It’s easy to think you need some complicated formula to catch fast-moving stocks.
But what if there was a simple move, something you could spot with just a glance, that shows up over and over again?
And it’s hiding in plain sight!
When certain conditions align, it can trigger rapid, sharp moves in just minutes.
Traders have been using this for years, taking advantage of a price level most people overlook. But when it breaks, everything changes…
And once you understand how it works, you’ll start seeing it everywhere.
Most traders share the same misconceptions about options trading…
Myth #1: “Options are too complicated.”
Myth #2: “Options are too risky.”
Myth #3: “Options trading is just luck.”
In the LAST Options Bootcamp of 2025, 20-year pro Ben Sturgill breaks it down so clearly, you’ll go from “I don’t get it” to “This makes total sense” in under 2 days.
And you’ll learn how one of his top students went from $600 to $3,000 by week three of trading.*
No Greeks. No complex math. Just real trades and lightbulb moments.
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The Dollar Cross Play: A Simple, Powerful Setup That Just Works
Sometimes the best trades aren’t the flashy ones, but the reliable setups you can spot and execute with confidence.
That’s exactly what makes the Dollar Cross Play so powerful.
The concept is simple: When a legitimate penny stock gaps up with volume and starts testing the $1.00 mark, you pay attention.
See, $1.00 isn’t just any price level. It’s a psychological and technical milestone.
It’s the difference between a “sub-dollar junk stock” and something that looks a little more legitimate. And when a stock breaks that level, it can attract a wave of attention from momentum traders, dip buyers, even funds that won’t touch stocks under $1.
Why the Dollar Cross Works
It taps into a predictable pattern of crowd behavior. The $1 break acts as a magnet, drawing in volume, triggering algorithms, and fueling fast upside.
It’s not usually a home-run play, and that’s the point. The goal is to take quick, manageable wins: 10%, 20%, 30%, and sometimes more.*
With this setup, you’re not guessing. Instead, you’re waiting for a clean technical level to break, with a catalyst and volume to support the move. Then you’re in and out, aiming to stack small wins, not bagholding into a pullback.
What the Setup Looks Like
Here’s how it works…
- A penny stock trades under $0.99 in premarket.
- A strong catalyst emerges (news, earnings, sector momentum, etc.)
- There’s real volume (not just a chart pattern, but actual liquidity).
- The stock makes a clear push toward $1.00 after the open.
Once the $1.00 level starts to get tested, set your alert. A clean break is often your entry.
Your risk level should be tight, like 5 to 10 cents, and your upside can be 2x or more.
This isn’t a swing trade. It’s a momentum pop. Get in and get out.
Wednesday’s Textbook Example
Wednesday morning, Politico dropped news with the following headline:
This was no joke for the robotics sector…
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), which has its own robotics division, ran nearly 4%. That’s a massive move for a mega-cap.
And the speculative penny stock plays weren’t ignored!
Nauticus Robotics (NASDAQ: KITT) has traded below $1 for the last several weeks, but that all changed yesterday…
Right after the news broke, the stock broke through $1, and it was off to the races. From the dollar-cross to its high in the after-hours session, KITT gained 95%.
See the price action below:
Intraday, 5-Minute Candles Chart; SteadyTrade
My Final Thoughts…
The Dollar Cross Play is a workhorse setup that is one of the most reliable strategies in small-cap momentum trading. It’s built on repeatability, not hype.
In a world where many traders chase wild breakouts and unpredictable squeezes, this setup gives you structure, control, and consistency.
It’s not about swinging for the fences but about stacking small gains again and again.
Master this one, and you’ll always have a dependable edge when the market gives you the right conditions.
Have a great weekend, everyone. See you back here on Monday.
Tim Bohen
Lead Trainer, StocksToTrade