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A free library of options courses, strategies, terms and tools. Start anywhere, learn at your own pace.
Course Library
Prefer a shorter path?
Want to go deeper on one goal?
Beginner Course
- Lesson 1What Are Options?Understand what an options contract is, how it works, and why traders use them.
- Lesson 2How Options Contracts WorkThe mechanics of an options contract: size, expiration, and obligation.
- Lesson 3Call Options ExplainedEverything you need to know about call options and the right to buy.
- Lesson 4Put Options ExplainedEverything you need to know about put options and the right to sell.
- Lesson 5Buying vs Selling OptionsThe fundamental difference between being a buyer and a seller.
- Lesson 6Strike Price ExplainedHow to pick a strike price and what it means for your trade.
- Lesson 7Expiration DatesWeekly, monthly, and LEAPS expirations and when to use each.
- Lesson 8Option PremiumWhat makes up the price of an option and why it changes.
- Lesson 9ITM, ATM, and OTMHow moneyness works and why it affects everything.
- Lesson 10How to Read an Option ChainBreak down a real option chain: strikes, bids, asks, volume, and open interest.
- Lesson 11Intrinsic vs Extrinsic ValueThe two components that make up every option's price.
- Lesson 12Delta ExplainedHow delta measures your option's sensitivity to stock price movement.
- Lesson 13Theta and Time DecayHow options lose value every day and what that means for your trades.
- Lesson 14Gamma and VegaTwo more Greeks that affect your positions in important ways.
- Lesson 15How Option Prices MoveWhat actually drives option prices up and down day to day.
- Lesson 16Implied Volatility for BeginnersWhat IV is, why it matters, and how to read it.
- Lesson 17Your First Options TradeA complete walkthrough from picking a stock to closing the position.
- Lesson 18How to Close an Options PositionSell to close, buy to close, and when to let options expire.
- Lesson 19Paper TradingHow to practice trading without risking real money.
- Lesson 20Common Beginner MistakesThe most expensive mistakes new options traders make, and how to avoid them.
Intermediate Course
- Lesson 1What Are Spreads?Why traders use spreads and how they limit risk and cost.
- Lesson 2Bull Call SpreadBuy a call, sell a higher call: a defined-risk bullish trade.
- Lesson 3Bear Put SpreadBuy a put, sell a lower put: a defined-risk bearish trade.
- Lesson 4Bull Put Spread (Credit Spread)Sell a put, buy a lower put: collect credit if the stock stays up.
- Lesson 5Bear Call Spread (Credit Spread)Sell a call, buy a higher call: collect credit if the stock stays down.
- Lesson 6Debit Spreads vs Credit SpreadsWhen to pay for a spread vs when to collect premium.
- Lesson 7Iron Condor: Setup and MechanicsSell both sides of the market with a defined-risk neutral strategy.
- Lesson 8Iron Butterfly: Setup and MechanicsA tighter version of the iron condor with higher premium.
- Lesson 9Calendar SpreadsTrade time decay across different expiration dates.
- Lesson 10Diagonal SpreadsCombine different strikes and expirations in one spread.
- Lesson 11Straddles and StranglesProfit from big moves in either direction.
- Lesson 12How to Pick Strike PricesA framework for choosing the right strikes for any strategy.
- Lesson 13How to Choose Expiration DatesThe trade-offs between short-term and long-term options.
- Lesson 14Managing Winning TradesWhen to take profits and why 50% is often the right target.
- Lesson 15Managing Losing TradesWhen to cut losses and when to hold through drawdowns.
- Lesson 16Rolling Options: How and WhenExtending trades by rolling to new strikes or expirations.
- Lesson 17Trade AdjustmentsHow to adjust positions when the market moves against you.
- Lesson 18Earnings Trades: What to KnowHow to trade options around earnings announcements.
- Lesson 19IV Rank and IV PercentileHow to measure whether implied volatility is high or low.
- Lesson 20Building a Trade PlanHow to create rules for entries, exits, and position sizing.
Advanced Course
- Lesson 1Selling Premium for IncomeWhy selling options can be more consistent than buying them.
