Three White Soldiers & Three Black Crows Explained
Candlestick patterns are essential for spotting market direction shifts, but they’re also powerful in confirming strong trends. Two of the most reliable triple candlestick patterns are:
- Three White Soldiers – a bullish continuation or reversal pattern
- Three Black Crows – a bearish continuation or reversal pattern
Both patterns represent a clear shift in momentum and provide traders with high-confidence entries.
What Is the Three White Soldiers Pattern?
The Three White Soldiers pattern forms after a downtrend or period of consolidation. It consists of three consecutive long bullish candles, each closing higher than the previous one.
🔍 Characteristics:
- All three candles are green (or white)
- Each candle opens within or near the previous candle’s body
- Strong upward movement without long wicks (preferably)
- Often confirms a bullish reversal or strong uptrend continuation
✅ Significance:
It signals that buyers have taken control of the market and that upward momentum is building with strength.
What Is the Three Black Crows Pattern?
The Three Black Crows pattern is the bearish counterpart. It appears after an uptrend or during a consolidation phase and includes three consecutive bearish candles.
🔍 Characteristics:
- All three candles are red (or black)
- Each candle opens within or near the body of the previous one
- Strong downward movement with minimal lower shadows
- Indicates rising selling pressure and a likely trend reversal or continuation downward
✅ Significance:
It shows that sellers are dominating, pushing prices lower with confidence and consistency.
Visual Comparison
| Pattern | Direction | Number of Candles | Color | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three White Soldiers | Bullish | 3 | Green/White | Reversal/Continuation |
| Three Black Crows | Bearish | 3 | Red/Black | Reversal/Continuation |
Market Psychology Behind These Patterns
🟢 Three White Soldiers:
After bearish pressure, buyers step in aggressively for three straight sessions. This creates higher closes each time and shows growing optimism.
🔴 Three Black Crows:
After bullish momentum, sellers begin to dominate. The market opens high but consistently closes lower—reflecting panic or strong bearish sentiment.
How to Trade These Patterns
✅ Entry:
- Three White Soldiers: Enter long after the third candle closes
- Three Black Crows: Enter short after the third candle closes
✅ Stop Loss:
- Place SL below the first bullish candle (for long)
- Place SL above the first bearish candle (for short)
✅ Take Profit:
- Target recent swing highs/lows or use Fibonacci extensions
- Apply a risk-reward ratio like 1:2 for consistency
Pro Tips for Reliable Signals
- Look for confirmation with volume – rising volume strengthens the pattern
- Combine with support/resistance zones for added precision
- Use RSI, MACD, or moving averages for confirmation
- Avoid low-timeframe false signals by sticking to 1H or higher
When to Be Cautious
- Patterns forming in a sideways market may not be strong
- Watch for overbought/oversold conditions with RSI
- Very long wicks can signal indecision – not ideal for these patterns
Conclusion
Both the Three White Soldiers and Three Black Crows are vital candlestick patterns for trend confirmation and reversal spotting. When used correctly and supported by context, they provide powerful insights into market sentiment and future price direction.
Add them to your trading arsenal for sharper, more confident decisions in any market—stocks, forex, or crypto.
FAQs
1. Are Three White Soldiers always bullish?
Yes, they show strong bullish momentum. But context (e.g., overbought RSI) matters.
2. Can I use these patterns in crypto markets?
Absolutely. These candlestick patterns are universal and apply to all tradable markets.
3. What timeframes work best for these patterns?
1-hour, 4-hour, and daily timeframes offer more reliable results than shorter ones.
4. Can Three Black Crows appear during a correction?
Yes. They can signal the end of a pullback or the start of a new downtrend.
5. Do these patterns guarantee trend reversals?
No. They indicate potential shifts in momentum. Use with indicators for confirmation.
