Level 2 quotes are essential IMO
Here is a easy way to get them ....open a Scotiabank I trade account and put in like 100 bucks. They have Level 2 quotes included in their trading platform and you can go look at them there and then trade in whichever platform you use. Level 2 allows you to see and time who is in front of you and who is behind you. You will see exactly how many shares are available at those prices . Use this info to sneak around the competition without getting "partial buys or sells" on your account. You can use them effectively when buying or selling. You can get a good idea of how the stock is behaving for the next couple hours based on BOTH the volume numbers stacked up on both sides of buy & sell and the price values. Also allows you to see big walls coming . Once you get used to using them you will wonder how you ever traded without. Trust me.