Reading the market regime before prices move

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CHART PATTERN · Two-way patterns

Symmetrical Triangle

Symmetrical Triangle
Bias: settled by the breakout Duration: weeks

Terms on this page: Trendline · False Breakout · Structural Invalidation (Structural Invalidation)

Symmetrical triangle: a chart with a worked exampleWorked example of a Symmetrical Triangle over 76 sessions. Breakout target $75.8. Breakdown target $43.7.Breakout targetBreakdown targetFalling highsRising lows75.8$43.7$60$Volume03876 sessions
Symmetrical triangle: a chart with a worked exampleWorked example of a Symmetrical Triangle over 76 sessions. Breakout target $75.8. Breakdown target $43.7.Breakout targetBreakdown targetFalling highsRising lows75.8$43.7$50$60$70$Volume03876 sessions
A worked example that explains the rule, not a stock price. The two arrows are the breakout and breakdown possibilities, each the height of the pattern. Prices are in the right-hand column, and sessions sit under the volume bar. Hollow green candles closed above their open, and filled red candles closed below it.

Numbers in the example chart

From the same calculation that draws the shape and writes the "Measuring the target" section below.
Upside breakout target 75.8$
Downside break target 43.7$
Pattern height 15.5$
Chart span 76 sessions

What it is

Highs fall and lows rise, so the two sides converge. Growing hesitation: the range shrinks and no one imposes their price.

When the trigger starts and when it fails

Signal

A close outside either side line. The chart shows both possibilities.

Invalidation · Structural Invalidation

A close back inside the triangle after the breakout.

Reading it stage by stage

  1. The two sides Lower highs and higher lows. At least four touch points.
  2. Contraction Range and volume narrow together. Hesitation grows.
  3. Resolution ⚠ Do not guess the direction before the breakout. The prior trend tilts the odds but does not decide. Most losses on this pattern come from entering early.

Recognition rules

  • Two converging sides with roughly opposite slopes.
  • At least four touch points.
  • Clear volume contraction inside the formation.
  • A breakout at two-thirds of the distance to the apex is more reliable.

Measuring the target

The height of the base is added to the breakout or subtracted from the breakdown.

Where it fools you

  • ⚠ Do not guess the direction before the breakout. Most losses on this pattern come from entering early on an imagined "bias". The prior trend only tilts the odds. It does not decide.

Where to find it on the platform

  • Technical terminal · drawing tools Members only
    Open the daily timeframe for any symbol and draw the pattern yourself. Your drawing is saved per symbol in your browser, and the terminal does not name or detect the pattern.
    • ╱ Trendline Highs fall, lows rise
    • ⇕ Measure Target equals pattern height
We do not detect chart patterns with a numeric rule: telling them apart takes judgment on the chart. Candlestick patterns with a numeric rule are detected daily by the candlestick pattern scanner.

Patterns from the same family

Rising wedge Rising Wedge Falling wedge Falling Wedge Ascending broadening wedge Ascending Broadening Wedge

Back to the chart pattern encyclopedia or Japanese candlestick patterns.