A sideways corrective pattern with five sub-waves (A-B-C-D-E), each of which is a three-wave corrective structure. The boundary lines converge (contracting) or diverge (expanding). Appears as wave 4 or wave B.
Description
A triangle is a corrective pattern consisting of five three-wave sub-waves (A-B-C-D-E), contained within two converging or diverging boundary lines. Triangles are primarily time-consuming corrections — price moves sideways as sub-waves alternate. After a triangle completes, a sharp thrust occurs in the direction of the larger trend.
Key Points
- Structure: A-B-C-D-E, each sub-wave is a 3-wave corrective structure
- Four types: contracting (ascending, descending, symmetrical) and expanding
- Appears as wave 4 of an impulse or wave B of a zigzag/flat (the ‘next-to-last’ position)
- After a triangle (wave 4 or B) completes → a sharp thrust occurs (wave 5 or C)
- Thrust target: approximately equal to the widest part of the triangle (wave A height)
- E wave: often the most complex and misleading sub-wave — commonly overshoots or undershoots the E boundary line