- Lesson 2Covered Calls Deep DiveAdvanced covered call strategies and management techniques.
- Lesson 3Cash-Secured Puts Deep DiveUsing puts to buy stocks at a discount while collecting income.
- Lesson 4The Wheel StrategyThe full put-sell, assignment, call-sell cycle explained and optimized.
- Lesson 5Selling StranglesAdvanced premium selling with undefined risk and high probability.
- Lesson 6Portfolio Margin vs Reg-THow portfolio margin works and when to upgrade.
- Lesson 7Position Sizing: How Much to RiskRules and frameworks for sizing every trade properly.
- Lesson 8Portfolio Greeks: Managing the Big PictureHow to read and manage Greeks across your entire portfolio.
- Lesson 9Hedging with OptionsUsing options to protect stock positions and reduce portfolio risk.
- Lesson 10Trading Volatility: High IV vs Low IVFrameworks for choosing strategies based on volatility environment.
- Lesson 11Volatility Skew in PracticeHow to read and trade the volatility skew across strikes.
- Lesson 12LEAPS: Long-Term OptionsUsing long-dated options for leverage and income strategies.
- Lesson 13Options on ETFs and IndexesTrading SPY, SPX, QQQ, and index options vs stock options.
- Lesson 140DTE Options: Same Day ExpirationThe risks and opportunities of zero days to expiration trading.
- Lesson 15Tax Implications of Options TradingHow options are taxed and strategies to minimize your tax bill.
- Lesson 16Backtesting StrategiesHow to test strategies against historical data before risking real money.
- Lesson 17Trading Psychology: Fear and GreedManaging emotions and building the mental game.
- Lesson 18Building a Trading JournalHow to track and review your trades to improve over time.
- Lesson 19Scaling Up: Growing Your AccountHow to safely increase position sizes as your account grows.
- Lesson 20Common Advanced MistakesMistakes experienced traders still make and how to avoid them.
Options Crash Course
- Lesson 1What Are Options?Understand what an options contract is, how it works, and why traders use them.
- Lesson 2How Options Contracts WorkThe mechanics of an options contract: size, expiration, and obligation.
- Lesson 3Call Options ExplainedEverything you need to know about call options and the right to buy.
- Lesson 4Put Options ExplainedEverything you need to know about put options and the right to sell.
- Lesson 5Buying vs Selling OptionsThe fundamental difference between being a buyer and a seller.
- Lesson 6Strike Price ExplainedHow to pick a strike price and what it means for your trade.
- Lesson 7Expiration DatesWeekly, monthly, and LEAPS expirations and when to use each.
- Lesson 8Option PremiumWhat makes up the price of an option and why it changes.
- Lesson 9ITM, ATM, and OTMHow moneyness works and why it affects everything.
- Lesson 10How to Read an Option ChainBreak down a real option chain: strikes, bids, asks, volume, and open interest.
- Lesson 11Your First Options TradeA complete walkthrough from picking a stock to closing the position.
- Lesson 12How to Close an Options PositionSell to close, buy to close, and when to let options expire.
Income Trading
- Lesson 1Selling Premium for IncomeLearn how selling options premium works and why it can be more consistent than buying.
- Lesson 2Covered Calls Deep DiveA complete guide to selling calls against stock you own for monthly income.
- Lesson 3Cash-Secured Puts Deep DiveGet paid to buy stocks you want at a discount to today's price.
- Lesson 4The Wheel StrategyLoop cash-secured puts and covered calls into one repeating income cycle.
- Lesson 5Debit Spreads vs Credit SpreadsThe one-question framework for when to pay for a spread and when to get paid for one.
- Lesson 6Bull Put Spread (Credit Spread)Sell a put, buy a lower put: collect credit if the stock holds up.
- Lesson 7Bear Call Spread (Credit Spread)Sell a call, buy a higher call: collect credit if the stock stays down.
- Lesson 8Iron Condor: Setup and MechanicsSell both sides of the market with a defined-risk neutral strategy.
- Lesson 9Selling StranglesThe pro's high-probability premium trade, and the undefined risk it demands you respect.
- Lesson 10Managing and Rolling Income TradesHow to handle assignment and roll a short option to a new strike or date.
