Candlestick Patterns: How to Read and Use Them in Trading

Candlestick patterns help you see where the market might go next. They’re simple, visual, and work well even if you’re just starting out. This guide shows how to read them, what they mean, and how to use them when trading.

What Candlestick Charts Show

A candlestick chart shows how the price of an asset moved during a specific period. Each candle has four points:

Open price
High
Low
Close

The body of the candle shows the range between open and close. Wicks (or shadows) show the high and low. Green candles mean the price went up. Red means it went down.

These candles form patterns — and some of them repeat. That’s what traders watch.

Common Candlestick Patterns

Bullish Patterns (Price May Go Up)

These appear after a downtrend. They suggest the price might reverse and move higher:

Hammer: Small body, long lower wick. Often shows buyers stepping in.
Bullish Engulfing: A small red candle followed by a large green one that covers it.
Morning Star: Three candles: a red, a short candle (down or up), and a strong green one.

Bearish Patterns (Price May Go Down)

These appear after an uptrend. They suggest the price might start falling:

Shooting Star: Small body, long upper wick. Often shows buyers getting exhausted.
Bearish Engulfing: A green candle followed by a larger red one.
Evening Star: The reverse of a morning star.

Sideways Signals

When the market has no clear direction, look for doji candles (small body, long wicks). They often mean indecision.

How to Spot Patterns

To use candlestick patterns well:

Start with the trend — up, down, or sideways.
Mark key levels — support and resistance.
Look for clear shapes — hammers, engulfings, dojis.
Confirm with volume or other indicators.

Patterns work best near key price zones. Don’t trade them in the middle of nowhere.

Can Software Help?

Yes. Tools like TradingView let you scan for patterns automatically. They save time and help you watch more charts at once. But it’s still important to know what you’re looking at — so don’t skip the basics.

Conclusion

Candlestick patterns are a helpful way to read market sentiment. Use them with support/resistance, volume, and trend direction. Over time, you’ll get faster at spotting what matters — and you’ll make better decisions because of it.