Candlestick pattern trading techniques are used by astute traders and investors in every type of market. 

They represent tools that allow individuals to recognize opportunities presented more efficiently than a simple examination of the data as represented by a historical bar chart. 

The most professional and successful investors recognize that candlesticks offer more graphic presentations to allow for a rapid response to market developments.

The value of pivot points

The use of candlestick trading techniques in conjunction with other technical analysis indicators, such as pivot points, only helps to improve investing results. Pivot points are judiciously used by traders in order to identify strategic support the resistance levels. 

Pivot points represent important support and resistance trading areas, where the likelihood of a reversal in price movement is greatest, offering the opportunity for an investor to take on a position with a high probability of success. 

Pivot points have traditionally been used both when trading a range, or looking for a breakout. 

When used for range trading, pivot points identify levels where reversals will occur.  Breakout traders, on the other hand, recognize these key levels as the point where trading activity needs to penetrate in order to signal a true breakout has occurred.

Using pivot points to calculate entries and exits

Upon the identification of the primary, secondary, and tertiary support and resistance levels through pivot point calculations, one has determined the various support and resistance levels for which an investor should consider trade entry or exit. 

Only upon prices reaching a certain pivot point level should the individual trader determine the proper position to undertake, regardless if it is long or short.  Overall, trading below a pivot point level is considered a bearish indicator, while trading above is considered bullish.

Including pivot points with your candlestick analysis

Both candlestick price formations and pivot points, in and of themselves, have been used successfully by investors for a very long time. 

When used in conjunction, they complement each other and offer the astute trader far improved results. 

Developing a trading plan based upon candlesticks alone is a difficult process and offers the possibility of unsuccessful investments. 

As such, the more successful traders use candlestick pattern formations in conjunction with other techniques, such as pivot points, in order to make trading decisions.

When certain candlestick formations have occurred and their indication can be confirmed by a subsequent pivot point analysis, the probability of a successful trade greatly increases.

How an individual decides to use these two techniques in a strategy plan you develop will be greatly dependent upon the type of trading you envision undertaking, especially in the context of short-term versus long-term positions.