- Lesson 11Choosing Strikes and Expirations for Income TradesA framework for picking strikes and expirations when you are selling premium.
- Lesson 12Common Income Trading MistakesThe most costly mistakes premium sellers make, and how to avoid them.
Volatility Trading
- Lesson 1Implied Volatility for BeginnersWhat IV is, why it matters, and how to read it.
- Lesson 2Understanding the VIXWhat the VIX actually measures, and how traders use it as a fear gauge.
- Lesson 3IV Rank and IV PercentileHow to measure whether implied volatility is high or low right now.
- Lesson 4Volatility Crush Around EarningsWhy options can lose money even when you call the direction right.
- Lesson 5Straddles and StranglesProfit from a big move in either direction, without picking a side.
- Lesson 6Trading Volatility: High IV vs Low IVThe master rule: sell premium when IV is high, buy when it is low.
- Lesson 7Selling StranglesThe pro's high-probability premium trade, and the undefined risk it demands you respect.
- Lesson 8Volatility Skew in PracticeWhy downside puts carry higher implied volatility than upside calls.
- Lesson 90DTE Options: Same Day ExpirationThe risks and opportunities of zero days to expiration trading.
- Lesson 10Hedging Portfolios with VolatilityUsing volatility itself, not just puts, to protect a portfolio.
Risk Management
- Lesson 1Position Sizing: How Much to RiskSize every trade so no single loss can hurt you.
- Lesson 2Building a Trade PlanA repeatable five-question checklist for entries, exits, and sizing.
- Lesson 3Managing Winning TradesWhen to take profit and why 50% is often the right target.
- Lesson 4Managing Losing TradesWhen to cut losses and when to hold through drawdowns.
- Lesson 5Rolling Options: How and WhenExtending trades by rolling to new strikes or expirations.
- Lesson 6Trade AdjustmentsHow to repair a tested position without closing it entirely.
- Lesson 7Portfolio Greeks: Managing the Big PictureRead your whole account as one position through net delta, theta, and vega.
- Lesson 8Hedging with OptionsProtective puts, collars, and index hedges for the positions you own.
- Lesson 9Trading Psychology: Fear and GreedHow fear and greed sabotage good plans, and the tools that keep you disciplined.
- Lesson 10Building a Trading JournalTurn your trades into data, and your data into a real, improving edge.
- Lesson 11Common Risk Management MistakesThe most costly mistakes traders make managing risk, and how to avoid them.
- 1.1What Are Options?
- 1.2How Options Contracts Work
- 1.3Call Options Explained
- 1.4Put Options Explained
- 1.5Buying vs Selling Options
- 1.6Strike Price Explained
- 1.7Expiration Dates
- 1.8Option Premium
- 1.9ITM, ATM, and OTM
- 1.10How to Read an Option Chain
- 1.11Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Value
- 1.12Delta Explained
- 1.13Theta and Time Decay
- 1.14Gamma and Vega
- 1.15How Option Prices Move
- 1.16Implied Volatility for Beginners
- 1.17Your First Options Trade
- 1.18How to Close an Options Position
- 1.19Paper Trading
- 1.20Common Beginner Mistakes
- 2.1What Are Spreads?
- 2.2Bull Call Spread
- 2.3Bear Put Spread
- 2.4Bull Put Spread (Credit Spread)
- 2.5Bear Call Spread (Credit Spread)
- 2.6Debit Spreads vs Credit Spreads
- 2.7Iron Condor: Setup and Mechanics
- 2.8Iron Butterfly: Setup and Mechanics
- 2.9Calendar Spreads
- 2.10Diagonal Spreads
- 2.11Straddles and Strangles
- 2.12How to Pick Strike Prices
- 2.13How to Choose Expiration Dates
- 2.14Managing Winning Trades
- 2.15Managing Losing Trades
- 2.16Rolling Options: How and When
- 2.17Trade Adjustments
- 2.18Earnings Trades: What to Know
- 2.19IV Rank and IV Percentile
- 2.20Building a Trade Plan
- 3.1Selling Premium for Income
- 3.2Covered Calls Deep Dive
- 3.3Cash-Secured Puts Deep Dive
- 3.4The Wheel Strategy
- 3.5Selling Strangles
- 3.6Portfolio Margin vs Reg-T
- 3.7Position Sizing: How Much to Risk
- 3.8Portfolio Greeks: Managing the Big Picture
- 3.9Hedging with Options
- 3.10Trading Volatility: High IV vs Low IV
- 3.11Volatility Skew in Practice
- 3.12LEAPS: Long-Term Options
- 3.13Options on ETFs and Indexes
- 3.140DTE Options: Same Day Expiration
- 3.15Tax Implications of Options Trading
- 3.16Backtesting Strategies
- 3.17Trading Psychology: Fear and Greed
- 3.18Building a Trading Journal
- 3.19Scaling Up: Growing Your Account
- 3.20Common Advanced Mistakes
Prefer a shorter path?
