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Candlestick Formations

Need a quick refresher on what each candlestick pattern looks like? Each card shows the shape and the one trait that defines it.

DojiOpen ≈ close — the body is a thin line1 candleInverted HammerBody at the bottom, upper wick ≥ 2× the body1 candleHammerBody at the top, lower wick ≥ 2× the body1 candleSpinning TopSmall body, even wicks on both sides1 candleBullish HaramiA small green body inside the red mother candle's body2 candlesBullish EngulfingA green body wraps the red one before it — bodies, not wicks2 candlesDragonfly DojiOpen ≈ close ≈ high — long lower wick only1 candlePiercing PatternGaps down, then closes above Candle 1's midpoint2 candlesMorning StarTall red → small star → tall green closing into Candle 1's body3 candlesThree White SoldiersThree rising green bodies, each closing near its high3 candlesTweezer BottomTwo candles with matching lows — the second reclaims what the first gave up2 candlesLong-Legged DojiOpen ≈ close, with extreme wicks on both sides1 candleThree Inside UpA bullish Harami, then a third green closing above it3 candlesBullish Abandoned BabyA doji gapped clear below both neighbours — shadows clear, not just bodies3 candlesBullish Belt HoldLong green, opens at its low — no lower wick at all1 candleHigh WaveA small real body under very long wicks both ways — a doji body makes it Long-Legged instead1 candleThree Outside UpA bullish engulfing, then a third green closing above it3 candlesHoming PigeonA Harami built from two red candles — the second sits inside the first2 candlesMatching LowTwo reds closing at the same price — the close matches, not the low2 candlesBullish Doji StarA long red, then a doji whose body sits below it — shadows may overlap2 candlesBullish Tri StarThree doji, the middle body below the other two — bodies gap, shadows may overlap3 candlesBullish KickingA red Marubozu, then a gap up to a green one — the bodies never overlap2 candlesBullish Tasuki LineLong green opening at or above the red's close — below it would be an engulfing2 candlesLast Engulfing BottomIn a DOWNTREND: green, then a red body engulfing it — an engulfing in the wrong trend2 candlesTakuri LineBody at the top, lower wick ≥ 3× the body — deeper than a Hammer1 candleLadder BottomFour reds down a staircase, the fourth growing an upper shadow, then a green opening above it and closing past its high5 candlesBullish Counterattack LinesLong red, then a long green closing level with candle 1's close2 candlesUnique Three-River BottomA red harami whose long tail undercuts candle 1's low, then a small green holding above it3 candlesBullish BreakawayA gap the decline leaves open, then one green closing back inside it5 candlesThree Stars in the SouthA long-tailed red, then shorter reds with rising lows, the last a marubozu inside the second's range3 candlesConcealing Baby SwallowFour reds, the last engulfing candle 3 including its shadows4 candlesFour-Price DojiOpen = high = low = close — a bare line, no body and no wicks1 candle

How candlestick formations work

A candlestick pattern's formation is its visual structure — the body, the wicks, and how many candles it spans. The body records the distance between open and close; the wicks record the extremes the session probed and rejected. Formation alone is identification, not a signal: a perfect Hammer in the wrong location is just a candle.

FAQ

What is a candlestick pattern formation?

Formation is the visual structure of a candlestick pattern — the body, the wicks, and how many candles it spans. The body records the distance between open and close; the wicks record the extremes the session probed and rejected. Formation alone identifies the shape; confirmation, context, and invalidation rules decide whether it is tradeable.

How many candles make up a candlestick pattern?

Patterns span one to five candles. Single-candle patterns include the Hammer, Inverted Hammer, the Doji family, and the Spinning Top. Two-candle patterns include the Bullish Engulfing, Harami, and Piercing Pattern. Three-candle patterns include the Morning Star and Three White Soldiers. The longest are continuation patterns: the Three-Line Strike spans four candles, and Rising and Falling Three Methods and Mat Hold span five.

What is the difference between a body and a wick?

The body is the rectangular section of a candle, drawn between the open and the close. The wick (also called the shadow) is the thin line extending above or below the body, marking the session high and low. Body color reflects direction; wick length reflects rejection.