Logo
Home  >  Blog  >  Trading patterns cheat sheet

Forex

Top Trading Patterns Cheat Sheet (2025)

Written by Nathalie Okde

Fact checked by Rania Gule

Updated 29 December 2025

Top Trading Patterns Cheat Sheet (2025) - XS
Table of Contents

    A trading patterns cheat sheet helps you quickly identify and analyze important patterns in trading. Chart patterns are essentially shapes and formations created by the price movements of a security on a chart.

    These patterns visually represent historical price action and can help you predict the market's direction. Therefore, you need to know how to spot them on a chart.

    Below is the best trading patterns cheat sheet in 2025 with a breakdown of each pattern.

    Key Takeaways

    • Trading patterns help predict future price movements based on historical data.

    • Reversal patterns indicate a change in the trend direction.

    • Continuation patterns suggest the current trend will continue.

    • Bilateral patterns show the potential for movement in either direction.

    Try a No-Risk Demo Account

    Register for a free demo and refine your trading strategies.

    Open Your Free Account

    What Is a Trading Patterns Cheat Sheet?

    A trading patterns cheat sheet, or price action patterns cheat sheet, is a quick reference guide for identifying and understanding different chart patterns.

    Based on historical price action, these patterns provide insights into potential future price movements.

    By familiarizing yourself with these patterns, you can better predict market behavior and make more informed trading decisions in 2025.

     

    Free Trading Patterns Cheat Sheet PDF (2025)

    A trading patterns cheat sheet can help you a lot in your trading journey to generate profit. Below is a trading cheat sheet that you can download for free:

    top-trading-patterns-cheat-sheet

    Download Trading Patterns Cheat Sheet PDF

     

    Trading Patterns Cheat Sheet: Reversal Patterns

    Reversal patterns signal a change or ‘reversal’ in the current trend direction. Trading reversal patterns consist of recognizing these patterns to know when to exit or enter trades at the optimal time.

     

    Reversal Patterns

    Bullish

    Bearish

    Double Bottom

    Double Top

    Inverse Head & Shoulders

    Head & Shoulders

    Falling Wedge

    Rising Wedge

    Morning Star

    Evening Star

    Rounding Bottom

    Rounding Top

     

    Bullish Reversal Patterns

    Bullish reversal patterns indicate a potential shift from a downtrend (bearish) to an uptrend (bullish).

    Below are some essential patterns in a bullish reversal chart patterns cheat sheet.

    1. Double Bottom Pattern

    2. Inverse Head & Shoulders Pattern

    3. Falling Wedge Pattern

    4. Morning Star Pattern

    5. Rounding Bottom Pattern

     

    Double Bottom Pattern

    A double bottom is a bullish reversal pattern that appears after a prolonged downtrend.

    The characteristics of this pattern are two apparent lows at roughly the same level, with a moderate peak in between.

    double-bottom-pattern

    This pattern suggests that the selling pressure is decreasing, and buyers are gaining control, leading to a potential upward price movement.

     

    Inverse Head & Shoulders Pattern

    The inverse head-and-shoulders pattern is a bullish reversal pattern formed by three troughs or ‘downs.’

    inverse-head-and-shoulders

    The middle trough (the head) is the lowest, and the two outside troughs (shoulders) are higher and roughly equal. The neckline connects the peaks between the troughs.

     

    Falling Wedge Pattern

    A falling wedge is a bullish reversal pattern that falls downwards, with the price moving between two converging trendlines.

    falling-wedge

    This pattern indicates that the downward momentum is weakening, and an upward breakout is likely.

     

    Morning Star Pattern

    The morning star pattern is a bullish reversal pattern that appears at the end of a downtrend.

    morning-star-pattern

    It consists of a long bearish candle, a small indecision candle (often a doji), and a long bullish candle. It signals a potential trend reversal upward.

     

    Rounding Bottom Pattern

    The rounding bottom pattern is a bullish pattern where the price gradually forms a curved bottom over time.

    rounding-bottom-pattern

    It indicates a shift from selling pressure to buying interest and suggests a breakout to higher prices.

     

    Bearish Reversal Patterns

    Bearish reversal patterns signal a potential shift from an uptrend (bullish) to a downtrend (bearish).

