Candlestick Patterns for Beginners 2023
Candlestick patterns are visual representations of price movements in financial markets. They consist of individual “candles” that provide information about the opening, closing, high, and low prices for a specific time period. By analyse the shape, colour, and arrangement of these candles, traders can identify patterns that indicate potential reversals or continuations in price trends.
The Basic Candlestick Components

A single candlestick consists of three main parts: the body, the upper shadow (wick), and the lower shadow (wick). The body represents the price range between the opening and closing prices, while the shadows indicate the highest and lowest prices reached during the time period. Different combinations of body colours and shadow lengths create various candlestick patterns.
Body
The body of the candlestick represents the price range between the opening and closing prices. If the closing price is higher than the opening price, the body is usually colours green or white, indicating a bullish market sentiment. Conversely, if the closing price is lower than the opening price, the body is typically colour red or black, indicating a bearish market sentiment.
Wick (or Shadow)
The wick, also known as the shadow, extends from both ends of the body and represents the range between the highest and lowest prices during the trading session. It provides insights into price volatility and the battle between buyers and sellers.
Bullish Candlestick Patterns

Hammer Pattern
The hammer pattern is a bullish reversal pattern that often appears at the end of a downtrend. It signifies a potential trend reversal and suggests that buyers are gaining control over sellers. The pattern resembles a hammer, with a small body and a long lower wick.
Here are the key features of a hammer pattern.
- The candle has a small body near the top of the candle.
- The lower wick is significantly longer than the body.
- The pattern appears after a downtrend, indicating a potential trend reversal.
When you spot a hammer pattern, it indicates that sellers have exhausted their downward pressure, and buyers are stepping in. It can be a signal for beginners to consider entering a long position or closing their short positions.
Bullish Engulfing
The bullish engulfing pattern occurs when a small bearish candle is followed by a larger bullish candle that completely engulfs the previous candle. This pattern indicates a shift in market sentiment from bearish to bullish and often precedes significant price rallies.
Piercing Line
The piercing line pattern consists of a bearish candle followed by a bullish candle that opens below the previous candle’s low and closes above its midpoint. This formation suggests that buyers are gaining strength and could potentially reverse the current downtrend.
Morning Star
The morning star pattern is a three-candle formation that signals a potential bullish reversal. It begins with a long bearish candle, followed by a small-bodied candle that indicates indecision, and ends with a long bullish candle. This pattern suggests that the bulls are taking control after a period of selling pressure.
Hanging Man Pattern
The hanging man pattern is a bearish reversal pattern that often appears at the end of an uptrend. It signifies a potential trend reversal and suggests that sellers are gaining control over buyers. The pattern resembles a hanging man, with a small body near the top of the candle and a long lower wick.
Here are the key features of a hanging man pattern.
- The candle has a small body near the top of the candle.
- The lower wick is significantly longer than the body.
- The pattern appears after an uptrend, indicating a potential trend reversal.
When you spot a hanging man pattern, it indicates that buyers have lost their upward momentum, and sellers are taking charge. It can be a signal for beginners to consider exiting long positions or even entering short positions.
Reed More : https://moneyfreetips.com/what-is-portfolio-management-finance/
Bearish Candlestick Patterns

