This is the second in a series of posts on pattern recognition, following up on yesterday’s post that dealt with trading simple pullbacks. The pullback truly is one of the most useful trading patterns, and many traders find success with a program focusing on pullbacks for trade entry. However, the simple pullback is an idealized pattern, and things get messy in actual trading. It’s worth our time to consider some of the common ways pullbacks might diverge from the ideal, simple pullback. There are two common variations we should consider: the nested pullback and the complex pullback:
So the basic idea behind pullbacks is that a trending market makes a trend move, pauses or consolidates (usually by moving against the trend for a short time), and then breaks into another with-trend leg. Sometimes the market follows this template, but the first attempt to resume the trend fails, the market pulls back further, and then breaks into a with-trend run. This is a complex pullback, so-called because it has two or more countertrend legs within the pullback structure.
Why it matters
Why do we care? Well, first of all traders using a plan of entering as the market turns into a trend leg and tightening the stop aggressively will be stopped out when the market turns against them for the second pullback leg. This might be ok, because, as we know, some percentage of trades are simply losers, and this is one of the common ways pullbacks fail.
However, some of the best with-trend moves come after these complex consolidations. A pullback trading plan that does not at least plan for and understand the possibility of complex consolidations is incomplete. In fact, some traders focus on trying to catch the complex pullbacks, at the expense of ignoring simple, on-legged pullbacks.
Where to find them
Those of you who have read my work on Fibonacci ratios (here, here. here. and here) will not be surprised to find that I also think Elliott Wave is not particularly useful, either. However, one of the very few useful rules of that system is the law of alternation, which states, among other things, that complex pullbacks alternate with simple pullbacks. This isn’t quite right, based on my observation of markets, but the idea that you should be on guard for a complex pullback after several trend legs is valid. Pullbacks tend to be somewhat proportional to the strength of the trend (in length and magnitude), so strong trends often require longer pullbacks. Longer pullbacks are more likely to have multiple legs–no need to overthink or ascribe some mystical significance to what can be explained by random fluctuations!
Be careful, because complex pullbacks can sometimes hide within a few bars. (This might be more common on intraday charts.) Sometimes we will see what looks like a simple pullback, but it contains a single “with trend” candle within the pullback structure. This often shows a lower timeframe complex pullback, and can be treated as a complex pullback on the higher timeframe, as well. Remember, in all of this, we are adding structure and arbitrary time constraints to the market, so I think it’s important to not get too caught up in structure that we create.
How to trade them
There are a few possibilities for entering complex pullbacks. One idea is to look to enter the second leg on a failure test (more on that pattern soon) around the previous swing low. The real problem comes with managing losing simple pullbacks–it is not possible to take a full-sized loss on the first trade, and then enter the second trade with full sized risk. Entering the second trade on less-than-full-sized risk is probably also not the best plan, as these tend to be some great trades. (Also, keep in mind that complex pullbacks certainly can have more than two legs, especially depending on the timeframe. It’s not uncommon to see a pullback extend for 3 or more legs, and basically resolve in a simple pullback structure on the higher timeframe.)
As in everything else, discipline is all that matters. You can’t be making up new rules every time you see a pattern in the market; have a plan, and trade that plan. Also, realize that there are some trades that you simply will not be able to catch. Whether it’s because you already have on risk in related markets, or that the pattern simply doesn’t align with your plan, your job is not to catch every move. Your job, as a trader, is to catch those moves that fit the patterns you have defined in your trading plan, to put on the correct risk, and to manage that risk appropriately.
Examples
Here are a few examples of complex pullbacks on daily charts, drawn from recent market action. I have deliberately chosen less-than-perfect examples to show you how these patterns can play out in actual trading. (Pullback legs are highlighted with solid lines, and failed with-trend attempts with dotted lines.)
Good article, Adam. You said: “The real problem comes with managing losing simple pullbacks–it is not possible to take a full-sized loss on the first trade, and then enter the second trade with full sized risk. Entering the second trade on less-than-full-sized risk is probably also not the best plan, as these tend to be some great trades. ” – What are some possible solutions around this then?
Only take single pullback trades? Only take complex pullback trades? Or take 50% size for the single pullback trade if the trend is ‘long and strong’?Just a few options i may take.
I think that one of the possible solution Adam pointed out is relying on your experience or intuition. After your skill level reach a sufficient level, experience/intuition will become a important part or your decision. It is quite discretionary. You adjust your position size based on your subjective probability assessment. It maybe part of the reason why Adam included meditation liked training in his great free courses.
Well, that’s a valid point, but not necessarily a beneficial one for a developing trader. That’s also understandable in theory, but a template would trump “subjective probability assessment” until a trader gets to that level where that takes over. Mechanics behind shooting in basketball are first taught, then further developed to fit one’s style. Tough to give someone a ball and say use your discretion when shooting. Not jumping on the article nor your comment, but just something worth discussing.
Thank you for your reply. I am still in my developing period too and I understand what you said.
I think that, for developing traders without strong context reading skill/experience/intuition, one of the possible solutions is just trading very selectively and mechanically, as Adam said in this post( “In fact, some traders focus on trying to catch the complex pullbacks, at the expense of ignoring simple, on-legged pullbacks.”).
When trading pull backs, we can only trading a strong moving has two legs pull backs and around 20 EMA, and set a sufficient stop(Adam discussed the concept of moving average and stop location in his previous post.). Then the hardest part is discipline and consistency.
That is what I learnt from studying Adam’s materials(blog posts, book and webinars).
Good luck.
Good points and good questions… sorry it took me so long to join the discussion. The most important point is the one that seems to be obvious: multiple attempts at an entry will result in larger losses. (This seems like it should be obvious, but it is something that is often glossed over in “trader education.” I have seen many programs that show 4 entries, with the last one being a winner, and then they say “look how much money you could have made!” Of course, this requires that you ignore the losses on the losing entries.)
Keep it simple. One thing that works is to enter a simple pullback, and then take a loss if it’s a loser. Generally, these losses will be less than 1R losses… sometimes less than 0.5R. Then allow yourself one (only one) entry into the complex pullback. Total loss on the set should be less than 2R, and, in most cases, probably 1R (note this is total for TWO entries)… but “stuff” will sometimes happen.
There is an element of experience here that will help, but I realize that is a spectacularly unsatisfying answer for a developing trader. It’s also an answer that, at least when I think cynically, might be used to hide when a methodology does not have an actual edge. 🙂 In this case, simply applying the basic patterns should reveal a small but consistent edge, and just know that you probably can refine that with some experience.
I took this long trade and was stopped out on the low of the complex consolidation. Now I see the sharp move down in the second leg due to a news event. Would this worry you, this sharp leg down?
HTF, daily, still in an uptrend (oscillator also corrected down nicely now). Also no divergence on the fast line on daily and (buy) divergence setting up on 240min.. Still a good setup I think? Can you give your opninion about this? thanks 🙂
Evaluating reader trades is just a bit out of the scope of this blog… if I did, I would be swamped with questions like this, and the answer really depends on your trading style. I don’t see anything in your post that would necessarily contradict a long position, fwiw.
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