    Below are some essential patterns in a bearish reversal chart patterns cheat sheet.

    1. Double Top Pattern

    2. Head & Shoulders Pattern

    3. Rising Wedge Pattern

    4. Evening Star Pattern

    5. Rounding Top Pattern

     

    Double Top Pattern

    A double top is a bearish reversal pattern after a significant uptrend. It features two peaks at roughly the same price level, with a trough in between.

    double-top

    This pattern indicates that the buying pressure is diminishing, and sellers are taking control, leading to a potential downward price movement.

     

    Head & Shoulders Pattern

    The head and shoulders pattern is a bearish reversal pattern characterized by three peaks: a higher peak (head) between two lower peaks (shoulders).

    head-and-shoulders

    The neckline connects the lows between the peaks.

     

    Rising Wedge Pattern

    A rising wedge is a bearish reversal pattern that slopes upwards, with the price moving between two converging trendlines.

    rising-wedge

    This pattern suggests that the upward momentum is weakening, and a downward breakout is likely. These patterns are very helpful in helping you predict market trends, hence why you need a trading patterns cheat sheet to keep with you as a quick reference.

     

    Evening Star Pattern

    The evening star pattern is a bearish reversal pattern that forms at the end of an uptrend.

    evening-star-pattern

    It includes a long bullish candle, a small indecision candle, and a long bearish candle. It warns of a potential downward trend.

     

    Rounding Top Pattern

    The rounding top pattern is a bearish pattern where the price gradually forms a curved top.

    rounding-top-pattern

    It shows weakening buying momentum and increasing selling pressure, often leading to a breakdown.

     

    Trading Patterns Cheat Sheet: Continuation Patterns

    Continuation patterns indicate that the current trend will likely continue after a brief consolidation period.

     

    Continuation Patterns

    Bullish

    Bearish

    Bullish Flag

    Bearish Flag

    Ascending Triangle

    Descending Triangle

    Bullish Pennant

    Bearish Pennant

    Measured Move Up

    Measured Moved Down

     

    Bullish Continuation Patterns

    Bullish continuation patterns suggest that the existing uptrend (bullish) will continue.

    Below are some essential bullish continuation trading patterns.

    1. Bullish Flag Pattern

    2. Ascending Triangle Pattern

    3. Bullish Pennant Pattern

    4. Measured Move Up Pattern

     

    Bullish Flag Pattern

    A bullish flag is a small, rectangular continuation pattern that slopes against the prevailing uptrend.

    bullish-flag

    It forms after a sharp price increase, followed by a period of consolidation with parallel trendlines. This pattern indicates that the uptrend will resume after the consolidation.

     

    Ascending Triangle Pattern

    An ascending triangle is a bullish continuation pattern characterized by a horizontal resistance line and an ascending support line.

    ascending-triangle

    The pattern indicates that buyers gradually gain strength, leading to a bullish market breakout.

     

    Bullish Pennant Pattern

    A bullish pennant is a small symmetrical triangle that forms after a sharp upward move.

    bullish-pennant

    The pattern consists of converging trendlines and indicates that the uptrend will continue after the consolidation.

     

    Measured Move Up Pattern

    The Measured Move Up Pattern is bullish continuation pattern with three parts:

    1. a sharp upward move

    2.  a period of sideways consolidation

    3.  another upward move similar to the first

     

    This pattern suggests further increase of the prices.

     

    Bearish Continuation Patterns

    Bearish continuation patterns suggest that the existing downtrend (bearish) will continue.

    Below are some essential bearish continuation trading patterns.

    1. Bearish Flag Pattern

    2. Descending Triangle Pattern

    3. Bearish Pennant Pattern

    4. Measured Move Down Pattern

     

    Bearish Flag Pattern

    A bearish flag is a small, rectangular continuation pattern that slopes against the prevailing downtrend.

    bearish-flag

    It forms after a sharp price decrease, followed by a period of consolidation with parallel trendlines. This pattern indicates that the downtrend will resume after the consolidation.

     

    Descending Triangle Pattern

    A descending triangle is a bearish continuation pattern characterized by a horizontal support line and a descending resistance line.

    descending-triangle

    The pattern indicates that sellers gradually gain strength, leading to a downward breakout.

