12 Common Option Trading Strategies Every Trader Should Know

Option Trading Strategies? Sounds heavy? Already worrying you? Well, fret not! We shall help you crack this one quite easily.

Let’s start off by discussing the model of the game “lotto” where we bet on a lottery ticket and the odds of winning the lottery are very low. However, if we win we hit a jackpot. Similarly, when we trade-in options, we know it involves a certain level of risk but we still participate in them with the anticipation of a jackpot like the game above. But if you look at advanced options traders, they generally treat options as a hedging instrument or as a strategising instrument where the goal is to maximise profits while minimizing losses. That’s exactly where one wants to be!

In reality, there definitely exists some option trading strategies and these option trading strategies are designed in such a way that limits the risk quotient and opens a portal to unlimited profits.

In this blog, we shall discuss 12 such option trading strategies that every trader should be aware of when trading in options.

First things first, let’s find out what this heavy options related jargon means. So what are option trading strategies?

Option Trading Strategies refer to buying calls or put options or selling calls or put options or both together for the purpose of limiting losses and gaining unlimited profits. Basically, utilising one or more combinations for the best outcome possible based on our defined parameters.

Call options give the holder the right but not an obligation to buy the underlying stock whereas put options give the owner the right, but not the obligation, to sell the underlying stock at a pre-determined price by a set expiration time. 

Option Trading Strategies can be classified into bullish, bearish or neutral option trading strategies. Sounds interesting until here? Well, there’s more to get your excitement levels up.

Presenting to you 12 types of option trading strategies every trader should know and can use to level up the game of their option in the stock market!

12 types of option trading strategies:

Everyone loves a bull market and we see maximum retail participation in the stock market when the indices are flying high so we start off with Bullish Option Trading Strategies:

1. Bull Call Spread:

A bull call spread is one of the bullish option trading strategies that involve buying one At-The-Money (ATM) call option and selling the Out Of-The-Money call option.

One should note that both the calls should have the same underlying stock and the same expiration date.

In this strategy, profit is made when the price of the underlying stock increase which is equal to spread minus net debit and loss is incurred when the stock price falls which is equal to the net debit. Net Debit is equal to the Premium Paid for a lower strike minus the Premium Received for a higher strike. The Spread refers to the difference between the higher and lower strike price

Bull Call Spread helps in protecting when the prices fall and the profit amount is also limited.

From the above example from elearnoptions, we can say that both the profit and loss is capped.

This strategy acts as a great alternative to just buying a call option when the traders are not aggressively bullish on a stock. 

2. Bull Put Spread:

This is one of the bullish option trading strategies that options traders can implement when they are a little bullish on the movement of the underlying asset.

This strategy is similar to the bull call spread in which instead of buying calls we buy puts. This strategy involves buying 1 OTM Put option and selling 1 ITM Put option.

One should note that both puts should have the same underlying stock and also the same expiration date.

A bull put spread is formed for a net credit or net amount received and it incurs profit from a rising stock price that is limited to the net credit received, on the other hand, the potential loss is limited and occurs when the price of the stock falls below the strike price of the long put.

3.Call Ratio Back Spread:

The Call Ratio Back Spread is one of the simplest option trading strategies and this strategy is implemented when one is very bullish on a stock or index.

In this strategy, traders can make unlimited profits when the market goes up and limited profits if the market goes down. The loss is made only if the market stays within a specific range. In other words, traders can make a profit when the market moves in either direction.

This strategy is a 3 leg strategy that consists of buying two OTM call options and selling one ITM call option.

We can see from the above P/L diagram that we make profits when the price goes in either of the directions.

4. Synthetic Call:

A Synthetic Call is one of the option trading strategies is used by those traders who have a bullish view of the stock for the long term but are also worried about the downside risks at the same time. This strategy offers unlimited potential profits with limited risk.

The strategy involves buying put options of the stock that we are holding and on which we have a bullish view. If the price of the underlying rises, then we shall make profits whereas if the price falls then the loss will be limited to the premium that is paid for the put option. This strategy is similar to the Protective Put options strategy.

From the above payoff diagram, we can see the risk is limited to the premium whereas the potential profit is unlimited.

Read more about Options Trading Strategies from our ELM School Module

Well, the world works on demand and supply, and so does the stock market. When you see people flying high during a bullish market, there is always a lot looking at bearish option trading strategies. There is always a group of “Manu Mandoriyas” (Reference: Scam 1992) hoping for a downside. So, let’s take the discussion further and look at bearish option trading strategies.

