Short-term trading is most tested by the main force's shakeout. One misstep and you might be forced out, only to see the price surge again afterward. To survive longer and earn steadily, the key is to learn how to distinguish the true intentions of the main force. By analyzing trading volume, price trends, technical indicators, market sentiment, and capital flow, you can build a reliable defensive system.

**Can trading volume be deceiving? No**
Trading volume is the hardest to fake and is the first window into understanding the main force's mindset. Shakeouts usually look like this: when the price drops, trading volume shrinks; during rebounds, volume starts to increase again. This combination indicates that the main force isn't unloading large quantities but is clearing out floating positions. Conversely, if volume surges during declines and diminishes during rises, it's dangerous—this is a true sign of distribution. A classic case: a certain coin shows a pattern of "shrinking volume on decline + increasing volume on rebound" for five consecutive trading days, then suddenly surges on day six with a limit-up, completing the shakeout. Also, watching for extremely low volume—when the price drops and volume drops by over 70% compared to the daily average—often signals the end of the shakeout. Short-term traders must pay attention to divergences between volume and price trends, as this is the golden key to catching shakeouts.

**Support levels are like exam papers; how the main force answers is crucial**
Observing price movements can directly reveal what the main force is doing. During shakeouts, they especially like to manipulate key levels. For example, deliberately breaking through a 60-day moving average or a previous low, causing many to cut losses, then quickly pulling back, leaving a long and ugly lower shadow. This is a typical false breakout and a signal for a shakeout. The specific pattern of price fluctuations also reveals many clues, which requires traders to accumulate experience and sensitivity through practical trading.