Want to buy the dip or chase the high of Bitcoin? First, learn to read the charts. The two most practical candlestick patterns—flag and triangle—can almost tell you what the price is about to do next.

**What is a Flag?**
After a sharp move, the price enters a consolidation phase, which looks like a flag waving on a flagpole. The flagpole is the impulsive move, and the flag itself is the subsequent consolidation. Pay close attention to volume: when the price surges, trading is hot; during consolidation, it gradually cools off. This is a clear signal.

There are two types of flags—an ascending flag indicates the uptrend will continue, while a descending flag suggests the downtrend isn't over. There's also the triangle flag, which is a hybrid; its direction is uncertain and depends on the surrounding environment.

**Triangle Pattern**
The price gradually converges within a range, often leading to a big move. The triangle is like a pause button for the trend—sometimes it resumes, sometimes it reverses.

An ascending triangle is bullish—buyers keep buying at higher levels, resistance levels become overwhelmed, and a breakout often results in high volume. Conversely, a descending triangle favors sellers, pushing the price downward.

Mastering these two patterns and combining them with volume changes will give you a clearer understanding of market psychology.