Research
Backtesting the ADX Filter on Any Stock [Free Backtest File]
10 min read
See what ADX sideways, bullish and bearish readings actually did on a stock over the next two weeks, and how to spot a false edge. Free backtest file inside.
The Options Dojo
Featured
Trades
Trade Idea - Bear Call Spread on NOW
3 min read
A bear call spread on NOW: short $172 call, long $182 call to cap the loss at $971. RSI 74, no earnings before expiry, 17% buffer to the short strike.
Trades
Trade Idea - Bearish Risk Reversal with Capped Risk on JPM
2 min read
A bearish capped risk reversal on JPM: short $367.5 call, long $380 call to cap losses, long $295 put for downside. Small credit, defined risk, negative delta.
Trades
Trade Idea - Short Put on NVDA
2 min read
Selling a naked put on NVDA: $170 strike, Aug 2026 expiry, ~55% IV rank. Breakeven at $168.44, with a plan to close well before expiration.
Blog Categories
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Blog List
Education
What Is Rho in Options?
6 min read
Learn what rho means in options trading, how interest rates affect option prices, and when rho matters most. Explained with clear examples for calls and puts.
Education
What Is Vega in Options?
7 min read
Learn what vega means in options trading, how implied volatility affects option prices, and how to use vega for long and short strategies.
Education
What Is Theta in Options?
6 min read
Learn what theta means in options trading, how time decay works for buyers and sellers, and how to use theta to measure portfolio risk.
Education
Tastytrade vs. Interactive Brokers: Which Broker Is Right for You?
9 min read
Choosing a broker to trade options can be tricky. Is Tastytrade safe and beginner-friendly? Do Interactive Brokersβ advanced features suit professionals better?
Education
Is Options Trading Worth It? [Matching Strategies and Expectations]
5 min read
The question "is options trading worth it?" sometimes pops up in online forums and discussions. For some, itβs a useful way to boost supplemental income with strategies like selling puts or calls....
Education
The Role of Moneyness in Options Trading: Understanding Intrinsic Value and Contracts
9 min read
When you hear talk about in-the-money or out-of-the-money options, it's the concept of option moneyness at play. This simple yet vital concept in options trading describes the relationship between...
Featured Research Blog List
Research
Backtesting the ADX Filter on Any Stock [Free Backtest File]
10 min read
See what ADX sideways, bullish and bearish readings actually did on a stock over the next two weeks, and how to spot a false edge. Free backtest file inside.
Research
Trading Earnings Events with Options - A Backtested Strategy
13 min read
After an earning event, stocks can experience a sudden price change depending on the way the market interprets the company's performance. This can be an opportunity for traders to capitalize on...
Research
Backtesting Beta for Volatility Insights: Build Smarter Options Trading Strategies and Portfolio Ideas
10 min read
As an investor, it is likely you have already come across high-beta stocks. These stocks can significantly overperform in bull markets and underperform in bear scenarios. While we would not advise...
Featured Videos
Selling Put Options: Which Strike and Expiration Actually Wins
Most traders stare at one option chain at a time. They open one expiration then another then another. They compare premiums strike by strike and guess which put offers the best annualized return for the cushion they keep. It is messy. It is slow. And the best trade stays hidden in the noise.But what if every strike and every expiration was ranked side by side in one clear viewIn this video I walk you through Option Samurai Sell Put Optimizer, the Google Sheets template that scores every put for you instantly. You will see exactly how toSet any ticker and let the sheet import live option dataCompare annualized return across all strikes and expirations in a single matrixSpot the sweet spot where yield meets break even cushionFilter by earnings dates so you can avoid or target earnings riskTune your assumptions and watch the whole table recalc in secondsInstead of flipping between tabs you pick the winner in one view. βΈ» About Option Samurai: Option Samurai helps you find better trades faster. Our scanner and Excel plus Google Sheets integrations are built for serious options traders who want clarity speed and an edge. The Sell Put Optimizer shown in this video ranks every put by annualized return so you can choose with data not guesswork. Set your criteria once. The sheet finds your next best contract. βΈ» π GET STARTED π Try it free: www.optionsamurai.com (no CC needed) π Install the add in: https://samurai.froged.help/docs/en/43597154-research π Use this template: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UBHlWzUlgEPxyv_ia5LYmT-fIOnXCMF3YvwaxhsnfJs/edit?usp=sharing π§ Browse more templates: https://optionsamurai.com/app/integrations/excel π Like this video if it helped you π Subscribe for more options trading tips and tools π¬ Drop a comment if you have questions or ideas for future videos βΈ» Chapters: 00:18 - The manual chain problem this template solves 01:01 - Table one annualized return explained 01:30 - Table two how far price can fall 02:58 - Customize with your own valuation
