Candlestick Pattern Guide

All 32 one, two and three-candle formations used by the scanner. Each setup is only meaningful with its prior trend, then a confirmation candle and a clear invalidation level.

Reference percentages are educational labels, not guaranteed odds. The scanner uses relative candle size, wick ratios, trend context and structural rules; it never treats a shape alone as a buy or sell call.

32 patterns

Single formations 10

Hammerbullish60% reference label

After a decline: a small body at the top of the range with a clean lower shadow at least twice the body and filling most of it. Reported only on a prominent, heavier-than-usual-volume candle that stands out from the sessions around it — sellers pushed price down through the session and were bought back before the close.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close above the formation high.
Invalidation: A decisive close below the formation low invalidates the bullish reversal setup.

Inverted Hammerbullish60% reference label

After a decline: a small body at the bottom of the range with a clean upper shadow at least twice the body and filling most of it. Reported only on a prominent, heavier-than-usual-volume candle — a failed rally inside a downtrend, read as the first attempt to turn.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close above the formation high.
Invalidation: A decisive close below the formation low invalidates the bullish reversal setup.

Hanging Manbearish59% reference label

The hammer shape, but after an advance rather than a decline. Same candle, opposite context — which is the whole point: position in the trend is what names it.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close below the formation low.
Invalidation: A decisive close above the formation high invalidates the bearish reversal setup.

Shooting Starbearish59% reference label

After an advance: a small body at the bottom of the range with an upper shadow at least twice the body. Buyers drove price up and lost all of it by the close.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close below the formation low.
Invalidation: A decisive close above the formation high invalidates the bearish reversal setup.

DojineutralContext pattern

Open and close are effectively the same price. It is indecision, not a direction — which is why it is reported as neutral no matter where it appears.

Confirmation: Use it as indecision, not a directional call. Wait for a range break and nearby price structure.
Invalidation: There is no universal invalidation; the surrounding trend and support/resistance decide its relevance.

Dragonfly Dojibullish50% reference label

A doji whose open, high and close sit at the top of a long lower shadow. Bulkowski measures it near a coin flip, so it is worth seeing and not worth much on its own.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close above the formation high.
Invalidation: A decisive close below the formation low invalidates the bullish reversal setup.

Gravestone Dojibearish50% reference label

A doji whose open, low and close sit at the bottom of a long upper shadow. Also close to a coin flip in testing.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close below the formation low.
Invalidation: A decisive close above the formation high invalidates the bearish reversal setup.

Bullish MarubozubullishContext pattern

A long white body with almost no shadow either end: the session opened at its low and closed at its high. A statement of one-sided pressure, not a reversal signal.

Confirmation: Look for continuation above the high or a retest that holds the body.
Invalidation: A close back below the body midpoint or low weakens the momentum read.

Bearish MarubozubearishContext pattern

A long black body with almost no shadow: opened at its high, closed at its low.

Confirmation: Look for continuation below the low or a failed retest into the body.
Invalidation: A close back above the body midpoint or high weakens the momentum read.

Spinning TopneutralContext pattern

A small body with long shadows on both sides. Price travelled a long way in both directions and finished where it started.

Confirmation: Use it as indecision, not a directional call. Wait for a range break and nearby price structure.
Invalidation: There is no universal invalidation; the surrounding trend and support/resistance decide its relevance.

Two candle formations 10

Bullish Engulfingbullish63% reference label

After a decline: a white body that completely covers the previous black body. Common — Bulkowski ranks it 12th of 103 for frequency — but the move that follows ranks only 84th, so it turns price often and not far.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close above the formation high.
Invalidation: A decisive close below the formation low invalidates the bullish reversal setup.

Bearish Engulfingbearish79% reference label

After an advance: a black body that completely covers the previous white body.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close below the formation low.
Invalidation: A decisive close above the formation high invalidates the bearish reversal setup.

Bullish Haramibullish53% reference label

After a decline: a small body contained entirely within the previous long body. Barely better than a coin flip in testing — the smaller the second body, the more the literature expects of it.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close above the formation high.
Invalidation: A decisive close below the formation low invalidates the bullish reversal setup.

Bearish Haramibearish47% reference label

After an advance: a small bearish real body contained entirely within the previous long bullish body. The name promises a top, but the testing does not: Bulkowski measured it acting as a bullish continuation 53% of the time, so it reverses only about 47% — the one well-known pattern whose behaviour contradicts its name. Treat a bearish read as unconfirmed until price actually breaks the low.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close below the formation low.
Invalidation: A decisive close above the formation high invalidates the bearish reversal setup.

