{"format":"alysly-page/1","url":"https://alysly.com/learn/candlestick-continuation-patterns/","json":"https://alysly.com/json/learn/candlestick-continuation-patterns/index.json","lang":"en-US","title":"Doji, Marubozu & Continuation Patterns in Candlestick Charts","description":"Doji variants, marubozu, spinning top, three white soldiers, three black crows and rising three methods – shapes that signal continuation or indecision.","published":"2026-08-02T15:41:33+02:00","modified":"2026-11-01T18:26:04+01:00","alternates":[{"lang":"de-DE","url":"https://alysly.com/de/lernen/kerzen-fortsetzungsmuster/","json":"https://alysly.com/json/de/lernen/kerzen-fortsetzungsmuster/index.json"}],"about":"Machine-readable version of the page at url. It contains the text, tables and key figures published there, but not the interactive charts and tools.","breadcrumb":[{"name":"Investing & Trading Basics","url":"https://alysly.com/learn/"},{"name":"Level 2","url":"https://alysly.com/learn/#level-2"},{"name":"Continuation Patterns and the Doji Family","url":"https://alysly.com/learn/candlestick-continuation-patterns/"}],"content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Level 2 Patterns & Indicators · Part 2/9"},{"type":"heading","level":1,"text":"Continuation Patterns and the Doji Family"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"By Alexander Bock, founder and data analyst","links":[{"text":"Alexander Bock","href":"https://alysly.com/about/"}]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Not every candlestick pattern announces a turn. A large share of them describe either indecision or the continuation of a move that is already running."},{"type":"heading","level":2,"id":"the-doji-family","text":"The Doji Family"},{"type":"image","src":"https://alysly.com/img/ta/doji-family.7025d6ba85862323de47b3285e28ef3429a4fb65dc6f47ebb0d92cbb3915f11c.webp","alt":"Four doji variants side by side: standard, long-legged, dragonfly and gravestone"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"A doji has virtually no body — open and close coincide. The wicks separate the variants: (1) standard, (2) long-legged with wide range both ways, (3) dragonfly with a long lower wick, (4) gravestone with a long upper wick. All say the same basic thing: undecided. Only their position within a trend gives them meaning."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"A doji has almost no body: open and close are at the same level. The candle says exactly one thing: nothing was decided during the period. The variants differ only in their wicks:"},{"type":"list","ordered":false,"items":["Standard doji: wicks on both sides, balanced.","Long-legged doji: very long wicks on both sides. A lot of movement, no result; common at turning points and around news.","Dragonfly doji: long lower wick, no upper one. A relative of the hammer.","Gravestone doji: long upper wick, no lower one. A relative of the shooting star."]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"The doji is the best proof that a candlestick pattern is empty without context. After a long rally it is a pause; in a sideways range it is the normal state. The candle itself is identical."},{"type":"heading","level":2,"id":"marubozu-and-spinning-top","text":"Marubozu and Spinning Top"},{"type":"image","src":"https://alysly.com/img/ta/marubozu-spinning.7d819f7daa5e1aae09af2823659162f3659982bbb0a4bdb049b34b9c5d847278.webp","alt":"Marubozu without wicks compared with a spinning top with a small body"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"(1) A marubozu is a candle with almost no wicks: price opens at one end of the range and closes at the other — one direction, all day. (2) The same downward. (3) A spinning top is the opposite: small body, wicks on both sides, plenty of movement with no result. Body length relative to total range is the real information in any candle."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"The marubozu has no wicks, or almost none: open and close sit at the ends of the range. One direction for the whole period: the strongest form of agreement a single candle can show."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"The spinning top is the opposite: a small body with wicks on both sides. It says nothing about direction, but something about participation: the market moves without deciding anything."