As of 03/28/2024
  Indus: 39,807 +47.29 +0.1%  
  Trans: 16,212 +183.07 +1.1%  
  Utils: 882 +7.51 +0.9%  
  Nasdaq: 16,379 -20.06 -0.1%  
  S&P 500: 5,254 +5.86 +0.1%  
YTD
 +5.6%  
 +2.0%  
 +0.1%  
 +9.1%  
 +10.2%  
  Targets    Overview: 03/13/2024  
  Up arrow40,000 or 38,500 by 04/01/2024
  Up arrow16,300 or 15,350 by 04/01/2024
  Up arrow885 or 830 by 04/01/2024
  Up arrow16,600 or 15,200 by 04/01/2024
  Up arrow5,350 or 5,100 by 04/01/2024
As of 03/28/2024
  Indus: 39,807 +47.29 +0.1%  
  Trans: 16,212 +183.07 +1.1%  
  Utils: 882 +7.51 +0.9%  
  Nasdaq: 16,379 -20.06 -0.1%  
  S&P 500: 5,254 +5.86 +0.1%  
YTD
 +5.6%  
 +2.0%  
 +0.1%  
 +9.1%  
 +10.2%  
  Targets    Overview: 03/13/2024  
  Up arrow40,000 or 38,500 by 04/01/2024
  Up arrow16,300 or 15,350 by 04/01/2024
  Up arrow885 or 830 by 04/01/2024
  Up arrow16,600 or 15,200 by 04/01/2024
  Up arrow5,350 or 5,100 by 04/01/2024

Bulkowski on the Bearish Three-Line Strike Candle Pattern

Bearish Three-Line Strike Candlestick: Summary

The bearish three-line strike candlestick pattern is another well-performing candle for the few samples I uncovered. Out of over 4.7 million candle lines searched, I found just 85 of them. Thus, the statistics and conclusions drawn from those numbers may change with additional samples. Often, the best performing candles are those that you can't find (they don't occur frequently), and since you can't find them, reliable testing is impossible. Drawing conclusions from what appears to be top-rated performance is risky and should be avoided. In other words, this candle doesn't perform as well as the numbers suggest.

The bearish three-line strike is supposed to be a bearish continuation pattern, but testing shows that it acts as a bullish reversal 84% of the time. That places its performance rank at 2, where 1 is the best performing. Overall performance ranks first, too, meaning that once the trend reverses, it tends to continue trending.

$ $ $

My book, Encyclopedia of Candlestick ChartsEncyclopedia of Candlestick Charts book., pictured on the left, takes an in-depth look at candlesticks, including performance statistics.

If you click on the above link and then buy the book (or anything) while at Amazon.com, the referral will help support this site. Thanks.

-- Tom Bulkowski

$ $ $

Important Results
Discussion
Identification Guidelines
Three Trading Tidbits
Example
See Also

Bearish Three-Line Strike Candlestick: Important Results

Theoretical performance: Bearish continuation.
Tested performance: Bullish reversal 84% of the time
Frequency rank: 94
Overall performance rank: 1
Best percentage meeting price target: 80% (bull market, down breakout)
Best average move in 10 days: -8.81% (bull market, down breakout)
Best 10-day performance rank: 1 (bull market, down breakout)

All ranks are out of 103 candlestick patterns with the top performer ranking 1. "Best" means the highest rated of the four combinations of bull/bear market, up/down breakouts.

The above numbers are based on hundreds of perfect trades. See the glossary for definitions.

The ideal bearish three-line strike candlestick
Bearish Three-Line Strike

Top of page More

Bearish Three-Line Strike Candlestick: Discussion

My testing of the bearish three-line strike candlestick pattern shows that it acts as a bullish reversal 84% of the time instead of the bearish continuation that candle theory suggests. Unfortunately, with a frequency rank of 94, it will be difficult to find. The overall performance rank is 1, the best out of 103 candle patterns. The 8.81% average drop in a bull market is well above the 6% that I consider good. That performance also ranks first, but price only meets the target 80% of the time. The price target is the height of the candle projected upward or downward from the top or bottom of the candle pattern, respectively. Tall candle patterns have a more difficult time meeting targets than do short patterns.

One explanation of why this candle acts as a bullish reversal is that the closing price in the pattern is near the candle's top. An upward breakout occurs when price closes above the top of the candle, so it may only take a few days for that to happen. A downward breakout, since price has to drop farther, may be more difficult to achieve.

Bearish Three-Line Strike Candlestick: Identification Guidelines

CharacteristicDiscussion
Number of candle linesFour.
Price trend leading to the patternDownward.
ConfigurationLook for three black candles forming lower lows followed by a tall white candle that opens below the prior close and closes above the first day's open. In other words, the last candle spans most of the price action of the prior three days.

Top of page More

Bearish Three-Line Strike Candlestick: Three Trading Tidbits

If you want a few bones from my Encyclopedia of candlestick charts book, here are three to chew on. The pages refer to the book where the tips appear.

  1. Bearish three-line strike candles that appear within a third of the yearly low perform best -- page 759.
  2. Trade bearish three-line strike candles that appear in a downward retracement of an upward price trend -- page 761.
  3. Bearish three line strike candles act as reversals most often within a third of the yearly high -- page 761.

Bearish Three-Line Strike Candlestick: Example

The bearish three-line strike candlestick on the daily scale

The bearish three-line strike candle pattern appears in the red circle on the daily scale. Price forms three black candles, each with lower closes, in a downward price trend. A tall white candle engulfs the price action of the prior three days. The candle acts as a bullish reversal when price breaks out upward, and closes above the top of the candle pattern.

-- Thomas Bulkowski

Top of page More

See Also

 

Support this site! Clicking any of the books (below) takes you to Amazon.com If you buy ANYTHING while there, they pay for the referral.
Legal notice for paid links: "As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases."

My Stock Market Books
My Novels

Copyright © 2005-2024 by Thomas N. Bulkowski. All rights reserved.
Disclaimer: You alone are responsible for your investment decisions. See Privacy/Disclaimer for more information.
Some pattern names are registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Home Advertise Contact Donate Privacy/Disclaimer

If you want breakfast in bed, sleep in the kitchen.Smiley