Chart Patterns Cheat Sheet

Double Bottom

A double bottom forms when price tests a support level twice and bounces both times, creating a 'W' shape. It signals that sellers failed to push price lower on the second attempt, indicating a potential bullish reversal.

Double Top

A double top forms when price tests a resistance level twice and reverses both times, creating an 'M' shape. It signals that buyers failed to push price higher on the second attempt, indicating a potential bearish reversal.

Head and Shoulders

A head and shoulders pattern consists of three peaks: a higher central peak (the head) flanked by two lower, roughly equal peaks (the shoulders). The line connecting the lows between the peaks is the neckline. It is one of the most reliable bearish reversal patterns.

Inverse Head and Shoulders

An inverse head and shoulders is the mirror image of the standard head and shoulders. It consists of three troughs: a deeper central trough (the head) flanked by two shallower troughs (the shoulders). It is a bullish reversal pattern found at the end of downtrends.

Triple Top

A triple top forms when price tests a resistance level three times and fails to break through each time. It is similar to a head and shoulders but all three peaks are at approximately the same height. It signals strong resistance and a likely bearish reversal.

Triple Bottom

A triple bottom forms when price tests a support level three times and bounces each time. All three troughs are at approximately the same depth. It signals strong support and a likely bullish reversal after the third successful test.

Rounding Bottom

A rounding bottom (saucer bottom) is a long-term reversal pattern where price gradually transitions from a downtrend to an uptrend, forming a smooth U-shape. The gradual nature reflects a slow shift in sentiment from bearish to bullish.

Island Reversal

An island reversal occurs when a group of bars becomes isolated by gaps on both sides, forming a visible 'island' of price action. The initial gap signals exhaustion of the trend, and the second gap in the opposite direction confirms the reversal. It is a powerful and rare pattern.

Bull Flag

A bull flag is a continuation pattern that forms after a sharp upward move (the flagpole). Price consolidates in a slight downward-sloping channel (the flag) before breaking out higher. It signals that the uptrend will likely continue.

Bear Flag

A bear flag is a continuation pattern that forms after a sharp downward move (the flagpole). Price consolidates in a slight upward-sloping channel (the flag) before breaking down further. It signals that the downtrend will likely continue.

Pennant

A pennant forms after a sharp impulse move and features converging trendlines as price makes smaller and smaller swings. It is a brief consolidation pattern that typically resolves in the direction of the initial impulse move.

Cup and Handle

A cup and handle pattern features a gradual U-shaped decline and recovery (the cup) followed by a small pullback (the handle) before a breakout. The cup represents a rounding bottom with buyers gradually gaining control, and the handle is a final shake-out before continuation.

Rectangle

A rectangle pattern forms when price bounces between horizontal support and resistance levels multiple times. It represents a period of consolidation where buyers and sellers are in equilibrium. The pattern resolves when price breaks decisively through either boundary.

Rising Wedge

A rising wedge features both trendlines sloping upward but converging, with the support line rising more steeply than the resistance line. Despite making higher highs and higher lows, momentum is weakening. It is a bearish reversal pattern.

Falling Wedge

A falling wedge features both trendlines sloping downward but converging, with the resistance line falling more steeply than the support line. Despite making lower lows and lower highs, selling pressure is diminishing. It is a bullish reversal pattern.

Ascending Triangle

An ascending triangle has a flat resistance line at the top and a rising support line from the bottom-left. Each low is higher than the previous, showing increasing buying pressure. It typically resolves with a breakout above the flat resistance.

Descending Triangle

A descending triangle has a flat support line at the bottom and a falling resistance line from the top-left. Each high is lower than the previous, showing increasing selling pressure. It typically resolves with a breakdown below the flat support.

Symmetrical Triangle

A symmetrical triangle forms when both trendlines converge equally, with lower highs and higher lows. Price oscillates in a narrowing range. It can break in either direction, though the prevailing trend often influences the breakout direction.