After a completed TD Setup (count of 9), the TD Countdown begins. Counting 13 specific closing relationships that signal deeper exhaustion. A confirmed 13 Countdown is one of the strongest reversal signals in DeMark's toolkit.
Indicators Used
Pivot PointsSwing High/Low
Rules
📉 Short on Buy Countdown 13
- Prior TD Sell Setup completed (9 consecutive closes higher than 4 bars earlier)
- Begin counting: each bar where close > high 2 bars earlier = count +1
- Only count qualifying bars; skip non-qualifying
- When count reaches 13, reversal zone is activated
- Wait for bearish reversal candle (pin bar, engulfing) within next 1-3 bars
- Enter short on reversal candle close
- Stop: above the Countdown 13 bar's high
- Target: most recent TD Setup low, typically 3R minimum
📈 Long on Sell Countdown 13
- Prior TD Buy Setup of 9 completed
- Count 13 bars where close < low 2 bars earlier
- Bullish reversal candle after count 13
- Enter long, stop below 13 bar, target prior TD Setup high
13 count
Required
3:1
R:R
💡 Pro Tip
Countdown 13 carries more weight than Setup 9 because the rules are stricter (2-bar lookback vs 4-bar). A 13 following a confirmed 9 in the same direction is DeMark's highest-conviction reversal indication. But it can still fail in runaway trends (check for 'deferred' signals).