Studying the patterns is very important in order to apply the Elliott Wave Principle correctly. The pattern of the market action, if correctly determined, not only tells you to what price levels the market will rise or decline, but also in which way (or pattern) this will happen. When you are able to recognize the patterns, and apply these patterns correctly, you can trade the Elliott Wave Principle. This is not easy to accomplish, but after some study and with the help of our "detailed and personalized daily chart service" tool you will find it easier. Humans, with sufficient experience, can analyse markets in an instance, which is a requirement for trading.
Our daily chart service restricts itself mainly to the patterns mentioned in the Classic Elliott Wave patterns. We analysis these patterns using the Classic Rules. We also use the Modern Rules, as mentioned under Modern Elliott Wave patterns, we have defined more patterns, which we have found after more than 10 years of research and experience, which definitions are more profitable in our view. This way we make available our knowledge and experience without any extra costs. After looking at the big picture we then determine which rules are preferable. Explaining the following descriptions, on the left you will find a picture of a bull market, at the right one of a bear market. The pattern section depicts the structure, while the description gives additional information. The pattern should follow the rules and guidelines, which can also be derived from the picture. Furthermore the section, in which wave explains in which wave, as a part of a larger wave degree, the patterns normally occur. Last but not least the pattern must have an internal structure as described. This is very important to determine which pattern you are dealing with. Below we have depicted all Elliott Wave patterns that are allowed under a very strict interpretation of the Elliott Wave Principle. Elliott detected most of these patterns, except for the Diagonal 2 pattern. The WXY and WXYXZ pattern have not been defined as such by Elliott, but he already had discovered these sort of combinations. In our daily analysis we use the WXY and WXYXZ also for Double and Triple Zigzags. This is a much more consistent way of labeling these patterns, since now the ABC waves in waves W and Y are sub waves and an unfitting Wave X has been eliminated. Because of this, in our daily analysis we no longer have to search for more than five waves. Using the old definition of for example a Triple Zigzag, the search was for eleven waves, apart from inconsistencies this would have slowed down our analysis considerably. a. Impulse Pattern | |||||
  | |||||
|
top Impulses are always composed of five waves, labeled 1,2,3,4,5. Waves 1, 3 and 5 are themselves each impulsive patterns and are approximately equal in length. Waves 2 and 4 on the contrary are always corrective patterns. Rules and guidelines The most important rules and guidelines are:
In which wave Impulse patterns occur in waves 1, 3, 5 and in waves A and C of a correction( this correction could be a wave 2, 4 or a wave B, D, E or wave X). Internal structure It is composed of five waves. The internal structure of these waves is 5-3-5-3-5. Note that the mentioned 3s are corrective waves, which should be composed of 5 waves in a corrective triangle. b. Extension Pattern | |||||
  | |||||
| top Description By definition an extension occurs in an impulsive wave, where waves 1, 3 or 5 can be extended, being much longer than the other waves. It is quite common that one of these waves will extend, which is normally the third wave. The two other waves then tend to equal each other. In our pattern definitions we call it an Extension1 if the first wave extends, an Extension3 if the 3rd wave extends and an Extension5 if the 5th wave extends. Rules and guidelines The most important rules and guidelines concerning an extended wave are:
In which wave Extensions occur in waves 1, 3, 5, and in A and C waves, when compared to each other. Internal structure As a minimum it is composed of 9 waves, though 13 or 17 waves could occur. So the minimal internal structure of the 9 waves is 5-3-5-3-5-3-5-3-5. Note that the 3s mentioned are corrective waves, which could be composed of 5 waves in the case of a corrective triangle. c. Diagonal triangle type 1 Pattern | |||||
  | |||||
| top Description Diagonals are sort of impulsive patterns, which normally occur in terminal waves like a fifth or a C wave. Don¡¦t confuse them with corrective triangles. Diagonals are relatively rare phenomena for large wave degrees, but they do occur often in lower wave degrees on intra-day charts. Usually Diagonal triangles are followed by a violent change in market direction. Rules and guidelines The most important rules and guidelines are:
In which wave Diagonal triangles type 1 occur in waves 5, C and sometimes in wave 1. Internal structure The internal structure of the five waves is 3-3-3-3-3. c. Diagonal triangle type 2 Pattern | |||||
  | |||||