5. Bear Call Spread:

The Bear Call Spread is one of the 2-leg option trading strategies that is implemented by the options traders with a ‘moderately bearish’ view on the market.

This strategy involves buying 1 OTM Call option i.e a higher strike price and selling 1 ITM Call option i.e. a lower strike price. One should note that both the calls should have the same underlying stock and also the same expiration date.

A bear call spread is formed for the net credit and profits are made from this strategy when the stock prices fall. The potential profit is limited to the net credit and potential loss is limited to the spread minus net credit. The Net Credit equals the Premium Received minus the Premium Paid.

From the above P/L diagram, we can see that this strategy involves limited gains which are equal to the net credit and loss is limited which is equal to the spread minus the net credit.

6. Bear Put Spread:

This strategy is quite similar to the Bull Call Spread and also quite easy to implement. Traders would implement this strategy when the view of the market is moderately bearish, i.e when the traders are expecting the market to go down but not too much.

This strategy involves buying the ITM Put option and selling the OTM Put option. One should note that both the puts should have the same underlying stock and the same expiration date. This strategy is formed for a net debit or net cost and profits as the underlying stock falls in price.

From the above diagram, we can say that the profit is limited and equal to the spread minus the net debit and the loss is equal to net debit. The Net Debit equals the Premium Paid minus Premium Received.

7. Strip:

A strip is bearish to a neutral options strategy that involves buying 1 ATM Call and 2 ATM Puts.

One should note that these options should be bought on the same underlying, and also with the same strike price and same expiry date.

Traders can earn profits when the price of the underlying stock price makes a strong move in the up or down direction at the time of expiration, but generally, huge profits are earned when the prices move down.

As we can see from the above example, the maximum profit is unlimited and the total loss associated with this strategy is limited to the net premium paid.

8.Synthetic Put:

Synthetic put is one of the option trading strategies that is implemented when investors have a bearish view of the stock and are concerned about potential near-term strength in that stock.

The profit from this strategy is made when there is a decline in the underlying stock’s price, which is why this strategy is also known as the synthetic long put.

The synthetic long put is so named as this strategy has the same profit potential as long put.

From the above example, we can see that the maximum profit is unlimited and the maximum loss.

You can also watch our webinar on MASTERCLASS WEBINAR SERIES: TRADING STRATEGY WITH OPTIONS BY CHETAN

So, we’ve seen bullish and bearish option trading strategies but what about the ones that have no stance? There are always a bunch of people who don’t see any clear one-sided direction in the near term and want to remain unaffected by the same. Well, there are neutral strategies for such views where profits don’t depend on the market direction.

9.Long & Short Straddles:

The long straddle is one of the simplest market neutral option trading strategies to implement and when implemented the P&L is not affected by the direction in which the market moves.

This strategy involves buying the ATM Call and Put options. One should note that both the options should belong to the same underlying, should have the same expiry and also belong to the same strike.

As we see from the above image, the profits are unlimited and the loss is limited.

Short Straddle involves selling the ATM Call and Put option as opposed to Long Straddle. Here, the profit is equal to the total premium received and maximum loss is unlimited as shown below:

10. Long & Short Strangles:

The strangle is similar to the straddle but the only difference between them is that- in a straddle, we are required to buy call and put options of the ATM strike price whereas the strangle involves buying OTM call and put options.

Long Strangle involves buying one OTM put and one OTM call option. Here, the profit is unlimited and the maximum loss is equal to the net premium flow.

Whereas the Short Strangle involves selling a put and call OTM options. From the below example, we can see that the maximum loss is unlimited as the price rises or falls and the maximum profit is equal to the total premium received.

11. Long & Short Butterfly:

A butterfly spread is one of the neutral option trading strategies that combine bull and bear spreads, with a fixed risk and limited profit. The options with higher and lower strike prices have the same distance from the at-the-money options.

The long butterfly call spread involves: Buying one ITM call option, writing two ATM call options, and then buying one OTM call option.

The short butterfly spread strategy involves selling one in-the-money call option, buying two at-the-money call options, and selling an out-of-the-money call option.

You can also join our course on CERTIFICATION IN ONLINE OPTIONS TRADING STRATEGIES

12.Long & Short Iron Condor:

An iron condor is one of the option trading strategies that consists of two puts (one long and one short) and two calls (one long and one short), and four strike prices. All must have the same expiration date.

The maximum profit is incurred when the underlying asset closes between the middle strike prices at expiration.

Watch our video on Option Trading Strategies:

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