Article-23576-Automating-Trading-Strategies-MQL5-Double-Top-Double-Bottom

This repository is an article-derived reference project based on the original MQL5 article. It does not claim to reproduce the full original source code unless files are explicitly attached.

Overview

This repository is derived from the MQL5 article about automating the Double Top and Double Bottom reversal model in MetaTrader 5. The article explains how to convert a visually interpreted chart pattern into a rules-based Expert Advisor that detects confirmed swing pivots, validates the pattern with tolerance and structure filters, and executes trades on neckline breakout or optional pullback.

The project serves as a reference implementation source for traders and MQL5 developers who want to study objective pattern detection, state-machine driven entry logic, and trade management around reversal setups.

Original Article

• Article ID: 23576
• Title: Automating Trading Strategies in MQL5 (Part 53): Double Top and Double Bottom Reversal Model
• Author: Allan Munene Mutiiria
• Author Profile: https://www.mql5.com/en/users/29210372
• Publication Date: Not available
• Categories: Trading, Trading Systems, Expert Advisors, Examples Experts
• Article URL: https://www.mql5.com/en/articles/23576

Repository Purpose

This repository exists to preserve and organize the technical ideas from the article in repository form.

A reader can use it to:

• understand how double top and double bottom patterns can be formalized in MQL5
• study swing-pivot based pattern detection
• learn how to structure a pattern-trading EA with setup states such as idle, armed, and retest
• reuse the article’s architecture for experimentation, testing, or further extension in MetaTrader 5

Because this is article-derived, the practical completeness of the repository depends on the files actually attached by the original author.

Key Concepts

• Trading
• Trading Systems
• Expert Advisors
• Examples Experts
• Double top pattern detection
• Double bottom pattern detection
• Swing pivot confirmation
• Neckline breakout confirmation
• Pullback entry logic
• Pattern validation filters
• Measured-move targeting
• Reward-to-risk target selection
• Trailing stop management
• State machine based setup handling

Algorithm / Architecture Summary

The article describes an Expert Advisor that processes price action bar by bar and builds mechanical trading rules around reversal patterns.

1. Detect confirmed swing pivots

• The system confirms swing highs and swing lows using a configurable pivot length.
• Only confirmed pivots are stored, so provisional right-edge pivots are avoided.

2. Store recent pivots in a bounded buffer

• Confirmed swings are appended to a rolling history.
• Duplicate pivots are ignored.
• The search works only on recent pivot history.

3. Search for a double top or double bottom

• The newest pivot is treated as the potential second top or second bottom.
• The algorithm scans backward for a prior pivot of the same type.
• The neckline is defined by the strongest opposite pivot between the pair:
• lowest low between two highs for a double top
• highest high between two lows for a double bottom

4. Validate the pattern

• Peak or trough similarity is checked using a tolerance relative to pattern height.
• Minimum spacing in bars can be enforced.
• Leg balance between the first leg and second leg can be enforced.
• An optional prior-trend requirement can reject patterns that do not reverse a meaningful preceding move.

5. Arm the setup

• Once validated, the EA stores the pattern direction, peaks, neckline, extreme, and optional leading trend leg.
• The setup enters an armed state, waiting for neckline confirmation.

6. Wait for breakout confirmation

• The pattern is confirmed only when price closes through the neckline.
• If price invalidates the structure by exceeding the pattern extreme first, the setup is discarded.
• A timeout prevents stale setups from remaining active indefinitely.

7. Optional pullback workflow

• The EA can either enter immediately on breakout or wait for a retest of the neckline.
• In pullback mode, the setup transitions into a retest state and tracks the pullback path until price touches the neckline again or the setup expires.

8. Open and protect the trade

• Entry is placed at market.
• Stop loss is placed beyond the pattern extreme with a configurable buffer.
• Take profit can be calculated in two ways:
• measured move projected from the neckline
• reward-to-risk multiple based on stop distance

9. Manage active positions

• The EA can trail the stop once profit exceeds a configured activation threshold.
• Trailing applies only to positions associated with the EA’s symbol and magic number.

10. Visualize the pattern

• The article also describes drawing pattern legs, neckline, labels, breakout path, and pullback annotations on the chart for interpretation and debugging.

Mentioned or Attached Files

Explicitly attached files

• An attached ZIP archive is available: https://www.mql5.com/en/articles/download/23576_264386.zip?s=53ca505847b5bd14c085f94ec9cd7b658d340fceb49638e7a82c206d70f5a3bd&t=1788799540
• The internal file list of the ZIP archive was not provided in the processed input.

Files mentioned in the article text

• Double Top and Double Bottom.mq5
• Trade\Trade.mqh

Statistics

• Word count: Not available
• Reading time: Not available
• Image count: Not available
• Code block count: Not available
• File count: Not available

Tags

• mql5
• metatrader-5
• trading
• trading-systems
• expert-advisors
• examples-experts
• difficulty-advanced

Difficulty

Advanced

Reason: the article covers non-trivial pattern formalization, pivot-based signal extraction, multi-stage setup handling, configurable validation filters, order management, and trailing-stop logic in an event-driven MQL5 Expert Advisor.

Limitations

• This repository is based on article analysis and attached-material availability rather than a guaranteed full standalone project dump.
• The full original source structure is not confirmed from the processed input beyond the file references explicitly visible in the article.
• Although a ZIP archive is attached, its internal contents were not listed in the processed input.
• Backtesting screenshots in the article do not guarantee live trading performance.
• The article explicitly presents the work for educational purposes and emphasizes testing and risk management before live deployment.
• Production readiness should not be assumed unless verified from the actual attached source files.

Reference

• Original article: https://www.mql5.com/en/articles/23576
• Author profile: https://www.mql5.com/en/users/29210372