     

    Bearish Pennant Pattern

    A bearish pennant is a small symmetrical triangle that forms after a sharp downward move.

    bearish-pennant

    The pattern consists of converging trendlines and indicates that the downtrend will continue after the consolidation.

     

    Measured Move Down Pattern

    The measured move down pattern is a bearish continuation pattern with three stages:

    1. a steep drop

    2. a consolidation phase

    3. another downward move similar to the first

    measured-moved-down-pattern

    This pattern suggests a further decrease in prices.

     

    Trading Patterns Cheat Sheet: Bilateral Patterns

    Bilateral patterns indicate that the price could move in either direction, providing potential trading opportunities for bullish and bearish scenarios.

    Below are some essential bilateral trading patterns.

    1. Ascending Triangle Pattern

    2. Descending Triangle Pattern

    3. Symmetrical Triangle Pattern

    4. Broadening Formation Pattern

    5. Diamond Pattern

     

    Ascending Triangle Pattern

    As mentioned earlier, an ascending triangle can act as a bilateral pattern.

    ascending-triangle

    A break above the resistance line suggests a bullish continuation, while a break below the support line indicates a bearish reversal.

     

    Descending Triangle Pattern

    Similarly, a descending triangle can act as a bilateral pattern.

    descending-triangle

    A break below the support line suggests a bearish continuation, while a break above the resistance line indicates a bullish reversal.

     

    Symmetrical Triangle Pattern

    A symmetrical triangle is a bilateral pattern formed by converging trendlines with similar slopes.

    symmetrical-triangle-pattern

    It indicates that neither buyers nor sellers have control, and the breakout direction will signal the next trend.

     

    Broadening Formation Pattern

    The broadening formation pattern is a bilateral pattern with diverging trendlines, where the highs and lows spread out over time.

    broadening-formation-pattern

    It indicates growing volatility and a potential breakout in either direction.

     

    Diamond Pattern

    The diamond pattern is a bilateral pattern shaped like a diamond, created by converging and then diverging trendlines.

    diamond-chart-pattern

    It often forms at the end of trends and signals a breakout, typically in the direction of the preceding trend.

     

    How Do You Use a Trading Pattern Cheat Sheet?

    Using a trading patterns cheat sheet helps you quickly spot and interpret key trading patterns as they appear on your charts.

    Whether you're pattern trading with bullish reversals, bearish continuations, or price action patterns, this cheat sheet keeps you on track.

    Here's how to use it:

    1. Spot the Pattern: Compare what you see on your chart with the patterns on your cheat sheet.

    2. Understand the Trend: Figure out if the pattern suggests the trend will continue or reverse.

    3. Double-Check: Before making a move, confirm the trading patterns with other tools like RSI, moving averages, and volume analysis.

    4. Make Your Move: Once you're confident, use the chart pattern cheat sheet to guide your entry and exit points, helping you make smarter, more profitable trades.

     

    What Is the 123 Pattern in Trading?

    The 123 pattern is a simple but effective reversal pattern that helps identify potential trend changes.

    It consists of three points:

    • the initial high or low (1)

    • a retracement (2)

    • a breakout level (3)

    This pattern applies in bullish and bearish markets and can be a valuable tool for those looking to capitalize on trend reversals.

    For example, imagine you're watching a stock that's been in a downtrend for a while.

    Suddenly, it hits a new low, and that's your Point 1. Then, the stock starts to climb a bit but doesn't go too high, creating Point 2. Finally, it dips again, but this time, it doesn't drop as low as before, forming Point 3.

    Now, if the stock breaks above the level of Point 2, you've got a confirmed 123 pattern, signaling a possible reversal from a downtrend to an uptrend.

     

    5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Trading Patterns in 2025

    While trading patterns are important, to the point of needing a trading pattern cheat sheet, they can also be tricky.

    Some traders over-rely on trading cheat sheets and make the mistakes below:

    1. Ignoring Confirmation Signals: Relying solely on the appearance of a pattern without waiting for confirmation can lead to premature trades.

    2. Overlooking Market Context: Focusing too much on individual patterns without considering the broader market trend can result in misinterpretations.

