Kicker Pattern
Two candles of opposite colour that open at the same price with a gap — the most powerful two-candle reversal, signalling an abrupt and complete shift in sentiment.
The Kicker Pattern is widely regarded as the strongest two-candle reversal in the candlestick toolkit. It requires two candles:
- Candle 1: Any colour, continuing the trend.
- Candle 2: The opposite colour, opening at the same price as Candle 1's open (gap against the trend), then moving strongly away.
The two candles share an open price but then move in completely opposite directions — no overlap of bodies. The gap and the abrupt reversal signal that market participants who drove the prior trend have abandoned it or reversed positions aggressively. Kickers are rare and often tied to news catalysts or major order flow.
Related Terms
Bearish Engulfing
A large bearish candle that completely wraps the prior bullish candle's body — supply takes control — a reversal warning at the top of an uptrend.
BeginnerBelt Hold
A single long candle with no wick on the opening side — either a bullish open at the low or a bearish open at the high — an early-session dominance signal.
BeginnerBullish Engulfing
A large bullish candle that completely wraps the prior bearish candle's body — a strong demand-takes-control reversal signal at the bottom of a downtrend.
BeginnerMarubozu
A full-bodied candle with no wicks — open equals low (or high) and close equals high (or low) — pure, uninterrupted directional conviction.
BeginnerWindow (gap)
A gap between two consecutive candles where no trading occurred — in Japanese candlestick theory, windows act as support/resistance the market tends to return to.
Beginner