The Kicker Pattern in Price Action: A Complete Trading Guide for Forex & Crypto

What Is the Kicker Pattern?

The Kicker pattern is a two-candle reversal setup in Price Action. The second candle opens at exactly the same level as the first — and then drives strongly in the opposite direction. It is widely regarded as one of the most powerful trend-reversal signals in all of candlestick analysis.

«When a Kicker appears on the chart, the market isn’t whispering — it’s shouting that direction is changing.»

The Kicker reflects a complete, instantaneous shift in market sentiment — no hesitation, no transitional bars. It works across all timeframes and all instruments: Forex pairs, cryptocurrencies, equities, indices, and commodities.

How the Kicker Pattern Works

The Kicker is a two-candle structure in which the second candle opens at the open price of the first (or gaps in the reversal direction) and closes firmly in the opposite direction. This creates an instantaneous price reversal with no intermediate movement.

The name comes from the English word kick — the market gets a sharp boot in a new direction. That abruptness is what makes the Kicker significantly stronger than classic patterns like the Engulfing or the Rail.

Key requirement: both candles must have large, well-defined bodies. Small-bodied candles do not constitute a valid Kicker signal.

Two Types of Kicker: Bullish and Bearish

Here is the translation, keeping the trading terminology sharp and the tone professional yet accessible:

How Bias Works in Reality:

1) The Gold Standard (Open 1 = Open 2): Yesterday’s price action is completely wiped out. The market opens exactly where yesterday began but rips in the opposite direction. This is the textbook signal shown in your black-and-white diagram.

2) Strengthening Bias (Larger Gap): For a Bullish Kicker, if the second (green) candle opens above the opening price of the first (red) candle—that’s perfectly fine! In fact, it makes the signal even stronger. The market didn’t just regain its footing; it cleared the hurdle with a head start.

3) Inner Body Bias (Smaller Gap — see image below): However, if the second candle opens within the body rangeof the first (e.g., the green candle opens slightly below the red candle’s open), the pattern becomes «dirty.» Strict analysts would argue this is no longer a classic Kicker, but rather just a strong price gap.

Bullish Kicker — Buy Signal

Forms in a support zone or during a downtrend. Sequence:

Candle 1: A large bearish (red/black) candle — price falls.
Candle 2: Opens at the open of candle 1 (or gaps higher). Closes strongly as a large bullish (green/white) candle — a buy signal.

Bearish Kicker — Sell Signal

Forms in a resistance zone or during an uptrend. Sequence:

Candle 1: A large bullish (green/white) candle — price rises.
Candle 2: Opens at the open of candle 1 (or gaps lower). Closes strongly as a large bearish (red/black) candle — a sell signal.

Why Is the Kicker So Powerful?

Among all candlestick reversal patterns, the Kicker stands apart for several structural reasons:

Instantaneous control shift. There is no grey zone — the market did not hesitate, it reversed in a single bar.
Psychological trap. Every trader positioned in the direction of candle 1 is suddenly underwater at the same moment. The resulting wave of forced exits accelerates the new move.
Institutional fingerprint. Kicker patterns frequently appear at major news events or central bank decisions — they often mark the entry of large institutional capital.

Kicker Trading Strategy: Entry Techniques

Method 1 — Entry After Candle 2 Closes (Conservative)

Wait for the pattern to fully form before entering:

Bullish Kicker: Enter long at the open of candle 3.
Bearish Kicker: Enter short at the open of candle 3.
Stop-loss: Below the low (or above the high) of candle 2, plus a 5–10 pip buffer.

Method 2 — Retest Entry (Preferred for R:R)

After the pattern prints, price often retraces — offering a superior entry point:

Wait for a pullback to the open level of candle 2.
Look for confirmation (pin bar, inside bar) before entering.
Stop-loss: Just beyond the open of candle 2 with a small buffer.

