The Pinbar Trading Strategy, also known as the Pinocchio bar or Pin bar, is a popular price action pattern used in the Forex market. It was first introduced by Martin Pring in the early 1990s, and has since gained widespread popularity among traders due to its simplicity and effectiveness.
The Pinbar Trading Strategy works by identifying trend reversals in the market. It is based on the principle that a strong trend is usually followed by a period of consolidation or retracement, after which the trend is likely to resume.
The Pin bar pattern is formed when the open, low, and close of a candle are all near the same price, with a long wick or tail protruding from one side. This wick represents the rejection of the current price by either buyers or sellers, indicating a potential reversal in the trend.
What is the Pinbar Trading Strategy?
The Pinbar Trading Strategy involves looking for Pin bar patterns in the market and using them as a signal to enter or exit trades, here are three key points to support this strategy
- Pin bars are reliable indicators of trend reversals. They often signal a change in market sentiment, which can be a key factor in determining the direction of price action.
- Pin bars can be used in conjunction with other technical indicators to confirm the validity of the signal. For example, traders may use Moving Averages, RSI, or other momentum indicators to confirm the trend reversal signaled by the Pin bar.
- Pin bars can be used in a range of different time frames, from short-term scalping to long-term swing trading. This versatility makes them a useful tool for traders of all experience levels.
Pinbar Trading Strategy
Buy Signal
- The Pinbar Trading Strategy, traders should look for a Pin bar pattern with a long lower wick and a small upper wick. This indicates that buyers have rejected the lower price and pushed the price higher, potentially signaling a trend reversal.
- The long lower wick indicates that sellers were initially able to push the price down, but were ultimately unable to maintain control.
- The small upper wick suggests that buyers were able to push the price higher, indicating a potential change in market sentiment.
- The overall shape of the Pin bar, with a small body and long wick, indicates a strong rejection of the current price and a potential trend reversal.

Sell Signal
- The long upper wick shows that buyers initially tried to push the price higher but failed to maintain control.
- The small lower wick indicates that sellers were able to push the price lower, possibly indicating a change in market sentiment.
- The overall shape of the Pin bar, with a small body and long wick, suggests a strong rejection of the current price and a potential trend reversal.

Pinbar Trading Strategy Pros & Cons
Pros
- It is a simple and easy-to-use strategy that can be applied to a range of different time frames.
- It is based on a reliable and widely-recognized price action pattern, making it a trusted tool among traders.
- It can be used in conjunction with other technical indicators to confirm the validity of the signal, increasing the likelihood of successful trades.
Cons
- Pin bars can be subject to interpretation, and traders may have different opinions on the strength and reliability of the signal.
- Pinbar sometimes predicts wrong trade direction specially when it is not use with other technical indicators
- It may not be suitable for traders who prefer more complex or comprehensive forex trading strategies.
- It has tremendous lagging issues, meaning that it is based on past price action and may not always accurately predict future market movements.
Conclusion
Pinbar Trading Strategy is a popular choice among Forex traders due to its simplicity and effectiveness. For example, a trader may use the Pin bar to identify a trend reversal in the EUR/USD pair, and enter a long position when a long lower wick appears on a daily chart. If the trend reversal is confirmed by other technical indicators, the trader may then hold the position until the trend has fully reversed, potentially earning a significant profit.
The Pinbar Trading Strategy is a simple and effective price action pattern that can be used to identify trend reversals in the Forex market. While it has its limitations, it remains a trusted tool among traders due to its reliability and versatility. By correctly identifying and acting on Pin bar patterns, traders can potentially increase their chances of successful trades and maximize their profits.

Self-confessed Forex Geek spending my days researching and testing everything forex related. I have many years of experience in the forex industry having reviewed thousands of forex robots, brokers, strategies, courses and more. I share my knowledge with you for free to help you learn more about the crazy world of forex trading! Read more about me.