- 4.1What Are Options?
- 4.2How Options Contracts Work
- 4.3Call Options Explained
- 4.4Put Options Explained
- 4.5Buying vs Selling Options
- 4.6Strike Price Explained
- 4.7Expiration Dates
- 4.8Option Premium
- 4.9ITM, ATM, and OTM
- 4.10How to Read an Option Chain
- 4.11Your First Options Trade
- 4.12How to Close an Options Position
Want to go deeper on one goal?
- 5.1Selling Premium for Income
- 5.2Covered Calls Deep Dive
- 5.3Cash-Secured Puts Deep Dive
- 5.4The Wheel Strategy
- 5.5Debit Spreads vs Credit Spreads
- 5.6Bull Put Spread (Credit Spread)
- 5.7Bear Call Spread (Credit Spread)
- 5.8Iron Condor: Setup and Mechanics
- 5.9Selling Strangles
- 5.10Managing and Rolling Income Trades
- 5.11Choosing Strikes and Expirations for Income Trades
- 5.12Common Income Trading Mistakes
- 6.1Implied Volatility for Beginners
- 6.2Understanding the VIX
- 6.3IV Rank and IV Percentile
- 6.4Volatility Crush Around Earnings
- 6.5Straddles and Strangles
- 6.6Trading Volatility: High IV vs Low IV
- 6.7Selling Strangles
- 6.8Volatility Skew in Practice
- 6.90DTE Options: Same Day Expiration
- 6.10Hedging Portfolios with Volatility
- 7.1Position Sizing: How Much to Risk
- 7.2Building a Trade Plan
- 7.3Managing Winning Trades
- 7.4Managing Losing Trades
- 7.5Rolling Options: How and When
- 7.6Trade Adjustments
- 7.7Portfolio Greeks: Managing the Big Picture
- 7.8Hedging with Options
- 7.9Trading Psychology: Fear and Greed
- 7.10Building a Trading Journal
- 7.11Common Risk Management Mistakes
Options Strategies
By type
Beginner Strategies
- BullishLong CallBuy a call to profit if the stock rises, with risk capped at the premium.
- BearishLong PutBuy a put to profit if the stock falls, with risk capped at the premium.
- BullishLEAPS CallA long-dated call that acts like cheaper stock for a patient bullish view.
- BearishLEAPS PutA long-dated put that owns downside for years, for a fraction of shorting's capital.
- IncomeCash-Secured PutSell a put with cash set aside to get paid while you wait to buy lower.
- IncomeCovered CallOwn 100 shares and sell a call against them to collect premium as rent.
- IncomeThe WheelSell puts until assigned, then sell calls until called away, collecting at every turn.
- BullishBull Call SpreadBuy a call and sell a higher one to cap both the cost and the risk.
- BearishBear Put SpreadBuy a put and sell a lower one to cap both the cost and the risk.
- HedgingProtective PutBuy a put on stock you own to set a floor under a possible drop.
- HedgingMarried PutBuy stock and a put together so your downside is insured from day one.
- HedgingCollarSell a call to pay for a protective put, capping both your risk and your upside.
- HedgingCostless CollarA collar built so the call fully pays for the put, at zero net cost.
- VolatilityLong StraddleBuy a call and a put at the same strike to profit from a big move either way.
