Head and Shoulder, Double Top and Double Bottom Chart Patterns Strategy
rfxsignals April 4, 2020 No Comments

Head & Shoulders Pattern

The head and shoulders pattern is a highly reliable reversal pattern that very often, once completed and confirmed will mark a major turning point in the market. The appearance of the pattern faintly resembles a head and shoulders outline hence the name.

​The head and shoulders pattern in the standard form is a bearish reversal pattern. The bullish sibling is called an inverted head and shoulders pattern.

Head and Shoulder, Double Top and Double Bottom Chart Patterns Strategy

For trading the pattern in the Forex market the implications, rules, and strategies work exactly the same for both the bullish and the bearish versions of the pattern, so everything can be used interchangeably only, of course in the opposite direction.
​The head and shoulders pattern is formed by three consecutive highs with the middle one being the highest of the 3, hence the resemblance of a head. The highs on each side of the head resemble two shoulders.

Entry rules:

  1. Identify a head and shoulders pattern as described.
  2. Draw the neckline by connecting the 2 lows of the head and projecting the line to the right.

    Note: The right low of the head must be higher or at least equal to the left low (the neckline must be sloping upwards or at least be horizontal, but it can’t be sloping down).

  3. Wait for a break of the neckline with a close below it.
  4. Enter after the breakout with a close of the breakout candle.

Do not enter on a breakout without at least waiting for a close below the neckline. A high number of potential head and shoulders patterns often will be broken only for it to be a fake breakout in the end. When price closes the trading session past the neckline it’s an additional confirmation that it’s a true breakout.

Initial Stop-Loss placement:

  • Behind the right shoulder (this is the ultimate stop out level)
  • Or behind the most recent swing high (for a tighter stop)
A head and shoulders on a USDJPY 15 minute chart

Head and Shoulder, Double Top and Double Bottom Chart Patterns Strategy

A head and shoulders on a USDJPY 15 minute chart
Trade management:
Price should not return and close back above the neckline of the head and shoulders pattern. If that happens the trade should be closed because the pattern is invalid under those conditions.

Note, however, that price can come back to the neckline, retest it and even trade above it during the session, but it should not close above the neckline.

Here’s an example of an inverted head and shoulders pattern. All the rules, entry points, stop levels and targets can just be mirrored from the classic head and shoulders.

An inverted head and shoulders pattern on EURUSD daily chart

Head and Shoulder, Double Top and Double Bottom Chart Patterns Strategy

An inverted head and shoulders pattern on EURUSD daily chart
Profit target:

  • Measure the height from the highest point of the head – down vertically to the neckline and project the measurement from the breakout point to right side of the chart (examples are shown in the charts above).
  • Always keep in sight of any key support or resistance levels ahead of the target that could stop price from reaching it.

Double Top and Double Bottom Pattern

The double bottom in the bullish case and the double top in the bearish case are classical reversal patterns that can often signal a significant shift in market sentiment, especially when the pattern occurs on a spike in volume and volatility. The pattern is formed by two consecutive equal highs for the double top and two consecutive equal lows for the double bottom pattern.

This pattern also uses a neckline which in a double top is the horizontal line projected from the low (lowest point) between the two tops to the right on the chart.

In a double bottom pattern, the neckline is taken from the high (highest point) between the two bottoms and projected to the right of the chart.

The rules, entry, stop out and target calculating principles work the same for both the bullish double bottom and the bearish double top patterns.

As with most chart patterns, the double top and bottom can be traded with a riskier – higher return approach and a more conservative – lower reward approach.

Entry rules:

  1. Identify a double bottom.
  2. Enter at the low of the second bottom on a reversal candlestick pattern on lower timeframes (riskier approach).
  3. Wait for the double bottom to be fully confirmed and the neckline to be broken to the upside before entering (conservative approach).

Initial Stop-Loss placement:

  1. Below the second bottom.
  2. Or below the most recent swing low (for a tighter stop but also more likely to be taken out).
Double bottom on AUDUSD 4h chart

Head and Shoulder, Double Top and Double Bottom Chart Patterns Strategy

Double bottom on AUDUSD 4h chart
Profit targets:

  • Measure the height from the neckline to the lowest point of the two bottoms and project the measurement from the breakout point to right side of the chart (examples are shown in the charts).
  • Note that key support or resistance levels ahead of the Profit-Target as always can stop price from reaching the target. That’s why it’s necessary to position accordingly if such a situation is encountered.

​Here’s an example of the bearish double top pattern. As can be seen, everything works the same as with the bullish double bottom pattern, only in the other direction.

Head and Shoulder, Double Top and Double Bottom Chart Patterns Strategy

Double top on AUDNZD 1 hour chart