},{"type":"heading","level":2,"id":"sequences","text":"Sequences"},{"type":"image","src":"https://alysly.com/img/ta/three-white-soldiers.69c4ec37a9f25fdfdf9ba542e943fad2b1f16613d3764069449016dc50812511.webp","alt":"Three consecutive large green candles after a downtrend"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"(1), (2), (3): three strong green candles, each opening within the prior body and closing above its high. The pattern describes a stepwise, broadly carried recovery rather than a single jump. Its drawback is also its nature: by the time you can see it, the first part of the move is gone."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Three white soldiers: three strong up candles in a row, each one opening inside the previous body and closing above its high. The pattern describes a move that rises step by step and is broadly carried."},{"type":"image","src":"https://alysly.com/img/ta/three-black-crows.bff1ee2b38562a4a3566e12f822408cbf21e8a17cbba156800910cffd2bd0d89.webp","alt":"Three consecutive large red candles after an uptrend"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"The mirror of the three soldiers: (1), (2), (3) — each candle opens inside the prior body and closes below its low. Such runs cluster in high-volatility regimes; judged without that context their significance is easily overrated."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Three black crows is the counterpart. Both sequences have the same built-in drawback: by the time you can recognize them, a good part of the move has already happened. They are descriptions, not entry signals."},{"type":"heading","level":2,"id":"rising-three-methods","text":"Rising Three Methods"},{"type":"image","src":"https://alysly.com/img/ta/rising-three-methods.c3c4a05aaa5039c3e19d5ab599547368be0f35764047d69cdfc762e028344958.webp","alt":"Rising three methods: a large green candle, three small counter candles, then a new breakout"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"(1) A large green candle sets the range. (2) Three small red candles push back but stay inside that range — the pullback costs time, not ground. (3) The next large green candle closes above the first one's high. This is a continuation pattern, not a reversal."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"This is a real continuation pattern. A large candle sets the range, and several small counter-candles stay inside it. Then another large candle in the original direction breaks out of it."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"The decisive condition is that the pullback does not leave the range of the first candle. It costs time but no ground, and that is exactly what separates a breather from a reversal. The same principle on a larger scale is what charting calls a flag."},{"type":"heading","level":2,"id":"perspective","text":"Perspective"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Continuation patterns are described less often than reversals, even though they happen more frequently. The reason is psychological, not statistical: a turn is the better story. For a portfolio, the boring case is usually the more valuable one. It answers whether you can keep a position you already hold."},{"type":"heading","level":2,"id":"next","text":"Next"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"From single candles to formations that run for weeks: reversal chart patterns."},{"type":"list","ordered":false,"items":[{"text":"Previous Candlestick Reversal Patterns","href":"https://alysly.com/learn/candlestick-reversal-patterns/"},{"text":"Next Reversal Chart Patterns","href":"https://alysly.com/learn/reversal-chart-patterns/"}]},{"type":"heading","level":2,"text":"Indices"},{"type":"table","caption":"Indices, performance over the selected period","columns":["Index","1M"],"rows":[[{"text":"Dow Jones","href":"https://alysly.com/markets/indices/dow-jones/"},{"text":"+1.0%","data":{"m1":"+1.0%","m3":"-4.3%","m6":"+4.9%","ytd":"+7.6%","max":"+30.0%"}}],[{"text":"S&P 500","href":"https://alysly.com/markets/indices/sp500/"},{"text":"-2.6%","data":{"m1":"-2.6%","m3":"-2.2%","m6":"+4.2%","ytd":"+10.6%","max":"+35.6%"}}],[{"text":"MSCI World","href":"https://alysly.com/markets/indices/msci-world/"},{"text":"-2.0%","data":{"m1":"-2.0%","m3":"-2.4%","m6":"+3.7%","ytd":"+10.0%","max":"+35.0%"}}],[{"text":"MSCI ACWI","href":"https://alysly.com/markets/indices/msci-acwi/"},{"text":"-3.3%","data":{"m1":"-3.3%","m3":"-3.0%","m6":"+2.3%","ytd":"+10.2%","max":"+41.5%"}}]]},{"type":"heading","level":2,"text":"ETFs"},{"type":"table","caption":"ETFs, performance over the selected period","columns":["Fund","1M"],"rows":[[{"text":"SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust SPY","links":[{"text":"SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust","href":"https://alysly.com/markets/etfs/us/spy/"}]},{"text":"-2.6%","data":{"m1":"-2.6%","m3":"-2.2%","m6":"+4.2%","ytd":"+10.6%","max":"+35.6%"}}],[{"text":"Vanguard