- VolatilityLong StrangleBuy an out-of-the-money call and put for a cheaper bet on a large move.
Intermediate Strategies
- BearishBear Call SpreadSell a call spread to collect credit as long as the stock stays down.
- BullishBull Put SpreadSell a put spread to collect credit as long as the stock holds up.
- NeutralCalendar SpreadSell near-term time and buy longer-term to profit from a stock that stalls.
- BullishCall CalendarSell a near-term call and buy a longer-dated one to lean bullish while selling time.
- IncomeCovered StrangleOwn stock and sell both a call and a put to double the premium income.
- NeutralIron ButterflyA tighter iron condor that collects more premium for a narrower range.
- NeutralIron CondorSell a call spread and a put spread to profit from a quiet, range-bound stock.
- NeutralLong Call ButterflyA cheap, defined-risk bet that the stock pins a specific price.
- NeutralLong CondorA wider, cheaper butterfly with a flat profit zone between two strikes.
- NeutralLong Put ButterflyA put-based butterfly that profits if the stock pins a lower strike.
- IncomePoor Man's Covered CallUse a long-dated call instead of 100 shares to run a covered call for less cash.
- BearishPut CalendarSell a near-term put and buy a longer-dated one for a slow drift down.
- VolatilityReverse Iron ButterflyA tighter reverse condor that pays more if the stock makes a sharp move.
- VolatilityReverse Iron CondorBuy both spreads for a defined-risk bet that the stock breaks out of its range.
- BullishShort PutSell a put to get paid for a bullish view and a price you would buy at.
Advanced Strategies
- NeutralAlbatross SpreadA condor with far-apart wings for a wide, low-cost profit range on a quiet stock.
- BearishBear Put LadderAdd a lower short put to a bear put spread for extra credit.
- BearishBearish Risk ReversalSell a call to fund a put for a leveraged, low-cost bearish bet.
- NeutralBig LizardA short straddle plus a call spread that removes all upside risk.
- NeutralBroken Wing ButterflyA skewed butterfly that can open for a credit with a directional lean.
- BullishBull Call LadderAdd a short call above a bull call spread for extra credit with a capped top.
- BullishCall DiagonalBlend strikes and expirations to lean bullish while collecting time decay.
- BullishCall Ratio BackspreadSell one call and buy two higher ones for a low-cost bet on a big rise.
- IncomeCovered PutShort stock and sell a put for income with a bearish-to-neutral lean.
- IncomeDiagonal Call WriteSell short-dated calls against a long LEAPS call, month after month.
- IncomeDividend CollarCollect a dividend while a collar caps both your risk and your upside.
- NeutralDouble CalendarTwo calendars at different strikes for a wider profit range on a quiet stock.
- NeutralDouble DiagonalDiagonals on both sides for range-bound income with longer-dated protection.
- VolatilityEarnings StrangleBuy a strangle before earnings to trade the expected move.
- VolatilityGamma ScalpingTrade the stock against a long-option position to harvest big daily swings.
- HedgingIndex Put HedgeHedge a basket of stocks with broad index puts in one trade.
- NeutralJade LizardA short put plus a short call spread for premium with no upside risk.
- BullishLEAPS Call SpreadBuy a long-dated call and sell a higher one for cheaper, defined-risk long-term upside.
- BearishLEAPS Put SpreadBuy a long-dated put and sell a lower one for cheaper, defined-risk long-term downside.
- VolatilityLong GutsBuy an in-the-money call and put for a straddle-like bet with less time value.
- IncomeMonthly Income CondorSell a monthly iron condor for steady, defined-risk premium.
- HedgingPortfolio Put HedgeUse index puts to protect your whole portfolio from a broad downturn.
- HedgingProtective Put SpreadBuy a put spread for cheaper, partial downside protection.
- BearishPut DiagonalBlend strikes and expirations to lean bearish while collecting time decay.
- BearishPut Ratio BackspreadSell one put and buy two lower ones for a low-cost bet on a big drop.
- HedgingPut Spread CollarA collar that uses a put spread instead of a single protective put.
