Beginner2 min readLast updated: 2026-06-10
Pin Bar Pattern — Complete Guide
Master the Pin Bar — the most traded rejection pattern. Learn bullish and bearish Pin Bars, optimal locations, and professional entry techniques.
What is a Pin Bar?
A Pin Bar (Pinocchio Bar) is a rejection candle with a long wick on one side and a small body on the opposite side. It shows price was rejected from a level — the "nose" (wick) shows where price tried to go but failed.
Types
Bullish Pin Bar (at support):
- Long lower wick (rejection of lower prices)
- Small body at top
- Signal: Buyers rejected sellers → price going up
Bearish Pin Bar (at resistance):
- Long upper wick (rejection of higher prices)
- Small body at bottom
- Signal: Sellers rejected buyers → price going down
Identification Rules
| Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Wick | Must be 2/3+ of total candle range |
| Body | Small, in opposite third of the range |
| Opposite wick | Very small or none |
| Nose direction | Points AWAY from expected move direction |
| Context | Must be at a key level (S/R, OB, Fib) |
How to Trade
Conservative Entry:
- Wait for close, enter above/below Pin Bar on next candle
- Stop: Beyond the Pin Bar wick tip
- Higher win rate, slightly lower R:R
Aggressive Entry (50% retrace):
- Enter at the 50% retrace of the Pin Bar range
- Stop: Beyond the wick tip
- Better R:R (often 1:3 to 1:5)
- Lower win rate (may not fill)
Pro Tip:
The 50% entry of a Pin Bar at a key level with HTF confluence is one of the HIGHEST R:R setups in Price Action.
Related Topics
- Hammer — Bullish Pin Bar variant
- Shooting Star — Bearish Pin Bar variant
- Entry Models — Pin Bar entry techniques