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Gianluca Longinotti

Gianluca Longinotti

Finance Writer - Traders Education

Gianluca Longinotti is an experienced trader, advisor, and financial analyst with over a decade of professional experience in the banking sector, trading, and investment services. Known for his rigorous approach and deep understanding of market dynamics, Gianluca specializes in derivatives and cyclical analysis, with a strong emphasis on options trading strategies and macroeconomic frameworks.

Gianluca is the founder of Cycle Quest, a project focused on applying cyclical models to financial markets, economic indicators, and more. With an international academic background and a passion for data-driven decision-making, Gianluca empowers traders and investors with expert insights, clear strategy frameworks, and cutting-edge tools.

Education

References

Experience

  • Over a decade of experience trading options, with a focus on defined-risk strategies such as vertical spreads, iron condors, and diagonals
  • Deep understanding of options pricing models like Black-Scholes and binomial trees, applied daily to position evaluation
  • Active user of the CBOE indices as a benchmark to build and test different trading strategies with options
  • Expert in managing trades using the Greeks (Delta, Theta, etc.) to dynamically adjust risk
  • I regularly post live trade setups and market reads on Gianluca’s Trades via the Option Samurai blog and my personal Stocktwits profile
  • Skilled in building algorithmic strategies in Python and Pine Script, with a focus on short-term price action and event-driven plays
  • Creator of backtesting environments tailored to options logic using Python’s Pandas and NumPy stack
  • Daily use of TradingView, Interactive Brokers, and Databento for execution, charting, and data analysis
  • Developed custom automated dashboards in Plotly and Streamlit for real-time tracking of trade performance and volatility curves
  • Frequently design strategies aligned with FOMC and macroeconomic indicators for directional and volatility bias
  • Strong foundation in fundamental analysis, with deep dives into financial statements and earnings behavior
  • Implemented statistical arbitrage and volatility modeling techniques to detect mean-reverting edges
  • Experienced in handling expiration risk, assignment logic, and optimizing trade timing around options cycles
  • Advocate for integrating behavioral finance principles to mitigate biases and improve trader discipline
  • Regularly consult with traders on strategy design, risk control, and automation to elevate their performance across market regimes

Use a Backtest to Build a 52-Week High or Low Options Trading Strategy [Free Backtest File]

12 min read

ResearchTechnical AnalysisTutorialsUnique

When the trend is strong, there could be either trend-following or trend-reversal opportunities at a stock's 52-week highs and lows. Using our backtest file, you can measure the effectiveness of...

BID ASK LEVEL ADJUSTMENT

The Role of Bid vs Ask in Options [From Theory to Practice]

4 min read

Tutorials

One of the very first concepts a financial trader will encounter is that of the bid and ask price. Bid vs ask in options (as in any asset trading) highlights the prices buyers and sellers agree...

low risk option strategies table

Low Risk Options Strategies for Steady Income and Defined Risk

10 min read

Tutorials

Learn the safest low risk options strategies to generate income, including collars and selling spreads.

protective call

Protective Call - A Way to Safeguard Your Short Position with Options

10 min read

Tutorials

One of the main cons of going short on a stock is the risk of unlimited loss if prices rise unexpectedly. A protective call offers a solution to this issue by hedging your short position with a...

How to Calculate Max Pain in Options

The Basics of Max Pain in Options [Essential Knowledge]

6 min read

Tutorials

The concept of "max pain" is a recurring one for traders. Max pain in options refers to a theory where stock option prices gravitate towards a point where most options expire worthless....

MDLZ STOCK

Trade Idea - Bear Put Spread on MDLZ

4 min read

Gianluca's TradesSpread

Disclaimer: The trades discussed in this blog reflect the author's personal strategies and decisions. These are not financial advice and should not be considered recommendations to buy, sell, or...

long straddle

Long Straddle Strategy Explained: Tips for Options Traders [with Real-Life Example]

8 min read

Tutorials

The long straddle strategy is certainly among the most popular choices of options traders. The idea behind this approach is straightforward: buy both a call and a put option on the same asset to...

tsla historical beta

Backtesting Beta for Volatility Insights: Build Smarter Options Trading Strategies and Portfolio Ideas

11 min read

ResearchTutorialsUniqueSpread

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...

0DTE Option Trading at a Glance

Understanding 0DTE Options [The Basics You Need to Know]

6 min read

Tutorials

One of the many ways to include options in your portfolio is to select those contracts that are very close to expiration. 0DTE options, meaning "zero days to expiration," offer quick trading...

Put-Call Parity at a Glance

How to Use the Put-Call Parity Formula in Options Trading (Practical Insights)

13 min read

Tutorials

Put-call parity is a concept that, every now and then, grows in popularity on online forums among traders seeking to link the prices of puts and calls. This article offers practical insights into...

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Gianluca Longinotti | Team | Option Samurai