| top Description Diagonal type 2 is a sort of impulsive pattern, which normally occurs in the first or A wave. The main difference with the Diagonal Triangle type 1 is the fact that waves 1, 3 and 5 have an internal structure of five waves instead of three. Experience shows it can also occur in a wave 5 or C, though the Elliott Wave Principle does not allow this. Don¡¦t confuse this with corrective triangles. Diagonals are relatively rare phenomena for large wave degrees, but they do occur often in lower wave degrees in intra day charts. These Diagonal triangles are not followed by a violent change in market direction, because it is not the end of a trend, except when it occurs in a fifth or a C wave. Rules and guidelines The most important rules and guidelines are:
In which wave Diagonal triangles type 2 occur in waves 1 and A. Internal structure The five waves of the diagonal type 2 show an internal structure of 5-3-5-3-5. d. Failure or Truncated 5th Pattern | |||||
  | |||||
| top Description A failure is an impulsive pattern in which the fifth wave does not exceed the third wave. Fifth waves, which travel only slightly beyond the top of wave 3, can also be classified as a kind of failure. It indicates that the trend is weak and that the market will show acceleration in the opposite direction. Rules and guidelines The most important rules and guidelines are:
In which wave A failure can only occur in a fifth wave or a C wave, but normally not in the fifth wave of wave 3. Internal structure It must be composed of five waves. a. Zigzag Pattern | |||||
  | |||||
| top Description A Zigzag is the most common corrective structure, which starts a sharp reversal. Often it looks like an impulsive wave, because of the acceleration it shows. A zigzag can extend itself into a double or triple zigzag, although this is not very common, because it lacks alternation (the same two patterns follow each other). Notice that the zigzag can only be the first part of a corrective structure. Rules and guidelines
In which wave Most of the time it happens in A, X or 2. Also quite common in B waves as a part of a Flat, (part of) Triangles and sometimes in 4. Internal structure A single Zigzag is composed of 3 waves, a double of 7 waves separated by an X wave in the middle, a triple of 11 waves separated by two X waves (see pictures below). The internal structure of the 3 waves is 5-3-5 in a single Zigzag, 5-3-5-3-5-3-5 in a double. Example of a Double Zigzag | |||||
  | |||||
| As
you have noticed we have a more modern representation of the Double Zigzag using
the labels WXY instead of ABCXABC. This is more consistent, since this way 2 zigzags
of lower degree get connected to each other by waves of higher degree. On top
if that, our automatic analysis needed such a consistent method of labeling to
reach maximum performance. Instead of labeling 7 waves (ABCXABC), in our daily
analysis we need to label only 3 waves (WXY). According to the same method a Triple
Zigzag is represented by WXYXZ instead of ABCXABCXABC. This way the number of
waves was reduced to five instead of eleven. b. Flat Pattern | |||||
  | |||||
| top Description Flats are very common forms of corrective patterns, which generally show a sideways direction. Waves A and B of the Flat are both corrective patterns. Wave C on the contrary is an impulsive pattern. Normally wave C will not go beyond the end of wave A. Rules and guidelines It
is composed of 3 waves. It occurs mostly in B waves, though also quite common in 4 and 2. Internal structure As mentioned before a Flat consists of 3 waves. The internal structure of these waves is 3-3-5. Both waves A and B normally are Zigzags. c. Expanded Flat or Irregular Flat Pattern | |||||
  | |||||
| top Description This is a common special type of Flat. Here the B wave is extended and goes beyond the (orthodox) end of the previous impulsive wave. The strength of the B wave shows that the market wants to go in the direction of B. Often a strong acceleration will take place, which starts a third wave or an extended fifth. If the C wave is much longer then A, the strength will be less. Rules and guidelines
In which wave This corrective pattern can happen in 2, 4, B and X. If it happens in 2 and C is relatively short, normally an acceleration in the third will take place. Internal structure It is composed of five waves, which have an internal structure of 3-3-5. c. Triangles Contracting Triangle: Pattern | |||||
  | |||||
| top Description A triangle is a corrective pattern, which can contract or expand. Furthermore it can ascend or descend. It is composed of five waves, each of them has a corrective nature. Rules and guidelines
In which wave Triangles occur only in waves B, X and 4. Never in wave 2 or A. Internal structure It is composed of five waves, of which the internal structure is 3-3-3-3-3.
Expanding Triangle: | |||||
  | |||||
| Ascending
Triangle: This is a triangle, which slopes upwards. This pattern has been implemented in the Modern Rules.
Descending Triangle: This is a triangle, which slopes downwards. This pattern has been implemented in the Modern Rules.