S&P 500 ETF VOO","links":[{"text":"Vanguard S&P 500 ETF","href":"https://alysly.com/markets/etfs/us/voo/"}]},{"text":"-2.6%","data":{"m1":"-2.6%","m3":"-2.2%","m6":"+4.2%","ytd":"+10.6%","max":"+34.1%"}}],[{"text":"iShares Core MSCI World UCITS ETF USD (Acc) EUNL","links":[{"text":"iShares Core MSCI World UCITS ETF USD (Acc)","href":"https://alysly.com/markets/etfs/ishares-core-msci-world-ucits-etf-usd-acc/"}]},{"text":"-2.0%","data":{"m1":"-2.0%","m3":"-2.3%","m6":"+4.3%","ytd":"+10.6%","max":"+487.5%"}}],[{"text":"Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF 1c XMME","links":[{"text":"Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF 1c","href":"https://alysly.com/markets/etfs/xtrackers-msci-emerging-markets-ucits-etf-1c/"}]},{"text":"-9.4%","data":{"m1":"-9.4%","m3":"-4.1%","m6":"-3.3%","ytd":"+14.0%","max":"+93.0%"}}]]},{"type":"heading","level":2,"text":"Stocks"},{"type":"table","caption":"Stocks, performance over the selected period","columns":["Stock","1M"],"rows":[[{"text":"NVIDIA Corporation NVDA","links":[{"text":"NVIDIA Corporation","href":"https://alysly.com/markets/stocks/nvidia-corporation/"},{"text":"United States","href":"https://alysly.com/markets/stocks/browse/?country=United%20States"}]},{"text":"-13.5%","data":{"m1":"-13.5%","m3":"-2.5%","m6":"+5.2%","ytd":"+10.8%","max":"+62.2%"}}],[{"text":"Apple Inc. AAPL","links":[{"text":"Apple Inc.","href":"https://alysly.com/markets/stocks/apple-inc/"},{"text":"United States","href":"https://alysly.com/markets/stocks/browse/?country=United%20States"}]},{"text":"-0.3%","data":{"m1":"-0.3%","m3":"+7.3%","m6":"+16.8%","ytd":"+22.1%","max":"+45.8%"}}],[{"text":"Tesla Inc. TSLA","links":[{"text":"Tesla Inc.","href":"https://alysly.com/markets/stocks/tesla-inc/"},{"text":"United States","href":"https://alysly.com/markets/stocks/browse/?country=United%20States"}]},{"text":"+5.2%","data":{"m1":"+5.2%","m3":"+21.7%","m6":"+2.3%","ytd":"-11.4%","max":"+65.3%"}}]]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Data note 1","href":"#dn-1"},{"type":"heading","level":2,"text":"More Studies"},{"type":"list","ordered":false,"items":[{"text":"Jul 21, 2026 Collectibles ×5.4 for the same cards, matched-model index, Mar 2022 – Aug 2026 Is the Pokémon Card Market in a Bubble? 4,159 Sales Analyzed Prices for PSA-graded cards multiplied. Measured on the same cards they rose 438%, while the raw median shows 786% because pricier cards came up for sale later.","href":"https://alysly.com/analysis/pokemon-card-market-bubble/"},{"text":"May 19, 2026 Crypto 45.6% Bitcoin’s annualized volatility, Jul 2024 – Sep 2026 Bitcoin in Investment Portfolios: The Real Numbers Bitcoin is calmer than it was and still about three times as volatile as the stock market. It moves with stocks, not with gold.","href":"https://alysly.com/analysis/bitcoin-investment-portfolios/"},{"text":"Mar 17, 2026 Wealth €1.2m needed for €3,000 a month indefinitely at a 3% real return Living Off Your Returns: What It Really Takes The capital you need is arithmetic. The return you assume is a guess, and it can triple the answer.","href":"https://alysly.com/analysis/living-off-returns/"}]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"View all studies","href":"https://alysly.com/analysis/#studies"},{"type":"heading","level":2,"text":"Learn"},{"type":"list","ordered":false,"items":[{"text":"Reversal Chart Patterns H&S, double top, double bottom, rounding bottom – and what their targets are worth.","href":"https://alysly.com/learn/reversal-chart-patterns/"},{"text":"Continuation Chart Patterns Triangles, flags, pennants, wedges, rectangles – pauses in a trend.","href":"https://alysly.com/learn/continuation-chart-patterns/"}]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Course overview","href":"https://alysly.com/learn/"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Updated Nov 1, 2026 · Content and figures checked Oct 19, 2026"},{"type":"heading","level":2,"id":"note-legend-h","text":"Data Notes"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"All calculations run automatically and are not investment advice."},{"type":"list","ordered":true,"items":[{"id":"dn-1","text":"Returns computed automatically from the price series, excluding dividends, taxes and costs."}]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Data and methodology: Alysly · Responsible for content: Alexander Bock","links":[{"text":"Alysly","href":"https://alysly.com/methodology/"},{"text":"Alexander Bock","href":"https://alysly.com/about/"}]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"View all data notes","href":"https://alysly.com/notes/"}],"structured_data":[{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://alysly.com/#org","name":"Alysly","url":"https://alysly.