Shooting Star Pattern
The shooting star pattern is a bearish reversal pattern that often appears at the end of an uptrend. It signifies a potential trend reversal and suggests that sellers are gaining control over buyers. The pattern resembles a shooting star, with a small body near the bottom of the candle and a long upper wick.
Here are the key features of a shooting star pattern.
- The candle has a small body near the bottom of the candle.
- The upper wick is significantly longer than the body.
- The pattern appears after an uptrend, indicating a potential trend reversal.
When you spot a shooting star pattern, it indicates that buyers have exhausted their upward momentum, and sellers are stepping in. It can be a warning for beginners to consider exiting long positions or even entering short positions.
Bearish Engulfing
The bearish engulfing pattern is the opposite of the bullish engulfing pattern. It forms when a small bullish candle is followed by a larger bearish candle that engulfs the previous candle entirely. This pattern indicates a shift from bullish to bearish sentiment and often precedes significant price declines.
Dark Cloud Cover
The dark cloud cover pattern occurs when a bullish candle is followed by a bearish candle that opens above the previous candle’s high and closes below its midpoint. This formation suggests that sellers are gaining strength and could potentially reverse the current uptrend.
Evening Star
The evening star pattern is the bearish counterpart to the morning star pattern. It consists of a long bullish candle, followed by a small-bodied candle indicating indecision, and ends with a long bearish candle. This pattern suggests a potential reversal in Favor of the bears.
Reversal candlestick Patterns
DOJI Pattern
The DOJI pattern is a significant candlestick pattern that represents indecision in the market. It occurs when the opening and closing prices of a candle are almost identical, resulting in a very small body. The DOJI pattern suggests that the market is evenly balanced between buyers and sellers.
To recognize a DOJI pattern, look for the following characteristics.
- The candle has a very small body.
- The wicks on both ends of the candle are usually long.
- The pattern can appear at various points in a trend, indicating possible reversals or continuations.
A DOJI pattern signifies a potential trend reversal or continuation, depending on its location within the existing trend. It indicates that neither bulls nor bears have the upper hand and that a significant price move may be imminent.
Tweezer Tops and Bottoms
Tweezer tops and bottoms occur when two consecutive candles have matching highs (tweezer tops) or lows (tweezer bottoms). These patterns suggest a possible reversal in the current price trend and can be strong signals when combined with other technical indicators.
Three Inside Up/Down
The three inside up pattern consists of three candles. In the bullish version, the first candle is a long bearish candle, followed by a smaller bullish candle that is entirely contained within the range of the previous candle. The third candle is a larger bullish candle that closes above the second candle’s high, confirming the bullish reversal.
Three White Soldiers/Black Crows
The three white soldiers pattern is a bullish reversal pattern characterized by three consecutive long bullish candles. Each candle closes higher than the previous one, indicating a strong buying pressure. Conversely, the three black crows pattern is a bearish reversal pattern with three consecutive long bearish candles, suggesting a strong selling pressure.
Continuation candlestick Patterns

Rising Three Methods
The rising three methods pattern occurs within a bullish trend and consists of a long bullish candle followed by a series of smaller bearish candles that retraces a portion of the previous candle’s gain. The final candle is another long bullish candle that continues the upward trend, indicating a potential continuation of the prevailing bullish sentiment.
Falling Three Methods
The falling three methods pattern is the bearish counterpart to the rising three methods. It occurs within a bearish trend and consists of a long bearish candle followed by a series of smaller bullish candles that retraces a portion of the previous candle’s decline. The final candle is another long bearish candle that continues the downward trend, indicating a potential continuation of the prevailing bearish sentiment.
Bullish/Bearish Harami
The bullish harami pattern occurs when a large bearish candle is followed by a smaller bullish candle that is entirely contained within the range of the previous candle. This pattern suggests a potential reversal from bearish to bullish. Conversely, the bearish harami pattern occurs when a large bullish candle is followed by a smaller bearish candle that is entirely contained within the range of the previous candle, indicating a potential reversal from bullish to bearish.
Belt Hold
The belt hold pattern occurs when a single candle opens near its low (bullish belt hold) or high (bearish belt hold) and closes near its high or low, respectively, without significant shadow. This pattern suggests a continuation of the current price trend and can provide valuable entry or exit signals.
FAQs
1.How can I effectively use candlestick patterns in my trading strategy?
Candlestick patterns should be used in conjunction with other technical indicators and analysis methods. They serve as a valuable tool for confirming or validating potential trade setups.
2.Are candlestick patterns equally effective in all financial markets?
Candlestick patterns can be applied to various financial markets, including stocks, forex, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. However, it’s important to consider the specific characteristics and dynamics of each market.
3.Can candlestick patterns guarantee profitable trades?
No trading strategy or indicator can guarantee profits. Candlestick patterns provide insights into market sentiment and potential price movements, but they should be used as part of a comprehensive trading approach that includes risk management and proper analysis.
4.How can I learn more about candlestick patterns?
There are numerous resources available, including books, online courses, and educational websites that delve deeper into the subject. Additionally, hands-on experience and practice in live market conditions are invaluable for understanding and applying candlestick patterns effectively.
5.How long does it take to become proficient in analyse candlestick patterns?
The time it takes to become proficient in analyse candlestick patterns varies from person to person. It depends on factors such as the amount of time dedicated to learning, practice, and experience gained through real-time trading. Consistent effort and continuous learning are key to mastery.
Conclusion
Candlestick patterns are powerful tools that traders use to analyse market sentiment and predict price movements. By understanding and recognizing various candlestick patterns, traders can gain an edge in their decision-making process. Whether it’s identifying potential reversals or confirming continuation trends, these patterns offer valuable insights into market dynamics.
Mastering candlestick patterns is an essential skill for any trader. Through careful observation and analysis, one can harness the power of these patterns to make informed trading decisions. Remember to practice and refine your understanding of candlestick patterns through real-time market observation and back testing strategies. With time and experience, you’ll become more proficient in utilizing these patterns to your advantage.
1 thought on “Candlestick Patterns for Beginners 2023”