Head and shoulders

Three peaks: a higher one (the head) between two lower ones (the shoulders). A close through the neckline that connects the lows signals the trend has turned.

Reversal strategiesIntermediateConfirmed on candle close

Watch it play out

Replay plays a setup this strategy already finished and stops so you can call it. Live watches for the next one on Bitcoin (BTC-USD, 1-minute candles). Either way a setup is marked only when a candle closes, then it's locked and plays out to its target or its stop. Nothing to trade here.

How the live chart applies the rules
  • 1-minute candles. The chart runs every strategy on 1-minute Bitcoin candles from Coinbase, whatever timeframe the strategy page suggests. Times are New York time.
  • Closed candles only. Levels, triggers and stops are read when a candle closes. Entry is that candle's close.
  • One setup at a time. While a setup is playing out, the same strategy doesn't start another.
  • Sensible risk only. A setup counts only if its stop is between a quarter and 6 times the average candle range (ATR 14) from entry (wider for session-range strategies), and its target is at least 0.75R away.
  • How a setup ends. At its target or its stop. If one candle touches both, the stop counts. A setup also ends at any exit its page names, and after 120 candles (longer for trend and session strategies) if nothing is hit.
  • Replays. A replay plays the latest setup this strategy finished on the live chart's recent history, sped up. It's the same setup the live chart confirmed, with the same entry, stop and result. If the strategy hasn't finished one recently, the replay uses example candles and says so.
  • The trading day. A day runs 6:00 PM to 6:00 PM ET, like futures. VWAP restarts at 6:00 PM, and "yesterday" means the last full trading day.

How Head and shoulders works

TargetStopLeft shoulder, head, right shoulderNeckline break
Example drawing, not live market data.
1Where's the level?
The neckline: the lowest low between the two shoulders, drawn flat (the highest high for an inverse pattern).
2What's the trigger?
A candle closes beyond the neckline.
3Where is it wrong?
Beyond the right shoulder.
4Where does it end?
The distance from the head to the neckline, projected down from the neckline.
Markets
Stocks, Futures, Forex, Crypto
Timeframes
1h to 1d
Sessions
Any
Also called
H&S, inverse head and shoulders

What it means

Three peaks: a higher one (the head) between two lower ones (the shoulders). A close through the neckline that connects the lows signals the trend has turned.

How it is confirmed without repainting

All three peaks must be confirmed swing points before the pattern counts.

When it fails

The right shoulder rises above the head.

Education only. Prop Firm Duel does not provide trade signals or financial advice. This page explains how the strategy is commonly defined. Past results never guarantee future results.

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