turn that knowledge into a real skill.
Your free beginner path
Trading is learned in layers. Skip one and the next one won't make sense. Work through these seven steps in order. Each step tells you what you'll learn and which articles to read.
1See the big picture: how to learn trading
Start with a map of the whole journey. Learn the key steps every beginner should take, what to focus on first, and the common mistakes to avoid along the way.
2Understand technical analysis and why it matters
Before you look at a single chart, understand what technical analysis is, how it differs from fundamental analysis, and why price charts are a trader's main tool.
3Learn to read charts: structure and patterns
Learn the language of the chart: what each candlestick tells you, where price tends to stop or turn, and your first reversal patterns.
4Protect your money: risk management
The skill that keeps traders in the game. Learn how much to risk on each trade, where stops go, and how much money you really need to start.
5Master the mental side: emotions and expectations
Most traders don't fail because of their charts. They fail because of fear, greed and unrealistic expectations. Learn why, and how to keep a clear head.
6Find the trading style that fits you
Day trading, swing trading or long-term investing? Each one fits a different schedule and personality. Pick the one that suits your life.
7Prepare a trade plan and practice safely
Bring it all together. Before risking real money, decide in advance what you'll trade, where you'll enter, where your stop goes and what your target is, then practice on paper or a demo account.
A full guide to building your trade plan is coming soon. In the Learning Lab, you'll practice planning real setups every month.
Want to explore on your own? Browse all articles by category.
MBLS Learning Lab
When you're ready for more
Reading about a pattern is one thing. Spotting it on a real chart, knowing when to trust it and planning what you'd do about it is another. Most beginners get stuck right in that gap. The Learning Lab is built to get you across it, with fresh chart reviews, hands-on practice and tools you'll keep using.
Something new every week, all year long
The Learning Lab isn't a one-time download. It keeps growing. In a typical month, members get:
- 4 Weekly Chart Breakdowns, one every Sunday, based on that week's real market
- 2 Pattern Deep Dives, each with a new cheat sheet
- 1 Setup Case Study
- New practice exercises to test what you've learned
- A monthly Q&A post answering members' questions and charts
That's 8 or more new pieces every month, plus new tools and resources as the Lab grows. The longer you're a member, the bigger your library gets, and the sharper your eye for charts becomes.
Fresh chart reviews, every week
- Weekly Chart Breakdown every Sunday. 3–5 real US stock and ETF charts from the past week, marked up with the patterns from the articles. You'll see which setups worked, which failed, and exactly why.
- Pattern Deep Dives, twice a month. Variations, failure cases, how volume and RSI help confirm, and a step-by-step checklist.
- Setup Case Studies. One setup followed from start to finish, so you see how all the pieces fit together.
Hands-on practice
- "Spot the setup" exercises. Real charts with the answer hidden. Find the pattern and key levels yourself, then check your thinking against mine.
- Trade-plan practice. Plan a setup on paper (entry, stop, target and risk-to-reward) before risking a single dollar.
- A trading journal template to track what you notice and see your progress over time.
Tools you'll keep using
- A printable cheat sheet for every pattern. One page to keep next to your screen.
- Step-by-step checklists you can run on any chart.
- A position-size worksheet so good risk habits become automatic.
Personal help and a growing library
- Monthly Q&A. Send your questions and your own charts, and I'll answer them in writing.
- A members' beginner path, so you always know what to study next.
- A library that grows every week, sorted by pattern.
- New tools, exercises and resources added regularly, based on what members ask for.
Why it's the natural next step: the free articles give you the knowledge, and the Learning Lab gives you the repetition. Seeing the same patterns on real charts week after week, testing yourself and planning setups on paper is how knowledge turns into a skill you can actually use. It's practice, without risking your money while you learn.
$5 a month for the first 100 founding members
Locked in for as long as you stay. After that, it's $9 a month or $79 a year. Cancel anytime. Founding memberships open soon.
What you won't find here
- No buy or sell signals. I'll never tell you what to trade. You'll learn to read the chart yourself.
- No "get rich quick" promises. Trading is a skill, and skills take time.
- No hype, no jargon for its own sake. If a term matters, I'll explain it in plain English.
Everything here is education, built around real charts and honest examples, including the setups that didn't work.
Who this site is for
It's a great fit if you:
- Are new to trading, or have tried it and felt lost
- Want to understand why price moves, not just copy someone else's trades
- Prefer to learn step by step, at your own pace
- Are willing to be patient and practice
It's probably not for you if you:
- Want trade alerts or someone to tell you what to buy
- Are looking for a way to get rich fast
Questions beginners often ask
I'm a complete beginner. Is this for me?
Yes. The free beginner path above starts from zero. You don't need any prior knowledge.
Do I need money to start learning?
No. You can learn how charts, patterns and risk work long before you put any money on the line. In fact, that's the order I'd recommend.
How much time do I need?
About 20–30 minutes per article. In the Learning Lab, the Weekly Chart Breakdown takes around 15 minutes to read, so an hour or two a week is plenty to make steady progress.
Which markets do you cover?
The ideas apply to any chart. The weekly breakdowns use US stocks and ETFs, because they're the most common starting point.
Do I have to join the membership?
Not at all. The articles are free and always will be. The Learning Lab is for when you're ready to go further and learn faster. Members get new content every week, in-depth pattern breakdowns, real chart case studies, hands-on practice exercises, tools like a trade-plan template and trading journal, and a monthly Q&A where I answer your questions. It's the quickest way to turn what you read here into real skill.
Can I cancel the membership anytime?
Yes, from your account page. You keep access until the end of the period you paid for.
Ready to start?
The best first step is the simplest one: open the step 1 article and read it today. Then take the next step tomorrow.
Want to know when the Learning Lab opens and get the founding-member price? Join the waitlist and I'll let you know first. No spam, just new articles and the launch announcement.
Thanks for being here. Take it one step at a time. I'm glad you're on this journey.
— Leonid
Education only, not financial advice. Trading involves substantial risk of loss. See the Risk Disclosure and Disclaimer.
