‍What Are the Basic Options Strategies Every Trader Should Know?

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The "Basic Option Strategies" course is an intermediate-level program designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of popular option strategies. It's tailored for those looking to grasp how to use options in different market conditions, specifically focusing on bull and bear markets. This course also emphasizes the practical construction of these strategies using an online trading platform, making it an excellent resource for traders seeking to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios.
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Key Course Highlights:

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1. Basic Option Strategies Overview: Introduces the use of options for bull and bear market outlooks.
2. Bull Market – Long Call: Understanding the use of long call options when anticipating a market rise.
3. Practical Usage – Bull Market – Long Call: Demonstrates creating a long call position in Trader Workstation (TWS) using Option Chain.
4. Bull Market – Short Put: Explains using short put options in a bullish market scenario.
5. Practical Usage – Bull Market – Short Put: Guides on creating a short put in TWS using Option Chain.
6. Bull Market – Covered Call: Discusses generating income in a bullish market through covered call strategies.
7. Practical Usage – Bull Market – Covered Call: Shows how to create a covered call in TWS using Strategy Builder.
8. Bear Market – Long Put: Covers the use of long put options in a bearish market outlook.
9. Practical Usage — Bear Market — Long Put: Teaches creating a long put in TWS using Option Chain.
10. Bear Market – Covered Put: Examines generating income in a bearish market with covered put strategies.
11. Practical Usage – Bear Market – Covered Put: Demonstrates creating a covered put in TWS using Strategy Builder.
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Upon completing the "Basic Option Strategies" course, participants will have a thorough understanding of various option strategies suited for different market conditions. They will learn both the theoretical aspects of these strategies and their practical application using TWS tools. This course is ideal for traders who want to enhance their options trading skills and effectively implement strategies in bull and bear markets.

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FAQ

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1) Which strategy fits my market view—bullish or bearish?

‍If you think the stock will go up (bullish):
Buy a call to risk only the option cost with unlimited upside.Sell a put if you’re happy to buy the stock at a lower price and earn income meanwhile.Sell a covered call if you already own the stock and want extra income, but this limits your profit.

‍If you think the stock will go down (bearish):
Buy a put to risk only the option cost and profit if the stock falls.A “covered put” (shorting the stock + selling a put) is more advanced and risky, since losses can be very large if the stock rises.

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2) How do I choose strikes and expirations?

‍Choose a strike (the set price of the option) based on your outlook:
Buy calls or puts closer to the stock’s current price if you’re confident in the direction.Sell puts or covered calls further away from the stock price if your goal is steady income.For timing, many traders use options that expire in about 1–2 months. Shorter-term options lose value faster but can also move more sharply.

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3) What are the payoff profiles and key break-evens?

‍Long call: Max loss is what you paid; break-even = strike + cost.

‍Long put: Max loss is what you paid; break-even = strike – cost.

‍Short put: Max profit is what you collected; biggest risk is if the stock goes to zero. You may be forced to buy shares below the strike.

‍Covered call: Profit stops at the strike price; break-even = what you paid for stock – income from option. Risk of early exercise if a dividend is coming.

‍Covered put: Profit capped if the stock falls, but risk is unlimited if the stock rises.

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4) How does implied volatility (IV) affect these trades?

• If you buy options, you want volatility to rise.

• If you sell options (like puts or covered calls), high volatility works in your favor because options are pricier and may lose value later. Always compare today’s volatility with its past levels to see if options are expensive or cheap.

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5) How do I build, manage, and roll positions in TWS?

• Use the Option Chain to see prices and set up trades.

• Use Strategy Builder to create combinations like covered calls or spreads.

• Check the profit/loss graph to see possible outcomes.To manage: set alerts if the stock or risk changes, check your account margin, and if you want to extend a trade, you can “roll” it by closing the current option and opening a new one with a different price or date.

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