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Doji

Reversal1 candle

A neutral candlestick pattern where open and close prices are nearly equal, indicating market indecision.

Visual Example

Doji

When It Usually Fails

This is what most courses don't teach you. These conditions turn textbook patterns into losing trades.

  • Appears in a ranging/choppy market (indecision is normal)
  • No clear prior trend to reverse
  • Forms in the middle of a trend continuation
  • No confirmation candle follows

Why Doji Often Fails (61%)

This pattern doesn't fail because of the pattern itself. It fails when context is wrong.

Location

Doji appears mid-range with no structure nearby

Example: Doji forms in the middle of a price range, far from support or resistance. No clear level to reverse from. Just noise.

Market Regime

Doji in ranging/choppy market

Example: Market has been consolidating for days. Doji signals indecision, but indecision is already the regime. No reversal coming.

Order Flow

Decreasing volume on doji candle

Example: Doji appears but volume is 50% below average. No genuine buyer-seller battle. Market is just quiet, not reversing.

Key insight: The same Doji that fails 61% of the time in wrong context can succeed 68%+ when all three factors align.

When It Usually Works

  • Appears after an extended trend (exhaustion signal)
  • Forms at key support or resistance level
  • Followed by a strong directional candle
  • Volume spike indicates genuine indecision

Common Traps

Doji in consolidation

Indecision is the norm, not a signal

Multiple dojis

Uncertainty, not reversal setup

Small timeframe doji

Noise, not signal

Historical Statistics

Based on analysis of historical data. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Overall Success Rate38%
At Support Level52%
At Resistance Level49%
With Volume Confirmation55%
Against Trend ⚠️35%

Note: These statistics are for educational purposes. Individual results vary based on market conditions, timing, and risk management.

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Standard Doji

Neutral
Shape

Small body with roughly equal upper and lower shadows.

Trap

Treating every doji as a reversal signal regardless of context.

Context

Can indicate indecision at key levels; often noise in choppy markets.

Long-Legged Doji

Neutral
Shape

Very long upper and lower shadows with tiny body in the middle.

Trap

Assuming long wicks always mean strong rejection.

Context

Shows extreme indecision; more significant after extended moves at key levels.

Dragonfly Doji

Also known as: firefly doji

Bullish
Shape

Long lower shadow, no upper shadow, open/close at session high.

Trap

Treating as automatic bullish reversal without confirming location.

Context

Potentially meaningful at support after downtrend; noise in ranges.

Gravestone Doji

Also known as: graveyard doji

Bearish
Shape

Long upper shadow, no lower shadow, open/close at session low.

Trap

Treating as automatic bearish reversal without confirming location.

Context

Potentially meaningful at resistance after uptrend; noise in ranges.

Training Note: Pattern variants are educational classifications. Real-world price action rarely matches textbook definitions exactly. Always evaluate patterns in context of regime, location, and volume.

External Sources

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Key Concepts

trend exhaustionsupport resistanceconfirmation