Reading a single candle
A candle shows open, high, low and close for one period. The body shows who won the period; the wicks show how far price travelled before being pushed back. Use the interactive viewer above to compare bullish and bearish anatomy.
Patterns worth knowing
| Pattern | Shape | What it suggests |
|---|---|---|
| Doji | Tiny body, wicks both sides | Indecision |
| Hammer | Small body high, long lower wick | Lower prices rejected |
| Shooting star | Small body low, long upper wick | Higher prices rejected |
| Engulfing | Second body covers first | Short-term control shift |
| Morning/Evening star | Three-candle reversal | Momentum change |
Context first
A hammer in the middle of a range means little. The same hammer at a tested support zone, aligned with a higher-timeframe trend, is more informative — but still not a guarantee. Combine patterns with support and resistance and strict risk rules.
