Tri-Star (Bullish)

The Bullish Tri-Star is an extremely rare three-candle reversal pattern consisting of three consecutive Doji candles with specific gap requirements. The second Doji gaps below the first (showing extreme bearish exhaustion), and the third Doji gaps back above the second (showing a reversal). Three consecutive Dojis represent three periods of complete indecision — a market that has lost all directional conviction and is ripe for a reversal.

Tri-Star (Bullish) candlestick pattern diagram

Pattern Anatomy

All three candles must be Dojis (a very small body relative to the candle's range)
Candle 2 must gap below Candle 1: c2.High < c1.Low (a true downward gap)
Candle 3 must gap above Candle 2: c3.Low > c2.High (a true upward gap)
The middle Doji sits in a "valley" — gapped down from the first, with the third gapping back up
This is one of the rarest patterns because it requires three consecutive Dojis AND specific gaps

How to Interpret

Extremely rare but potentially very significant
Three Dojis = three periods of total indecision
The gap structure suggests the market exhausted itself downward and is reversing
Most meaningful after a sustained downtrend
Because it's so rare, sample sizes for statistical analysis are very small
Engulfy ranks this among its highest-priority patterns

How Engulfy Detects the Tri-Star (Bullish)

All three candles must pass the Doji test: a very small body relative to the candle’s total range
Candle 2 must gap below Candle 1: c2.High < c1.Low (entire second candle is below the first)
Candle 3 must gap above Candle 2: c3.Low > c2.High (entire third candle is above the second)
This creates a ‘V’ shape with the middle Doji at the bottom

The strict gap requirements make the Tri-Star extremely rare in modern markets. Crypto and forex, which trade 24/7, almost never produce true gaps. This pattern is most likely to appear on daily stock charts after earnings or overnight news events.

Expert References

Steve Nison, Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques — describes the Tri-Star as one of the rarest and most powerful reversal patterns. The three Dojis represent a market that has completely lost its sense of direction.
Thomas Bulkowski, Encyclopedia of Candlestick Charts — has limited statistical data on this pattern due to its extreme rarity.
Engulfy ranks this among its highest-priority patterns.

Controversy & Limitations

Extremely rare — many traders will never see one in live markets
The strict gap requirements (c2.High < c1.Low) are nearly impossible in 24/7 markets
Small sample sizes make statistical reliability hard to measure