Hikkake Pattern

Hikkake Pattern

The Hikkake Pattern (or Hikkake), is a technical analysis pattern used for determining market turning-points and continuations (also known as trending behavior). It is a simple pattern that can be viewed in market price data, using traditional bar charts, or Japanese candlestick charts.

The phrase “Hikkake” is a Japanese verb which means to “trick” or “ensnare”. The essence of the pattern can be described as a period of rest in the market, followed by a quick, false move. Some western technical analysts may also refer to the hikkake as an “inside day false breakout” pattern. The pattern, once formed, yields its own set of trading parameters for the time and price of market entry, the dollar risk amount (i.e., where to place protective stops), and the profit target. The pattern is not meant as a stand alone “system” for market speculation, but rather as an ancillary technique to traditional technical and fundamental market methods. The pattern was invented by noted market technician Daniel L. Chesler, CMT, and has been written about in several respected technical analysis journals.

How to Find Trading Opportunities in ANY Market Using Bar Patterns

Learn to trade a Key Reversal Bar Pattern — another high-confidence trade setup

Senior Analyst Jeffrey Kennedy is the editor of EWI’s trader education service, Elliott Wave Junctures, and is one of our most popular instructors. Jeffrey’s primary analytical method is the Elliott Wave Principle, but he also uses several other technical tools to supplement his analysis.

In this video lesson, Jeff shows you how to use one of his favorite bar patterns to identify a trade setup on your charts.


Too often, people take a “ready-fire-aim” approach to trading — which is obviously a backwards way of doing it. A trade setup is different from a trade trigger. Today, we’ll talk about what turns a setup into a trigger.

A trade setup that I’m always on the lookout for is a double close key reversal outside bar combination.

A double close key reversal forms when prices make a new extreme, yet close above or below the prior two closes. The outside bar portion of this formation is self-explanatory: The current bar’s high and low are above and below the previous price bar’s high and low.

It is important to remember that this bar pattern is a setup only — and not a signal to immediately take a trade. For this formation to become tradable, it must prove itself by trading beyond the key reversal bar’s high or low. If the high of the key reversal bar is penetrated, then the low of the key reversal bar may act as an initial protective stop for longs and vice versa for shorts.

By employing these guidelines, your trading style becomes one of ready-aim-aim-aim-fire. Watch my 5-minute video for more:


Learn to Identify High Probability Trading Opportunities Using Price Bars and Chart Patterns

Senior Analyst Jeffrey Kennedy has spent over 15 years developing techniques to “read between the lines” on a price chart, and he shares some of his techniques with you in this free 12-page eBook. You’ll be amazed at how much information a price chart can provide you to improve your trading success.

Download your free eBook now!

This article was syndicated by Elliott Wave International and was originally published under the headline How to Find Trading Opportunities in ANY Market Using Bar Patterns. EWI is the world’s largest market forecasting firm. Its staff of full-time analysts led by Chartered Market Technician Robert Prechter provides 24-hour-a-day market analysis to institutional and private investors around the world.