‍What Are the Basic Options Strategies Every Trader Should Know?

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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Principales aspectos del curso:

1. Estrategias básicas de opciones: Introduce el uso de opciones para perspectivas de mercados alcistas y bajistas.
2. Mercado alcista - Opciones de compra largas: Comprender el uso de opciones de compra largas cuando se anticipa una subida del mercado.
3. Uso Práctico - Mercado Alcista - Compra Larga: Demuestra la creación de una posición de compra larga en Trader Workstation (TWS) utilizando Option Chain.
4. Mercado alcista - Venta corta: Explica el uso de opciones de venta cortas en un escenario de mercado alcista.
5. Uso práctico - Mercado alcista - Venta corta: Guías para crear una opción de venta corta en TWS utilizando Cadena de Opciones.
6. Mercado alcista - Covered Call: Analiza la generación de ingresos en un mercado alcista a través de estrategias de compra cubierta.
7. Uso práctico - Mercado alcista - Llamada cubierta: Muestra cómo crear una llamada cubierta en TWS usando el Constructor de Estrategias.
8. Mercado bajista - Opción de venta larga: Cubre el uso de opciones de venta largas en una perspectiva de mercado bajista.
9. Uso Práctico - Mercado Bajista - Venta Larga: Enseña a crear una opción de venta larga en la TWS utilizando la Cadena de Opciones.
10. Mercado bajista - Venta cubierta: Examina la generación de ingresos en un mercado bajista con estrategias de put cubiertas.
11. Practical Usage – Bear Market – Covered Put: Demonstrates creating a covered put in TWS using Strategy Builder.
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Al finalizar el curso "Estrategias básicas de opciones", los participantes conocerán a fondo diversas estrategias de opciones adaptadas a distintas condiciones de mercado. Aprenderán tanto los aspectos teóricos de estas estrategias como su aplicación práctica utilizando las herramientas de la TWS. Este curso es ideal para operadores que deseen mejorar sus conocimientos de negociación de opciones y aplicar eficazmente estrategias en mercados alcistas y bajistas.

FAQ

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.