Running Triangle: This is a triangle where the B wave exceeds the origin of wave A. d. WXY or Combination Many kinds of combinations are possible. Below a rather complex example has been depicted. Pattern
| |||||
 | |||||
| top Description A Combination combines several types of corrections. These corrections are labeled as WXY and WXYXZ if it is even more complex. It starts for example with a Zigzag (wave W), then an intermediate X wave, then a Flat (wave Y) and so on. A so-called double or triple three is also a Combination, but this pattern combines Flats separated by X waves. Rules and guidelines
In which wave Generally a Combination occurs mostly in B, X and 4, it is less common in A and rare in 2. Internal structure For example a Zigzag, followed by a Flat, followed by a Triangle has the following internal structure: 5-3-5(Zigzag)-5-3-5(X)-3-3-5(Flat)-3-3-3-3-3(Triangle).
e. Running Flat Pattern | |||||
  | |||||
| top Description The Running correction is a rare special form of a failure. This pattern is a kind of Flat, with an elongated B wave and a very small C wave. According to theory wave C should be so short that it doesn¡¦t get to the price territory of wave A. In our daily analysis we do not accept a C wave that fails to reach the price territory of wave A. Instead of a running correction this could in theory be an extension in an impulsive wave, where the wave has subdivided in two (or more) 1,2 combinations. If the B is a clear three wave, then it is a Running correction, otherwise an extension. In practice there will not be any difference in market direction: in both scenarios the market will explode in the direction of the B wave, therefore we prefer to label it as an extension. For the sake of correctness we do included this pattern in our daily analysis. Rules and guidelines
In which wave Most of the time it should occur in wave 2 or B. Internal structure It
is a three-wave structure. The internal structure is X wave Description An X wave is an intermediate wave in a more complex correction. This wave is always corrective and can take many forms like a Zigzag, Double Zigzag, Flat, Expanded Flat, combination and a triangle. In our Modern Rules observations and analysis we have defined extra patterns that are mostly hybrid patterns derived from the known patterns that have existed from the beginning. In addition, we allow for the occurrence of more patterns in some waves. For example, wave 1 may also contain a diagonal1, diagonal2 and impulse 2 pattern, in addition to the other trend patterns, that a classic interpretation accepts. a. Impulse 2 Pattern | |||||
  | |||||
| top Description An Impulse 2 is an uncommon pattern that resembles a normal impulse considerably. In our daily analysis we allow for a maximum retracement of 51.5% for wave 4 in an impulse or other trend pattern. Of course sometimes the retracement of wave 4 could be 51.6% and an impulse would then be eliminated, in spite of the fact that the limit was exceeded by 0.1% only. Naturally the Elliott Wave does not apply this strictly and the Impulse 2 pattern corrects for this problem. Apart from this, we have witnessed a retracement up to 62% for a wave 4 frequently in intra day charts. Rules and guidelines The same rules and guidelines apply as with a normal impulse except for the following:
In which wave Impulse 2 patterns mostly occur in waves 1,A or C, never in a wave 3! Internal structure It is composed of five waves. The internal structure of these waves is 5-3-5-3-5. Note that the mentioned 3s are corrective waves, which could be composed of 5 waves in a corrective triangle.
a. ZigzagFlat Pattern | |||||
  | |||||
| top Description It is a common pattern that is exactly the same as a Zigzag, except for the fact that the B wave is allowed to retrace more than 61.8% of wave A. b. Running Zigzag Pattern | |||||
  | |||||
| top Description Apart from contracting Triangles, a failure in a corrective pattern happens when the C wave is shorter than wave A and fails to go beyond the end of A. This mostly happens in Running Flats and or in Zigzags. It indicates strength in the direction of the main trend. Rules and guidelines
In which wave Failures can occur in a C wave of wave 2, in a C or E wave of wave 4, in a C wave of wave B or X. c. Failed Flat Pattern | |||||
  | |||||
| top Description This pattern is exactly the same as a Flat, except for the fact that wave C does not reach the end of wave A and therefore is shorter than wave B. d. Running Flat (modern) Pattern | |||||
  | |||||
| top Description This pattern is exactly the same as a Running Flat, except for the fact that it must retrace more than 60%, if not we consider it to be a normal Running Flat. This distinction is necessary, because normally a Running Flat is rare. But if it retraces more than 60% and still fails to reach the end of wave A, it suddenly becomes much more probable the pattern will occur. In which case it will get a much higher score. e. Ascending and descending Triangles Description These are mentioned under the Triangles description in the Classic patterns section. Basically these patterns are the same as common contracting triangles, except for the fact that ascending and descending triangles slope up or down. | |||||
