Three White Soldiers and Three Black Crows
Three white soldiers are three consecutive strong bullish candles, each closing higher; three black crows are the bearish mirror image.
Three white soldiers and three black crows are three-candle Reversal patterns. Soldiers are three strong rising candles after a fall; crows are three strong falling candles after a rise. They show steady pressure rather than one sharp move.
- Category
- Technical Analysis
- Reading time
- 3 min
- Also called
- Three white soldiers, Three black crows, Three advancing soldiers
- Updated
Soldiers and crows in plain words
Three white soldiers are three big up candles in a row, each opening inside the previous body and closing higher.1
Three black crows are the mirror image: three big down candles, each opening inside the previous body and closing lower.1
Combine the three soldiers into one and you get a single long white candle; the three crows combine into one long black candle.2
How to check the pattern
Find the prior trend
Soldiers appear after an extended downtrend and small consolidation.3
Count three candles
All three must move the same way.
Check the opens
Each should open within the body of the previous candle.1
Check the closes
For crows, check that each candle closes at or close to its low.4
Check the size
Very large candles after a long move can signal exhaustion.
Plan the risk
Set a hypothetical stop beyond the first candle.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Soldiers
Bullish turnA hypothetical stock bottoms at 30, then closes at 31.5, 33 and 34.5 in three sessions.
| Closes | 31.5 / 33 / 34.5 |
| Opens | Inside prior bodies |
This shows sustained, orderly buying pressure across three sessions.1
Example 2 — Crows
Bearish turnA hypothetical index tops at 150, then closes at 147, 144 and 141, each near its low.
| Closes | 147 / 144 / 141 |
| Closes at lows | Yes |
Three long black bodies closing near their lows match three black crows.4
Example 3 — Stretched crows
Possible exhaustionA hypothetical market has already fallen far when three huge red candles appear.
| Prior move | Extended |
| Candle size | Very large |
After a long run, three huge candles can mean the move is stretched rather than set to continue.1
Soldiers vs crows
| Aspect | Three white soldiers | Three black crows |
|---|---|---|
| Prior trend | Down | Up |
| Candles | Three rising | Three falling |
| Closes | Progressively higher | Progressively lower |
| Signal | Bullish | Bearish |
Where traders use them
Reversals
Confirming a Reversal.
Momentum
Reading Momentum over several sessions.
Trend start
Spotting a new Trend.
Exhaustion
Checking Overbought and Oversold risk.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
- Three sessions give stronger confirmation.
- Easy to see on daily charts.
- Shows steady pressure, not a single spike.
Disadvantages
- The entry comes late after a big move.
- Stops beyond the first candle can be wide.
- Can mark exhaustion instead of continuation.
- Rare in clean form.
Going deeper
Read as far as you need. Each level builds on the one before it.
Structure
Beginner
Each soldier opens inside the body of the candle before and closes higher.1
Blended view
Intermediate
Merged together, the three soldiers form one long white candle — a picture of strong buying.2
Exhaustion risk
Advanced
Very large candles after an extended move can signal exhaustion rather than more of the same.1
Common mistakes
Ignoring the prior trend
The pattern must reverse something.
Buying the third candle at any price
The stop may be far away.
Missing exhaustion
Huge candles late in a move warn.
Counting small candles
Bodies should be long.
Check your understanding
Test yourself before moving on. Each answer comes with an explanation.
Key points to remember
- Soldiers are three strong rising candles.
- Crows are three strong falling candles.
- Each opens within the prior body.
- They show steady pressure.
- Very large candles can mean exhaustion.
Frequently asked questions
Are soldiers always bullish?
Do crows need a gap?
Which timeframe works best?
Further learning
- Reversal
Reversals.
- Momentum
Momentum.
- Candlestick
Candles.
- Overbought and Oversold
Exhaustion.
Sources
This article is written in our own words. The sources below support the specific facts, rules and figures marked with a number in the text. Links open the original publisher’s page.
- IG. 16 Candlestick Patterns Every Trader Should Know (opens in a new tab) Checked .
- StockCharts ChartSchool. Introduction to Candlesticks (opens in a new tab) Checked .
- IG. Japanese Candlesticks: What They Are + How to Trade (opens in a new tab) Checked .
- StockCharts ChartSchool. Candlestick Pattern Dictionary (opens in a new tab) Checked .
Read more elsewhere
- Trading Metrics (our sister site): Three White Soldiers (opens in a new tab)
Educational content, not financial advice. Examples use hypothetical prices and simplified costs; actual fees, margin rules and regulations vary by broker, market and country. Trading Metrics is our sister site, under the same ownership; we are not affiliated with any other publisher linked above. Last reviewed . Report an error or request a source credit.