I see a lot of traders following classical chart patterns . Being a pattern follower myself for some years , here is my advice to them as I feel some pointers will improve their accuracy . Again , this is not the only correct way but what I have learnt from my experiences

1. Volume confirmation is a must. Without the volume rules being fulfilled , there is no importance to the pattern
2. Understand where the pattern is taking place within the major price structure of the index/stock. An inverse head and shoulders bottom reversal occurs at market bottoms , not at market tops
3. If a pattern is valid, it will leap out at you from the computer screen . If it takes a lot of time for you to "see" the pattern , you are probably imagining things
4. Understand how the market players operate so that a pattern is created . Understand the psychological basis of market participants within the pattern . Best resource : Technical Analysis of Stock Trends by Edwards and Magee . You should read the book at least 10 times or more
5. A pro tip : Use line charts while searching for patterns . Bar charts or candlesticks will be confusing , a line chart consisting of only closing prices is much easier on the eye
6. Check whether major support/resistance zones exist after a pattern breakout. In short , check whether the breakout has empty spaces to run
7. Define an entry stop and how you will trail the trade once it get's going. Define when and why you will exit if something changes . Have your plan ready before you enter the trade.
8. Use modern indicators to support the pattern breakout. See whether a price breakout is supported by a momentum , volume or volatility breakout. If so , it adds weight to chances of success for the breakout
9. Last but not the least , use some for of money mgmt for initial position sizing and then scaling in or scaling out.
#bestofluck trading patterns :)
10. Trading patterns will need years of practice , there is no shortcut. The amount of time you spend and see the patterns working out will add to your experience . Took me 5 years to successfully trade patterns :)

More from Subhadip Nandy

Perhaps you have the idea that calling me " 1 lot Nandy" is somehow derogatory and a easy poke at me. Allow me to explain why I look at this moniker as a badge of honour


I have traded 1 lot continuously twice in my life. The first in 2003 after I blew up on my INFY trade. I traded 1 lot ACC fut consistently and made 50k in a month

The 2nd time in 2013. When I suffered continuous losses for 5-6 months due to a variety of psychological issues. Then I traded 1 lot Nifty options consistently for 3 months. After that 2 lots for next 1 month and slowly increased

I have shared these two incidents on my various interveiws and regularly share this in detail with my handholding students when I talk about trading psychology.

This logic of trading 1 lot to iron out trading issues I learnt from the interview of Anthony Saliba, who traded 1 lot in options for 6 months. BTW, Saliba was the only options trader to have been profiled on the original Market Wizards ( I read his interview and used his logic)
Ok here is the explanation. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. If you have not read/noticed this, you will see intraday options movement in a new light.


Say we have two options, one 50 delta ATM options and another 30 delta OTM option. Normally for a 100 point move, the ATM option will move 50 points and the OTM option will move 30 points. But in a high volatile environment, the OTM option will also move nearly 50 points

To understand why this happens, first understand why an ATM option is 50 delta. An ATM option has the probability of 50% of expiring as ITM. The price just has to close a rupee above the strike for the CE to be ITM and vice versa for PEs

Now think of a highly volatile day like today. If someone is asked where the BNF will close for the day or expiry, no one can answer. BNF can close freakin anywhere, That makes every option of an equal probability of being ITM. So all options have a 50% probability of being ITM

Hence, when a huge volatile move starts, all OTM options behave like ATM options. This phenomenon was first observed in the Black Monday crash of 1987 at Wall Street, which also gave rise to the volatility skew/smirk

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