How to distinguish this pattern?
1. When the trend is downward, a white candlestick follows a black one, while the price is trading above the closing price of a black body.
2. The third candlestick is black and its closing price is the same as the closing price on the first black day.
Scenario and behavior of the pattern
A sustainable downward trend is seen on the market. Next day the opening price is higher and it trades upwards throughout the day, closing at a high or near it. Such price movements indicate that the previous downward trend has probably reversed, and short deals are better to be closed or protected by a stop order. Next day the opening price is still higher and deals are massively closed. After that, the price goes lower and closes at the level which was seen two days before.
If the support and resistance levels are not found, then you may face a high risk. The next trading day will provide more clues to the situation on the market.
Flexibility of the pattern
According to Japanese guides to trading, the support levels on the two black days are located at lows. The support level at the closing price is more sustainable, so we get a high chance of a trend reversal.
Transformation of the pattern
If the first black candlestick is much shorter than the trading range of the third day, then the Stick Sandwich is transformed into the Inverted Hammer. If the candlestick body of the first day is short and the trading range of the third day is two or three times wider than the range of the first day, then the pattern is transformed into the bullish Inverted Hammer.
If these conditions are not met, then the Stick Sandwich comes down to a black candlestick which is considered as a bearish one and the pattern should be confirmed eventually.
Similar patterns
The last two days of the pattern often look like a bearish engulfing pattern. Sometimes it is better to pay attention to the support levels rather to the bearish candlestick pattern with no regard to the previous trend.