Overview
Bullish Side-by-Side White Lines
Narabi Aka
Also known as: Side-by-Side Bullish Lines, Parallel White Lines
Bullish Side-by-Side White Lines is a three-candle continuation pattern where a bullish candle gaps up and is followed by two similar-sized bullish candles at the same level, confirming the uptrend's strength.
This pattern signals strong continuation when, after an upward gap, the market forms two consecutive bullish candles of similar size opening near the same level. The gap shows strong demand, and the two parallel candles at the gap level confirm that buyers are supporting the higher prices rather than allowing the gap to fill. The 'side-by-side' nature of the second and third candles demonstrates consistent buying pressure at the new higher level.
History & Etymology
The Side-by-Side White Lines pattern is documented in traditional Japanese candlestick analysis. It was one of the continuation patterns catalogued by Japanese rice traders and later introduced to Western audiences through Steve Nison's works on candlestick charting.
Named for the visual appearance of the second and third candles, which sit 'side by side' at approximately the same level after a gap up. 'White lines' refers to the bullish (traditionally white in Japanese charting) nature of the candles.
How It Forms
Formation Steps
- 1First candle: a bullish candle in an uptrend
- 2Second candle: a bullish candle that gaps up from the first candle
- 3Third candle: a bullish candle of similar size opening near the second candle's open
Prerequisites
- Established uptrend
- Gap up between the first and second candles
- Second and third candles are roughly the same size and open near the same level
Confirmation Signals
- Both the second and third candles close above the gap
- Volume remains steady or increases across the three candles
- Follow-through buying continues after the pattern
Invalidation Signals
- Price fills the gap between the first and second candles
- Third candle closes below the second candle's low
- Volume declines significantly on the third candle
Candle Breakdown
First Bullish Candle
A bullish candle in the ongoing uptrend that precedes the gap
Normal trend behavior with buyers in control. This candle sets up the gap that follows.
Gap-Up Candle
A bullish candle that gaps up from the first, showing a burst of demand
Buyers are so eager that price opens above the prior close. The smaller body shows consolidation at the new higher level.
Parallel Candle
A bullish candle of similar size opening near the second candle's open, confirming support at the gap level
Repeated buying at the same level confirms that the new higher price is accepted. The gap is being defended by persistent demand.
Psychology
The Side-by-Side White Lines pattern shows that after a gap up, the market consolidates at the higher level with consistent buying. The two similar candles demonstrate stable demand, confirming the gap as a genuine continuation signal.
Buyer Perspective
Buyers are comfortable at the new higher level and continue to accumulate. The consistent opening levels of the second and third candles show methodical institutional buying.
Seller Perspective
Sellers cannot push price back to fill the gap. Their attempts to sell at the higher level are absorbed by persistent buyer demand.
Smart Money Action
Institutions use the two consolidation candles to fill orders at the new higher level. The parallel nature shows controlled buying that absorbs any selling without pushing price significantly higher.
Retail Trader Trap
Retail traders may try to short the gap fill, expecting a pullback. When the gap holds through two sessions, shorts are trapped.
Emotional Cycle
Trading Strategy
Aggressive Entry
Enter long at the close of the third candle when the pattern is confirmed.
Conservative Entry
Wait for the fourth candle to break above the high of the second and third candles.
Previous swing high or 1:1 risk-reward.
Height of the gap plus the parallel candles projected upward.
Next major resistance level.
Best Conditions
- Timeframe: daily
- Timeframe: 4h
- strong uptrend
- momentum-driven rally
- gap-up continuation
- Asset: stocks
- Asset: futures
Avoid When
- Timeframe: 1m
- Timeframe: 5m
- choppy market
- overbought conditions
- near major resistance
Confluence Factors
- Pattern occurs in a strong uptrend
- Gap aligns with a breakout from a consolidation pattern
- Volume supports the gap and parallel candles
- RSI is bullish but not extremely overbought
- Sector or market trend supports continuation
Scale In Strategy
Enter half at the third candle close and half on a breakout above the parallel candle highs.
Scale Out Strategy
Take half at the first target and trail the rest.
Risk Management
Volume Analysis
Volume Confirmation
Steady or increasing volume across all three candles confirms institutional commitment.
Volume Profile
Ideally, volume is highest on the gap candle and remains stable on the third candle.
Volume Divergence
Declining volume on the second and third candles may indicate weakening commitment.
Technical Confluence
Support Resistance
The gap zone becomes strong support. The parallel candle lows add additional support reference.
Fibonacci Levels
The gap often aligns with Fibonacci extension levels of the prior trend leg.
Moving Averages
The 10 or 20 EMA should be rising below the pattern, providing dynamic support.
Rsi Confirmation
RSI above 55 and holding steady during the parallel candles confirms continuation momentum.
Macd Confirmation
MACD above the signal line and histogram positive confirms bullish momentum.
Bollinger Bands
The gap above the upper band followed by consolidation near the band is consistent with strong trends.
Vwap
Price should be above VWAP throughout the pattern.
Ichimoku Cloud
Price above the Kumo cloud with bullish alignment confirms the trend context.
Elliott Wave
The pattern often appears within Wave 3 or Wave 5 impulse moves.