Bullish Harami Crossbullish55% reference label

After a decline: a long bearish candle followed by a doji contained inside its real body. It marks indecision after selling pressure and needs bullish follow-through.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close above the formation high.
Invalidation: A decisive close below the formation low invalidates the bullish reversal setup.

Bearish Harami Crossbearish43% reference label

After an advance: a long bullish candle followed by a doji contained inside its real body. Like the Bearish Harami, its name over-promises — Bulkowski measured it continuing higher about 57% of the time, so it reverses only around 43%. The doji marks indecision, not a confirmed top; wait for a decisive break of the low.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close below the formation low.
Invalidation: A decisive close above the formation high invalidates the bearish reversal setup.

Piercing Linebullish64% reference label

After a decline: price opens below the previous close and closes back above the midpoint of the previous black body. Half the prior session undone in one go.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close above the formation high.
Invalidation: A decisive close below the formation low invalidates the bullish reversal setup.

Dark Cloud Coverbearish60% reference label

After an advance: price opens above the previous high and closes back below the midpoint of the previous white body.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close below the formation low.
Invalidation: A decisive close above the formation high invalidates the bearish reversal setup.

Tweezer BottombullishContext pattern

Two sessions that stop at the same low after a decline. The shared level is the whole pattern.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close above the formation high.
Invalidation: A decisive close below the formation low invalidates the bullish reversal setup.

Tweezer TopbearishContext pattern

Two sessions that stop at the same high after an advance.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close below the formation low.
Invalidation: A decisive close above the formation high invalidates the bearish reversal setup.

Three candle formations 12

Morning Starbullish78% reference label

After a decline: a long black candle, a small-bodied candle that gaps down away from it, then a long white candle closing well into the first body. One of the stronger patterns in testing — 6th of 103.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close above the formation high.
Invalidation: A decisive close below the formation low invalidates the bullish reversal setup.

Evening Starbearish72% reference label

After an advance: a long white candle, a small body gapping above it, then a long black candle closing at least midway down the first body. Ranks 4th of 103 on the move that follows.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close below the formation low.
Invalidation: A decisive close above the formation high invalidates the bearish reversal setup.

Morning Doji Starbullish76% reference label

A morning star whose middle candle is a doji — indecision at the low rather than merely a small body.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close above the formation high.
Invalidation: A decisive close below the formation low invalidates the bullish reversal setup.

Evening Doji Starbearish71% reference label

An evening star whose middle candle is a doji.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close below the formation low.
Invalidation: A decisive close above the formation high invalidates the bearish reversal setup.

Three White Soldiersbullish82% reference label

Three tall white candles, each opening inside the previous body and closing near its own high. One of the strongest patterns Bulkowski measured — 3rd of 103 by reversal rate — and correspondingly rare, because the rules are strict.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close above the formation high.
Invalidation: A decisive close below the formation low invalidates the bullish reversal setup.

Three Black Crowsbearish78% reference label

Three tall black candles, each opening inside the previous body and closing near its own low. Ranks 3rd of 103 on the size of the move that follows.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close below the formation low.
Invalidation: A decisive close above the formation high invalidates the bearish reversal setup.

Three Inside Upbullish65% reference label

A bullish harami with a confirming third candle that closes above the second. The confirmation is what separates it from the harami alone, which is close to a coin flip.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close above the formation high.
Invalidation: A decisive close below the formation low invalidates the bullish reversal setup.

Three Inside Downbearish65% reference label

A bearish harami with a third candle closing below the second.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close below the formation low.
Invalidation: A decisive close above the formation high invalidates the bearish reversal setup.

Three Outside Upbullish75% reference label

A bullish engulfing with a third candle closing higher still.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close above the formation high.
Invalidation: A decisive close below the formation low invalidates the bullish reversal setup.

Three Outside Downbearish75% reference label

A bearish engulfing with a third candle closing lower still.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close below the formation low.
Invalidation: A decisive close above the formation high invalidates the bearish reversal setup.

Bullish Abandoned Babybullish70% reference label

A doji isolated by gaps on BOTH sides at the bottom of a decline — its whole range below the previous low and below the next low. Very rare, because a true gap on both sides of one session is rare.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close above the formation high.
Invalidation: A decisive close below the formation low invalidates the bullish reversal setup.

Bearish Abandoned Babybearish70% reference label

The same isolation by gaps, at the top of an advance.

Confirmation: Prefer the next candle to trade or close below the formation low.
Invalidation: A decisive close above the formation high invalidates the bearish reversal setup.