Retail investors want to make money, but first they need to understand what the main players are doing. Where are the big players accumulating shares, and where are they distributing? Understanding this logic will give you a significant advantage in trading.

**Main Player Accumulation: The Art of Bottom-Finding**

After a long decline in stock price, the big players start to move. During this phase, the stock price is still falling, but smart money is quietly accumulating. Main players usually begin their actions at the bottom or at trend reversal points. Common accumulation methods include: suppressing the price to absorb shares (pushing down to buy), sideways accumulation (quietly accumulating), and limit-up accumulation (building positions on rising momentum). This process is slow, often taking over a month, and sideways accumulation can even last three months.

**Main Player Shakeout: Clearing the Uncommitted**

After accumulating, the main players need to quickly move away from their cost basis—yet the rise shouldn't be too rapid. At this stage, they start shakeouts: the goal is clear—eliminate those who want to take profits early or cut losses, making the remaining shares more stable. Typical shakeout techniques include: suppression shakeouts, sideways shakeouts, and box-range oscillations. The larger the oscillation, the cleaner the shakeout.

**Main Player Ramping Up: The Beginning of Market Divergence**

Once the shakeout succeeds, the stock begins to accelerate upward. The main players use a few tactics here: stair-step increases (gradually rising), relying on moving averages (using technical support), and limit-up surges (directly pushing higher). Trading volume will show typical patterns like "volume increases during rises and decreases during pullbacks." As the acceleration phase arrives, market divergence becomes evident, and risk starts to accumulate.

**Main Player Distributing: The High-Point Frenzy**

By this stage, the main players have made substantial profits. They start distributing shares at high levels, gradually loosening their holdings. Distribution isn't abrupt; they may choose sideways distribution at high levels, stair-step declines, limit-up distributions, or fake breakouts—gradually offloading shares bit by bit. The entire distribution cycle is usually lengthy and not a one-time clear-out.

These four stages constitute the complete cycle of the main players. Mastering this logic will elevate your understanding of the market to a new level.