Been trading for a while but feel like I’m missing some key candlestick patterns.
Looking for a solid PDF guide that actually covers the important ones.
Need something comprehensive but not overly theoretical.
Nison book works but focus on three patterns only
Candlestick patterns only work if you understand the psychology, not just the shapes. Most PDFs overlook this. Focus on reversal patterns at key support or resistance levels. A hammer at support holds real significance compared to one in random areas. Skip the complex patterns. Price action around round numbers and previous highs or lows is more reliable than pattern recognition. I’ve seen traders identify patterns perfectly but still lose because they ignored the context. Always test patterns on your own charts before risking real money.
BabyPips has a solid free candlestick section. I’d check that out first before spending money - most of these patterns don’t actually work anyway.
I’ve tested countless candlestick pattern guides. Most are packed with patterns that don’t work when you’re actually trading.
Don’t bother with free PDFs - they’re just recycled garbage. Grab “Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques” by Steve Nison instead. It’s the gold standard and you can find PDFs floating around.
Learn 5-6 patterns that actually make money: doji, hammer, engulfing, morning/evening star, and harami. I’ve made way more cash mastering these than memorizing 50 random patterns.
Here’s the thing - knowing every pattern won’t help you. Understanding the price action behind them will. Most patterns fail without context anyway.
Most PDFs are pretty basic. Check out TradingView’s free educational section before spending money on anything.
Ditch the PDFs - just use your broker’s charts to spot patterns in real time across different timeframes.
Most guides show perfect textbook examples that don’t happen in live markets. You’ll learn way faster watching how patterns actually develop while you’re trading.
Whatever patterns you trade, make sure volume backs them up.
Spent months studying PDF patterns when I started trading. Huge waste of time - memorized shapes that looked nothing like real charts.
What worked: grabbed a simple cheat sheet with 8-10 common patterns, then spent weeks marking them on charts after close. No trading, just practice.
Breakthrough happened when I stopped hunting perfect patterns and started spotting the messy real ones. Dojis don’t always look like perfect crosses. Engulfing patterns rarely engulf completely.
Now I keep a one-page reference next to my monitor. Way better than flipping through 200 pages while trying to trade.
Start with pin bars and engulfing patterns - they show up most and actually work with support/resistance.