The evening star pattern occurs during a sustained uptrend. During the first period -- be it a day or a week -- a candle with a long white body appears. At this point, the bulls appear to have full control. On the second period, however, a black or white star candle occurs. A star candle has a small real body and often contains a large upper shadow. For this to be a valid evening star pattern, the stock or index must gap higher on the period of the star. The star communicates that the bulls and bears are involved in a tug of war, where neither side is winning. After a sustained uptrend, it shows that those who want to take profits have come into balance with those still eager to buy the stock. A large upper shadow indicates that the stock could not sustain its probe into new high ground -- thus signaling a potential reversal. On the third period, a candle with a black real body emerges. This candle should retreat substantially into the real body of the first period. The pattern is made more powerful if there is a gap between the second and third period's candles. However, this gap is unusual, particularly when it comes to equity trading. As such, it is not a required part of the pattern. The further this third candle retreats into the real body of the first candle, the more powerful the reversal signal. Since the third period affirms the star's potentially bearish implications, no further confirmation is needed. The chart of the Nasdaq Composite Index below illustrates the evening star formation: 
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ein "typischer" evening star sieht aber anders aus!