    3. Misidentifying Patterns: Confusing similar patterns or incorrectly identifying them can lead to the wrong trading decisions.

    4. Forgetting to Manage Risk: Entering trades based solely on a pattern without considering risk management can result in significant losses.

    5. Overtrading Based on Patterns: Seeing patterns everywhere and making too many trades can lead to overtrading, which often reduces profitability.

    Therefore, to avoid these mistakes, understand all patterns on your cheat sheet and confirm them with other indicators.

     

    How to Integrate Your Trading Patterns Cheat Sheet with Other Tools

    A trading patterns cheat sheet is invaluable, but it becomes even more important when combined with other trading tools.

    Here's how you can integrate your cheat sheet with various tools to improve your trading decisions:

    • Combine with Moving Averages: Use moving averages to identify the overall trend, and then use your cheat sheet to spot patterns within that trend.

    • Use with RSI (Relative Strength Index): Check the RSI indicator to confirm overbought or oversold conditions before acting on a pattern.

    • Pair with Fibonacci Retracement Levels: Use Fibonacci retracement levels to identify potential support and resistance levels that match the patterns on your cheat sheet.

     

    Conclusion

    In conclusion, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the market's ups and downs by recognizing patterns like bullish reversals or bearish continuations at a glance.

    So, keep this trading patterns cheat sheet as a quick reference to the top trading patterns 2025.

    Ready for the Next Trading Step?

    Open an account and get started.

    Get Free Access
    Table of Contents

      FAQs

      A bullish flag or bearish flag is a continuation chart pattern where the price consolidates within two parallel trendlines before continuing in the direction of the prevailing trend.

      The most effective pattern varies based on market conditions and individual trading styles. However, the head and shoulders pattern is regarded as one of the most reliable trading patterns due to its clear structure and strong predictive power.

      It consists of three peaks: the middle peak (the head) is higher than the two side peaks (the shoulders), forming a shape that resembles a head and shoulders. This pattern signals a reversal from an uptrend to a downtrend, informing traders that the price will likely fall.

      Chart patterns are generally reliable but not foolproof. These patterns emerge from consistent human trading behaviors, adding a layer of predictability.

      However, they work best when combined with other technical analysis tools and indicators to confirm the signals they provide. Market conditions, volume, and other factors also play a crucial role in their reliability.

      To download the trading cheat sheet infographic PDF above, follow these steps:

      1. Click on “Download Trading Cheat Sheet” below the infographic.

      2. The PDF will open in a new window.

      3. Click on the arrow pointing down to download the PDF

      The trading 3 to 1 rule is a risk management strategy where traders aim for a reward-to-risk ratio of at least 3:1. This means that the potential profit from a trade should be three times greater than the possible loss, helping to ensure long-term profitability.

      For example, imagine you’re placing a trade, and you’re willing to risk $100. According to the 3 to 1 rule, your potential profit from this trade should be at least $300. This approach helps ensure you can still be profitable overall, even if you have more losing trades than winning ones. 

      Nathalie Okde

      Nathalie Okde

      SEO Content Writer

      Nathalie Okde is an SEO content writer with nearly two years of experience, specializing in educational finance and trading content. Nathalie combines analytical thinking with a passion for writing to make complex financial topics accessible and engaging for readers.  

      Rania Gule

      Rania Gule

      Market Analyst

      A market analyst and member of the Research Team for the Arab region at XS.com, with diplomas in business management and market economics. Since 2006, she has specialized in technical, fundamental, and economic analysis of financial markets. Known for her economic reports and analyses, she covers financial assets, market news, and company evaluations. She has managed finance departments in brokerage firms, supervised master's theses, and developed professional analysis tools.

      This written/visual material is comprised of personal opinions and ideas and may not reflect those of the Company. The content should not be construed as containing any type of investment advice and/or a solicitation for any transactions. It does not imply an obligation to purchase investment services, nor does it guarantee or predict future performance. XS, its affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees do not guarantee the accuracy, validity, timeliness or completeness of any information or data made available and assume no liability for any loss arising from any investment based on the same. Our platform may not offer all the products or services mentioned.

      Register to our Newsletter to always be updated of our latest news!

      scroll top