Module 2 · The Tape
Aggressor Side
Trades at the ask vs at the bid — the most important field.
In this lesson you'll
- Read the aggressor of each print
- Map at-ask = buyer aggressor, at-bid = seller aggressor
- Use color to read pressure
Every print executes at either the bid or the ask, and that tells you who was the aggressor — the single most important field on the tape:
- Trade at the ASK → the buyer was the aggressor (a taker lifted the offer). Bullish pressure. Often colored green.
- Trade at the BID → the seller was the aggressor (a taker hit the bid). Bearish pressure. Often colored red.
Key takeaways
- Trade at the ask = buyer aggressor (bullish, often green).
- Trade at the bid = seller aggressor (bearish, often red).
- Aggressor side is the most important field on the tape.
- The same logic colors the footprint (ask vs bid volume).
Check your understanding
Pick an answer to reveal instant feedback. Answer every question to complete the lesson.
Why that's off: Selling aggression prints at the BID, not the ask.
Why that's off: Every trade has an aggressor; at-ask means the buyer.
Why that's off: The print price (bid vs ask) tells you the aggressor.
A trade at the ask means a taker lifted the offer — an aggressive buyer. That's bullish pressure, usually shown green on the tape.
Why that's off: Aggressive buying prints at the ASK.
Why that's off: Hitting the bid is aggressive (taker), not passive.
Why that's off: It clearly signals seller initiative.
Prints at the bid are sellers hitting the bid — aggressive selling. A fast series of them shows downward initiative pressure.
Educational content only. Nothing here is financial or trading advice. Order-flow and options patterns shift probabilities; they never guarantee outcomes.