- NeutralRatio Call SpreadBuy one call, sell two higher ones for a near-free bet on flat to modest upside.
- NeutralRatio Put SpreadBuy one put, sell two lower ones for a near-free bet on flat to modest downside.
- IncomeRatio WriteSell more calls than you have stock to cover for a higher-income, higher-risk write.
- BullishRisk ReversalSell a put to fund a call for a leveraged, low-cost bullish position.
- BearishShort CallSell a naked call for premium with a bearish view and undefined risk.
- NeutralShort GutsSell an in-the-money call and put for a wide, high-premium range.
- NeutralShort StraddleSell a call and put at the same strike for maximum premium if price sits still.
- NeutralShort StrangleSell a call and a put to collect premium while the stock stays in a range.
- VolatilityStrapTwo calls and one put for a big move biased to the upside.
- VolatilityStripTwo puts and one call for a big move biased to the downside.
- BullishSynthetic Long StockBuy a call and sell a put to mirror owning the shares for less cash.
- BearishSynthetic Short StockBuy a put and sell a call to mirror shorting the shares for less cash.
- HedgingTail Risk HedgeHold cheap far-out-of-the-money puts as insurance against a crash.
- HedgingVIX Call HedgeOwn VIX calls that spike in value when the market drops hard.
- VolatilityVIX OptionsTrade the market's fear gauge directly to hedge or speculate on volatility.
- VolatilityVIX SpreadUse VIX call or put spreads to trade volatility with defined risk.
- VolatilityVolatility Crush PlaySell inflated options before an event and profit when volatility collapses after.
- IncomeWeekly Put SellingSell short-dated cash-secured puts each week for faster, smaller premium.
- BullishZEBRAA zero-extrinsic back ratio that tracks the stock with almost no time decay.
Bullish Strategies
- BullishLong CallBuy a call to profit if the stock rises, with risk capped at the premium.
- BullishBull Call SpreadBuy a call and sell a higher one to cap both the cost and the risk.
- BullishBull Put SpreadSell a put spread to collect credit as long as the stock holds up.
- BullishShort PutSell a put to get paid for a bullish view and a price you would buy at.
- BullishLEAPS CallA long-dated call that acts like cheaper stock for a patient bullish view.
- BullishLEAPS Call SpreadBuy a long-dated call and sell a higher one for cheaper, defined-risk long-term upside.
- BullishCall CalendarSell a near-term call and buy a longer-dated one to lean bullish while selling time.
- BullishCall DiagonalBlend strikes and expirations to lean bullish while collecting time decay.
- BullishCall Ratio BackspreadSell one call and buy two higher ones for a low-cost bet on a big rise.
- BullishBull Call LadderAdd a short call above a bull call spread for extra credit with a capped top.
- BullishRisk ReversalSell a put to fund a call for a leveraged, low-cost bullish position.
- BullishSynthetic Long StockBuy a call and sell a put to mirror owning the shares for less cash.
- BullishZEBRAA zero-extrinsic back ratio that tracks the stock with almost no time decay.
Bearish Strategies
- BearishLong PutBuy a put to profit if the stock falls, with risk capped at the premium.
- BearishLEAPS PutA long-dated put that owns downside for years, for a fraction of shorting's capital.
- BearishLEAPS Put SpreadBuy a long-dated put and sell a lower one for cheaper, defined-risk long-term downside.
- BearishBear Put SpreadBuy a put and sell a lower one to cap both the cost and the risk.
- BearishBear Call SpreadSell a call spread to collect credit as long as the stock stays down.
- BearishShort CallSell a naked call for premium with a bearish view and undefined risk.
- BearishPut Ratio BackspreadSell one put and buy two lower ones for a low-cost bet on a big drop.
- BearishPut DiagonalBlend strikes and expirations to lean bearish while collecting time decay.
- BearishPut CalendarSell a near-term put and buy a longer-dated one for a slow drift down.
- BearishBear Put LadderAdd a lower short put to a bear put spread for extra credit.
- BearishBearish Risk ReversalSell a call to fund a put for a leveraged, low-cost bearish bet.
- BearishSynthetic Short StockBuy a put and sell a call to mirror shorting the shares for less cash.