Stop-Loss and Take-Profit Guidelines

Stop-loss: Below/above the wick of candle 2, plus 5–10 pips buffer.
Minimum target: Nearest support/resistance level, with R:R no less than 1:2.
Advanced approach: Close 50% of the position at the nearest level; trail the remainder with a stop.
Potential: On daily charts, Kicker setups regularly deliver R:R of 1:3 or better.

What Makes a High-Quality Kicker Setup

Not every Kicker is equal. Here are the criteria for a strong setup:

Factor	What It Means
Large candle bodies	Small bodies = weak signal. Skip it.
Pattern at a key level	Support/resistance zone, Fibonacci level, prior swing high/low
Aligns with D1 trend	Bullish Kicker at D1 support = one of the best PA setups available
Gap between candles	A gap in the reversal direction makes the signal even stronger
High volume on candle 2	Confirms institutional participation and sentiment change

Which Timeframes to Trade the Kicker On

D1 & W1: The most reliable signals with the fewest false positives.
H4: A solid balance between signal frequency and quality.
H1 and below: Use only as a secondary confirmation of a higher-timeframe signal.

Pro tip: Spot the Kicker on D1, then drop to H4 or H1 to time your entry more precisely — tighter stop, better risk-reward.

Kicker vs. Engulfing: Key Differences

These two patterns are often confused. The distinction is fundamental:

Engulfing: The second candle opens inside the body of the first and «engulfs» it with its own body.
Kicker: The second candle opens exactly at the open of the first (or gaps) and moves entirely in the opposite direction. The reversal is sharper, more aggressive.

The short version: Engulfing is a soft reversal, Kicker is a hard reversal. That aggression is why the Kicker tends to produce stronger follow-through momentum.

Common Mistakes When Trading the Kicker

Trading without context. A Kicker away from any clear level is a weak signal. Always evaluate where on the chart the pattern has formed.
Small candle bodies. This is not a proper Kicker — just a random sentiment shift with no momentum behind it.
Trading counter to the D1 trend. A Kicker on H1 against the daily trend carries significantly lower odds of playing out.
Ignoring risk-reward. If the stop is too wide and R:R falls below 1:2, pass on the trade. Discipline over opportunity.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About the Kicker Pattern

How often does the Kicker pattern appear?

The Kicker is a rare pattern. On a daily chart, it may show up only a few times per year on any given instrument. That rarity is precisely why many traders scan multiple markets simultaneously. Its infrequency is more than offset by its reliability — the Kicker is one of the most accurate reversal signals in Price Action.

How is the Kicker different from the Rail pattern?

The Rail (or Tweezer) consists of two candles of opposite direction that are roughly equal in size. In the Kicker, the critical condition is that candle 2 opens at the exact open of candle 1 (or with a gap), which significantly amplifies the signal. Rails appear more frequently; Kickers are more dependable.

Does the Kicker work in crypto markets?

Yes — and effectively. On daily timeframes in crypto (BTC, ETH, etc.), price gaps at the open of candle 2 are actually more common than in Forex, which can make the signal even stronger. The trading rules are identical to those applied in Forex.

Can I trade the Kicker without waiting for confirmation?

Experienced traders enter immediately after candle 2 closes. Beginners should wait for a retest of the candle 2 open level — it reduces risk, improves R:R, and provides additional confirmation that the pattern is holding.

Video version of the Kicker Pattern trading strategy in Price Action:

Conclusion

The Kicker pattern is more than just a candlestick formation — it is one of the most powerful reversal signals in Price Action trading. Its relative rarity is a feature, not a flaw: when a Kicker prints at a key level on the daily chart, it represents one of the highest-probability entry opportunities available in Forex or crypto markets.

Add it to your toolkit — but never trade it mechanically. Context, level, timeframe, and disciplined risk management are what turn a strong signal into a profitable trade.

Download MT4 and MT5 indicators that identify chart patterns (archive includes a detailed description) — Indicators_kicker_pattern_ex4_ex5.
If you need the open-source MQ4 and MQ5 versions, they are available for purchase — get them here >>