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://alysly.com/img/icon-512.png","width":512,"height":512},"description":"Data-driven insights, transparent analysis and powerful tools for long-term investors.","email":"mail@alysly.com","contactPoint":{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactType":"customer support","email":"mail@alysly.com","availableLanguage":["de","en"]},"address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Haltern am See","postalCode":"45721","addressCountry":"DE"},"founder":{"@id":"https://alysly.com/#founder"},"sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/company/alyslycom/","https://www.youtube.com/@alyslycom","https://x.com/alyslycom"],"publishingPrinciples":"https://alysly.com/methodology/"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://alysly.com/#founder","name":"Alexander Bock","jobTitle":"Founder and data analyst","url":"https://alysly.com/about/","sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/in/abxk/"]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://alysly.com/#site","url":"https://alysly.com/","name":"Alysly","alternateName":"Alysly Investment Analysis","inLanguage":"en-US","publisher":{"@id":"https://alysly.com/#org"},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://alysly.com/markets/stocks/browse/?q={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://alysly.com/learn/candlestick-continuation-patterns/#webpage","url":"https://alysly.com/learn/candlestick-continuation-patterns/","name":"Continuation Patterns and the Doji Family – Alysly","description":"Doji variants, marubozu, spinning top, three white soldiers, three black crows and rising three methods – shapes that signal continuation or indecision.","inLanguage":"en-US","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://alysly.com/#site"},"dateModified":"2026-11-01T18:26:04+01:00","publisher":{"@id":"https://alysly.com/#org"},"mainEntity":{"@id":"https://alysly.com/learn/candlestick-continuation-patterns/#entity"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://alysly.com/img/ta/doji-family-og.f3f95aefa4930e9d76c506e70b1dd46fb3dbe2b5f6bf2b99cb683fce20d1d7ed.png","width":1200,"height":630}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Investing & Trading Basics","item":"https://alysly.com/learn/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Continuation Patterns and the Doji Family"}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","@id":"https://alysly.com/learn/candlestick-continuation-patterns/#entity","headline":"Continuation Patterns and the Doji Family","description":"Doji variants, marubozu, spinning top, three white soldiers, three black crows and rising three methods – shapes that signal continuation or indecision.","inLanguage":"en-US","mainEntityOfPage":"https://alysly.com/learn/candlestick-continuation-patterns/","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","height":630,"url":"https://alysly.com/img/ta/doji-family-og.f3f95aefa4930e9d76c506e70b1dd46fb3dbe2b5f6bf2b99cb683fce20d1d7ed.png","width":1200},{"@type":"ImageObject","height":500,"url":"https://alysly.com/img/ta/doji-family.7025d6ba85862323de47b3285e28ef3429a4fb65dc6f47ebb0d92cbb3915f11c.webp","width":1280},{"@type":"ImageObject","height":500,"url":"https://alysly.com/img/ta/marubozu-spinning.7d819f7daa5e1aae09af2823659162f3659982bbb0a4bdb049b34b9c5d847278.webp","width":1280},{"@type":"ImageObject","height":520,"url":"https://alysly.com/img/ta/three-white-soldiers.69c4ec37a9f25fdfdf9ba542e943fad2b1f16613d3764069449016dc50812511.webp","width":1280},{"@type":"ImageObject","height":520,"url":"https://alysly.com/img/ta/three-black-crows.bff1ee2b38562a4a3566e12f822408cbf21e8a17cbba156800910cffd2bd0d89.webp","width":1280},{"@type":"ImageObject","height":520,"url":"https://alysly.com/img/ta/rising-three-methods.c3c4a05aaa5039c3e19d5ab599547368be0f35764047d69cdfc762e028344958.webp","width":1280}],"isPartOf":{"@type":"CreativeWorkSeries","name":"Investing & Trading Basics","url":"https://alysly.com/learn/"},"educationalLevel":"Level 2","author":{"@id":"https://alysly.com/#founder"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://alysly.com/#org"},"datePublished":"2026-08-02T15:41:33+02:00","dateModified":"2026-11-01T18:26:04+01:00"}],"notice":"© 2026 Alysly.com. Not investment advice. All data without guarantee. Financial information is analyzed and presented partly with AI assistance."}