Ratio Spread Strategy: Why Pros Use 2 to 3 Instead of 1 to 2
In this video, I break down the 2 to 3 Ratio Spread strategy, the systematic upgrade to the classic 1 to 2 that leaves most traders with unmanageable risk. While most traders sell a 1 to 2 and hope price pins perfectly, the 2 to 3 creates a wider profit tent, a smoother delta profile, and a clear path to manage the trade when price moves against you. You will see the exact profit and loss shape for both the put ratio spread and call ratio spread, where breakeven sits, why implied volatility can make or break the entry, and how a simple butterfly roll lets you transform a threatened ratio spread into a defined risk position without guessing. No gambling. No predictions. Just probabilities and process. βΈ» About Option Samurai Option Samurai helps you find better trades faster. Our powerful scanner and tools are built for serious options traders who want clarity, speed, and an edge. The ratio spread scans shown in this video are live inside the platform, with filters for put ratio and call ratio setups, plus profit and loss visualization so you can see risk before you commit capital. βΈ» π Try it free: https://optionsamurai.com π Put Ratio Spread guide: https://optionsamurai.com/blog/put-ratio-spread/ π Call Ratio Spread guide: https://optionsamurai.com/blog/call-ratio-spread/ π Feature guide: https://samurai.froged.help/docs/en/43597154-research βΈ» π Like this video if it helped you π Subscribe for more options trading strategies and tools π¬ Drop a comment if you have questions or ideas for future videos βΈ» Chapters 0:00 Why Most Ratio Spreads Fail With 1 to 2 0:42 What Is a Ratio Spread 1:28 Put Ratio Spread vs Call Ratio Spread Explained 2:25 Why the 2 to 3 Ratio Changes the Math 3:18 The Butterfly Roll How to Manage a Threatened Spread 4:27 How Implied Volatility Impacts the Trade 5:14 Scanning for 2 to 3 Ratio Spreads in Option Samurai 6:02 Key Takeaways and Next Steps
Why Do Options Spreadsheets Die? Google Sheets Watchlist That Never Breaks
Most traders rebuild their watchlists every month. Their spreadsheets are full of expired contracts. They manually update tickers, scan for fresh opportunities, and start from scratch. It's repetitive. It breaks. It's slow.But what if your watchlist updated itself? In this video, I walk you through Option Samurai's Floating Formula Watchlist, the automated system that rebuilds your tracking automatically as contracts expire. You'll see exactly how to: - Set up your core watchlist template once in Google Sheets or Excel - Add custom data points (Vega, IV Rank, Delta, and more) using floating formulas - Watch your criteria pull fresh contracts month after month β no manual updates needed - Use the Analyzer to stack your filters and find the best trades faster Instead of "rebuild every month," it's "build once, use forever." βΈ» About Option Samurai: Option Samurai helps you find better trades, faster. Our scanner and Excel/Google Sheets integrations are built for serious options traders who want clarity, speed, and an edge. The Floating Formula Watchlist shown in this video automatically recalculates your criteria across expirations, so you never manually rebuild again. Set your thresholds once. The system finds your next best contract. π GET STARTED Try it free: www.optionsamurai.com (no CC needed) π Install the add-in: https://samurai.froged.help/docs/en/2202695-installing-excelgoogle-sheet-plugin π Use this template: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ATMUQ7l5X05WiD1UW6nzi5wv0jBlreVJwSpgBWsteIk/edit?usp=sharing π§ Browse more templates: https://optionsamurai.com/app/integrations/excel βΈ» π Like this video if it helped you π Subscribe for more options trading tips and tools π¬ Drop a comment if you have questions or ideas for future videos βΈ» CHAPTERS 00:00 Option Samurai Google Sheets and Excel add in 00:20 Why you rebuild sheets every month vs build once 00:39 How Floating Formulas work 00:56 Adding a new ticker and copying formulas 01:12 Adding custom data points from the Formula Builder