Wyckoff Phase
The pattern typically occurs during the markup phase.
Market Profile
Single prints in the gap zone on the market profile confirm the gap's significance.
Order Flow
Persistent buy-side delta on both the second and third candles confirms the pattern.
Open Interest
Stable or rising open interest confirms new positions rather than short covering.
Multi-Timeframe Analysis
Higher Timeframe Alignment
Weekly uptrend confirmation before trading daily side-by-side white lines.
Lower Timeframe Entry
Use the 4-hour chart to time entry within the daily parallel candle formation.
Timeframe Confluence
Weekly uptrend, daily pattern, 4-hour confirmation.
Top-Down Approach
Weekly trend, daily pattern, intraday entry.
Statistics
Historical Examples
AAPL Post-Earnings Consolidation
successAAPL gapped up after earnings and printed two similar-sized bullish candles holding the gap level. Price continued higher over the following weeks.
Lesson: Earnings gaps followed by side-by-side consolidation candles often produce reliable continuation signals.
Gold Futures Continuation
successGold gapped up and formed two parallel bullish candles near $1,750 before continuing its rally toward $2,000.
Lesson: In macro-driven trends, the side-by-side consolidation at a gap level confirms strong demand.
Failed Gap Hold
failureNFLX gapped up and formed two parallel candles, but the gap was filled on the fourth day. Price subsequently declined.
Lesson: If the gap is filled after the pattern completes, the setup is invalidated. Always use the gap bottom as the stop level.
Variations
Side-by-Side with Increasing Volume
The third candle has higher volume than the second, showing building demand.
Shallow Gap Version
The gap is small but the parallel candles hold it.
Confusion Matrix
Patterns commonly confused with Bullish Side-by-Side White Lines and how to distinguish them.
Bullish Upside Tasuki Gap
6500% similarCheck the third candle: bullish and parallel = Side-by-Side White Lines; bearish and partially filling the gap = Upside Tasuki Gap.
Key Differences
- Upside Tasuki Gap has the third candle as bearish, partially filling the gap
- Side-by-Side White Lines has the third candle as bullish at the same level
Bearish side-by-side white lines is a rare three-candle continuation pattern in a downtrend. A bearish candle is followed by two similar-sized bullish candles that gap down. Despite the bullish candles, the gap is not filled, signaling that sellers maintain control.
The Gap and Go occurs when price gaps up on a catalyst, and instead of filling the gap, continues higher as momentum buying drives the stock to new levels throughout the session.
The Rising Three Methods is a five-candle bullish continuation pattern where a long bullish candle is followed by three small bearish candles within its range, then a final bullish candle closes above the first, confirming the uptrend will continue.
The Bullish Rising Window is a gap-up pattern where the second candle's low is entirely above the first candle's high, creating a visible window (gap) that acts as future support and signals trend continuation.
The Bearish Abandoned Baby is one of the rarest and most reliable top reversal patterns in candlestick analysis. It features a doji that is completely isolated by gaps on both sides, signaling an abrupt and dramatic shift from buying to selling pressure.
The Bearish Advance Block shows three consecutive bullish candles with progressively smaller bodies and longer upper shadows, signaling that buying momentum is weakening and a reversal or consolidation is likely.
Pro Tips & Common Mistakes
Pro Tips
- The more similar the second and third candles are in size and opening level, the stronger the pattern
- The gap must hold — if price fills the gap, the pattern is invalidated
- This pattern is relatively rare, making it more significant when it does appear
- Best used as confirmation of existing trend strength rather than a standalone entry signal
- Combine with other gap-based analysis to assess whether this is a continuation or exhaustion gap
Common Mistakes
- Trading the pattern without a clear prior uptrend
- Accepting large differences in the size of the second and third candles
- Not requiring a genuine gap between the first and second candles
- Ignoring volume — declining volume across the candles reduces reliability
- Holding the position if the gap fills
Advanced Techniques
- Use the pattern as a filter for gap trading strategies — gaps followed by side-by-side consolidation have higher hold rates
- Combine with market profile analysis to verify the gap zone as single prints
- Apply anchored VWAP from the gap for dynamic support reference
- Use options strategies to take advantage of the consolidation by selling premium
Institutional Perspective
The parallel candles at the gap level indicate that institutional buyers are methodically filling orders at the new price level. The consistent opening prices suggest algorithmic buying programs maintaining bids at a specific level.
Fun Facts
- The Side-by-Side White Lines is one of the rarest candlestick patterns, appearing in less than 2% of chart observations.
- In Japanese candlestick literature, the parallel candles are seen as 'soldiers standing side by side,' reinforcing the idea of strength in unity.
- The pattern is most commonly observed after earnings gaps in individual stocks, where institutional buying creates the parallel consolidation.
Frequently Asked Questions
A three-candle continuation pattern where a bullish candle gaps up, followed by two similar-sized bullish candles at the same level. The parallel candles confirm the gap as genuine support.
The Side-by-Side White Lines pattern is relatively rare because it requires a gap followed by two parallel candles of similar size. This rarity makes it more significant when it does appear.
If the gap fills, the pattern is invalidated. Use the bottom of the gap as your stop loss level. Exit immediately if the gap is closed.