Trends/Continuation patterns

High tight flag

A very fast run-up followed by a short, tight pause just under the high.

Continuation patternsBest on 3M, 6MAlso called HTF

Illustration of the high tight flag shape. It is a sketch, not real price data.

What it shows

A high tight flag has an unusually strong rise, a doubling or more in a short time, followed by a small, short pause that holds most of the gain. It is a flag with extreme proportions.

It is rare. The rules below are strict on purpose.

How we find it

The same code that draws it on your chart follows these steps, with the same result every time.

Find a rise of at least 100% in 40 bars or fewer.
Find a pause of 5 to 25 bars after it.
Require the pause to give back no more than 25% of the rise and to stay near the high.
Mark complete when a close rises above the pause high.

Starting values: Run-up at least 100% in 40 bars; Pause 5 to 25 bars; Maximum pullback 25% of the rise. These are proposed and will be tuned on real price data before launch.

How to read it

The steep part is the pole.
The shaded box is the tight pause.
The pause sits just under the high.

Status labels you may see

Label	What it means
Pause forming	Price is inside the tight range.
Broken up	Closed above the range.
Broken down	Closed below the range.

What cancels it

A close below the range, or a pullback deeper than allowed.

What traders check next

What caused the run-up.
Volume in the pause.
How many bars the pause lasted.

Limits

Rare, and usually found in small, volatile stocks.
Moves of this size often reverse.
Our rules are choices.

Try it in forecastviz

Open any ticker and choose Continuation patterns → High tight flag in the left menu.
Switch between 3M, 6M to see how the picture changes.
Compare with Flag after a rise and Pennant after a rise on the same chart.

Open on a ticker

Questions

Why is it so strict?

It describes an unusual event. Loose rules would match too many shapes.

Who named it?

The pattern is associated with William O'Neil's writing.