Symmetrical Triangle Pattern Trading Strategy


The Symmetrical Triangle chart pattern is a really effective chart pattern that you can use for swing trading.  This price action trading pattern can appear in any market and on any time frame.  Like most patterns, they are more reliable on the higher time frame charts.


Symmetrical Triangles Chart Patterns

The symmetrical triangle pattern is formed by converging of two trend lines where one is considered a resistance level and the other is considered a support level

Symmetrical triangles can be either bullish or bearish

  • if a symmetrical triangle forms after an uptrend, this is considered bullish.
  • If a symmetrical triangle forms after a downtrend, this is considered bearish.

Because the symmetrical triangle is considered a continuation pattern, you should watch for the breakout to occur in the overall trend direction.

Symmetrical triangles can be very profitable when you trade the breakouts that happen either downwards or upwards.


These are the two important things to be able to trade the pattern successfully:

  • know what you are looking for and being able to spot the symmetrical triangle as it is being formed
  • get in at the right time near the breakout point which can be either the support or resistance trend line depending on the trend direction

Symmetrical Triangle Chart Pattern Trading


  1. The two trendlines drawn in the formation of the triangle should have similar slope at a point know as the apex.
  2. The price will bounce between these trendlines towards the apex.
  3. The breakout as most times will happen about 3/4 of the way towards the apex.  This pattern become unreliable if price gets inside the apex.
  4. The breakout often happens in the direction of the original (prior) trend


Look for this trading pattern in both an uptrend and down trend.  We are looking for the breakout of the support or resistance trend line in the direction of the overall trend.

This is not a reversal trading pattern.  For those, you may want to consider other price patterns such as ascending and descending triangles.

  1. Wait and watch for a candlestick to breakout of the triangle pattern. This candlestick must then close outside the descending or ascending trendline.
  2. Once this candlestick closes, depending on which side the candlestick closes, you either place a buy stop/sell stop order 2-5 pips from the closing price of that candlestick.
  3. Set your take profit target equal to the “pattern height.”

Stop loss must be set and there are a few ways you can do this:

  • If you placed a buy stop order, place your stop loss anywhere from 10-30 pips (this depends on what time frame you are using to get into this trade) under the low of the candlestick that broke out of the triangle chart formation
  • You can place your stop loss on the other side of the triangle chart formation…that is if you were to take a sell trade, where you could have placed your sell stop order then this is where you place your stop loss. Stop loss placement on this area is quite effective as you would have less chance of being stopped out prematurely.
  • You can place is at halfway point between the descending and ascending trend lines just right where the breakout happens.
  • If you place a sell stop order, place your stop loss 10-30 pips above the high of the candlestick that broke the triangle pattern.

You can also use one of my favorite stop setting indicators, the ATR


Trading The Symmetrical Chart Pattern


  • When your trade is in profit and is halfway towards hitting its profit target, you can move stop loss break even to minimize your risk
  • You can take half of the profits and leave the other half running.
  • Continue to lock your profits by moving your stop loss and trailing it behind higher swing lows as  price moves upwards to your profit target(this is for a buy order).
  • Do the opposite for sell order: move stop loss for each lower peak that forms until your take profit is hit.


  • the symmetrical chart pattern trading system is usually a very explosive breakout swing trading system. if you catch the breakout at the right time, profits come fast.
  • its based on price action and there is really no need to add any other indicator-keep it simple.
  • the symmetrical chart pattern happens in all time frames

Any trader that looks for this type of chart pattern must have an objective means to draw the trend lines.  This will allow consistency in your approach that does not change from Forex trading to trading futures.  Keep everything consistent.


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