Tri-Star (Bearish)

The Bearish Tri-Star is an extremely rare three-candle reversal pattern consisting of three consecutive Dojis. The second Doji gaps above the first (showing extreme bullish exhaustion), and the third Doji gaps below the second (signaling reversal). Together, the three candles form an inverted "V" shape. Three periods of total indecision at the top of a move signals that the uptrend may be over.

Pattern Anatomy

• All three candles must be Dojis — a very small body relative to the candle's total range
• Candle 2 gaps above Candle 1: c2.Low > c1.High (the entire second candle trades above the first)
• Candle 3 gaps below Candle 2: c3.High < c2.Low (the entire third candle trades below the second)
• The middle Doji sits at the peak — forming an inverted "V" shape
• One of the rarest candlestick patterns in existence

How to Interpret

• Extremely rare, but potentially very significant when it does appear
• Three consecutive Dojis represent total indecision — neither buyers nor sellers can establish control
• The gap structure (up then down) shows exhaustion at the top of the move
• Most meaningful after a sustained uptrend — signals the trend may be reversing
• Engulfy ranks this among its highest-priority patterns, reflecting its theoretical significance

Expert References

• Steve Nison, Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques — considers the Tri-Star among the rarest and most powerful reversal patterns. Its appearance is so uncommon that detecting one warrants immediate attention.
• Statistical data on the Tri-Star is extremely limited due to its rarity — most candlestick databases contain too few occurrences for reliable analysis.
• Engulfy ranks this among its highest-priority patterns.

Controversy & Limitations

• Extremely rare — you may scan thousands of tickers over years and find only a handful
• The strict gap requirements are nearly impossible in 24/7 markets like crypto and forex
• Small sample sizes make it difficult to draw statistically reliable conclusions