Doji & Spinning Tops
Overview
Doji and spinning top candles signal indecision between buyers and sellers. A doji has nearly identical open and close prices, while a spinning top has a small body with long wicks on both sides. These patterns are most significant at the end of extended trends where they can foreshadow reversals.
Key Concepts
Doji types (standard, long-legged, dragonfly, gravestone), Spinning top anatomy, Indecision interpretation, Confirmation requirements, Volume context
Entry Signals
Doji/spinning top after an extended trend, Confirmation candle in the opposite direction, Higher volume on the confirmation candle, Support/resistance confluence
Exit Signals
Close below the confirmation candle's low (for bearish reversal), Close above the confirmation candle's high (for bullish reversal), Time-based exit if no follow-through within 3 candles
Best Timeframes
All timeframes — most reliable on 4H, Daily, Weekly
Pro Tips
Never trade a doji in isolation — always wait for confirmation. Count how many candles are in the preceding trend to gauge exhaustion potential.
More Topics in This Category
Tweezer Tops & Bottoms
Tweezers are two-candle patterns where both candles test the same high (tweezer top) or low (tweezer bottom). The first candle extends the trend and the second candle reverses. The matching highs/lows create a visual 'tweezers' shape indicating a rejection level.
Marubozu
A marubozu is a candle with no wicks (or very small wicks) — the open and close are at the extreme ends. A bullish marubozu opens at low, closes at high. A bearish marubozu opens at high, closes at low. Marubozus represent maximum conviction and can signal the start of a strong momentum move.
Continuation Triangles
While not strictly a candlestick pattern, continuation triangles (ascending, descending, symmetrical) are multi-candle patterns where price contracts between converging trendlines. Breakouts from triangles tend to continue the prior trend. Triangles are measured-move patterns — the target equals the height of the triangle projected from the breakout point.
Piercing Line & Dark Cloud Cover
The piercing line is a two-candle bullish reversal pattern where a down candle is followed by an up candle that opens below the prior low and closes above the midpoint of the prior body. The dark cloud cover is its bearish counterpart — an up candle followed by a down candle that opens above the prior high and closes below the midpoint. Both patterns signal a potential shift in sentiment when they appear at key support or resistance levels.