Neutral Strategies
- NeutralIron CondorSell a call spread and a put spread to profit from a quiet, range-bound stock.
- NeutralIron ButterflyA tighter iron condor that collects more premium for a narrower range.
- NeutralShort StrangleSell a call and a put to collect premium while the stock stays in a range.
- NeutralShort StraddleSell a call and put at the same strike for maximum premium if price sits still.
- NeutralCalendar SpreadSell near-term time and buy longer-term to profit from a stock that stalls.
- NeutralDouble CalendarTwo calendars at different strikes for a wider profit range on a quiet stock.
- NeutralLong Call ButterflyA cheap, defined-risk bet that the stock pins a specific price.
- NeutralLong Put ButterflyA put-based butterfly that profits if the stock pins a lower strike.
- NeutralBroken Wing ButterflyA skewed butterfly that can open for a credit with a directional lean.
- NeutralJade LizardA short put plus a short call spread for premium with no upside risk.
- NeutralLong CondorA wider, cheaper butterfly with a flat profit zone between two strikes.
- NeutralDouble DiagonalDiagonals on both sides for range-bound income with longer-dated protection.
- NeutralBig LizardA short straddle plus a call spread that removes all upside risk.
- NeutralShort GutsSell an in-the-money call and put for a wide, high-premium range.
- NeutralAlbatross SpreadA condor with far-apart wings for a wide, low-cost profit range on a quiet stock.
- NeutralRatio Call SpreadBuy one call, sell two higher ones for a near-free bet on flat to modest upside.
- NeutralRatio Put SpreadBuy one put, sell two lower ones for a near-free bet on flat to modest downside.
Income Strategies
- IncomeCovered CallOwn 100 shares and sell a call against them to collect premium as rent.
- IncomeCash-Secured PutSell a put with cash set aside to get paid while you wait to buy lower.
- IncomeThe WheelSell puts until assigned, then sell calls until called away, collecting at every turn.
- IncomePoor Man's Covered CallUse a long-dated call instead of 100 shares to run a covered call for less cash.
- IncomeCovered StrangleOwn stock and sell both a call and a put to double the premium income.
- IncomeRatio WriteSell more calls than you have stock to cover for a higher-income, higher-risk write.
- IncomeDiagonal Call WriteSell short-dated calls against a long LEAPS call, month after month.
- IncomeDividend CollarCollect a dividend while a collar caps both your risk and your upside.
- IncomeCovered PutShort stock and sell a put for income with a bearish-to-neutral lean.
- IncomeWeekly Put SellingSell short-dated cash-secured puts each week for faster, smaller premium.
- IncomeMonthly Income CondorSell a monthly iron condor for steady, defined-risk premium.
Volatility Strategies
- VolatilityLong StraddleBuy a call and a put at the same strike to profit from a big move either way.
- VolatilityLong StrangleBuy an out-of-the-money call and put for a cheaper bet on a large move.
- VolatilityReverse Iron CondorBuy both spreads for a defined-risk bet that the stock breaks out of its range.
- VolatilityReverse Iron ButterflyA tighter reverse condor that pays more if the stock makes a sharp move.
- VolatilityVolatility Crush PlaySell inflated options before an event and profit when volatility collapses after.
- VolatilityVIX OptionsTrade the market's fear gauge directly to hedge or speculate on volatility.
- VolatilityVIX SpreadUse VIX call or put spreads to trade volatility with defined risk.
- VolatilityGamma ScalpingTrade the stock against a long-option position to harvest big daily swings.
- VolatilityLong GutsBuy an in-the-money call and put for a straddle-like bet with less time value.
- VolatilityStrapTwo calls and one put for a big move biased to the upside.
- VolatilityStripTwo puts and one call for a big move biased to the downside.
- VolatilityEarnings StrangleBuy a strangle before earnings to trade the expected move.
Hedging Strategies
- HedgingProtective PutBuy a put on stock you own to set a floor under a possible drop.
- HedgingCollarSell a call to pay for a protective put, capping both your risk and your upside.
- HedgingMarried PutBuy stock and a put together so your downside is insured from day one.
- HedgingCostless CollarA collar built so the call fully pays for the put, at zero net cost.
- HedgingProtective Put SpreadBuy a put spread for cheaper, partial downside protection.
- HedgingPut Spread CollarA collar that uses a put spread instead of a single protective put.
- HedgingPortfolio Put HedgeUse index puts to protect your whole portfolio from a broad downturn.
- HedgingIndex Put HedgeHedge a basket of stocks with broad index puts in one trade.
- HedgingTail Risk HedgeHold cheap far-out-of-the-money puts as insurance against a crash.
- HedgingVIX Call HedgeOwn VIX calls that spike in value when the market drops hard.
- Albatross Spread
- Bear Put Ladder
- Bearish Risk Reversal
- Big Lizard
- Broken Wing Butterfly
- Bull Call Ladder
- Call Diagonal
- Call Ratio Backspread
- Covered Put
- Diagonal Call Write
- Dividend Collar
- Double Calendar
- Double Diagonal
- Earnings Strangle
- Gamma Scalping
- Index Put Hedge
- Jade Lizard
- LEAPS Call Spread
- LEAPS Put Spread
- Long Guts
- Monthly Income Condor
- Portfolio Put Hedge
- Protective Put Spread
- Put Diagonal
- Put Ratio Backspread
- Put Spread Collar
- Ratio Call Spread
- Ratio Put Spread
- Ratio Write
- Risk Reversal
- Short Call
- Short Guts
- Short Straddle
- Short Strangle
- Strap
- Strip
- Synthetic Long Stock
- Synthetic Short Stock
- Tail Risk Hedge
- VIX Call Hedge
- VIX Options
- VIX Spread
- Volatility Crush Play
- Weekly Put Selling
- ZEBRA
Handbook
Look up any term
Fundamentals
The Greeks
Pricing & Valuation
Spreads
Income & Directional
Volatility & Hedging
Market & Mechanics
- Assignment
- Bracket Order
- CBOE
- Closing a Position
- Day Order
- Dividend Dates
- Early Exercise
- Earnings Season
- Ex-Dividend Date
- Exercise
- Exercise & Assignment
- Expiration Cycle
- Fill or Kill
- GTC Order
- Limit Order
- Market Order
- Monthly Options
- Opening a Position
- Option Chain
- Option Settlement
- Options Exchange
- Order Types
- Quarterly Options
- Rolling an Option
- Stop Order
- Weekly Options
Risk & Psychology
- Breakeven Point
- Confirmation Bias
- Discipline
- Edge
- Expectancy
- Fear & Greed
- FOMO
- Loss Aversion
- Maintenance Margin
- Margin Call
- Margin Requirements
- Maximum Loss
- Maximum Profit
- Overtrading
- Portfolio Margin
- Position Bias
- Position Sizing
- Profit Target
- Revenge Trading
- Risk Reward Ratio
- Risk Tolerance
- Stop Loss
- Trade Journal
- Trading Plan
- Value at Risk (VaR)
Technical & Economics
- Bear Market
- Bearish
- Bollinger Bands
- Bull Market
- Bullish
- Candlestick Patterns
- Chart Patterns
- Dividend
- Dividend Yield
- Earnings
- Earnings Per Share (EPS)
- Federal Funds Rate
- Fibonacci Retracement
- Ichimoku
- Inflation
- Interest Rates
- MACD
- Market Cap
- Market Correction
- Market Crash
- Moving Average
- Pivot Points
- Price to Earnings (P/E)
- Recession
- RSI
- Shares
- Stochastic
- Stock
- Stock Price
- Support & Resistance
- Ticker Symbol
- Trend
Tools
Options Trading Simulator
Practice a live chain, no real money
Coming soon
Position Size Calculator
Coming soonExpected Move Calculator
Coming soonCompound Interest Calculator
Step 1: Initial Investment
Amount of money that you have available to invest initially.
Step 2: Contribute
Amount that you plan to add to the principal every month.
Step 3: Years to Invest
How many years you plan to keep investing before you cash out.
Step 4: Annual Return
The yearly rate of return you expect your investment to earn.
Total Value Money You Put In
