0DTE — Day trading. Binary outcome.
Enter after 10:00 AM ET. Each position expires today. Stop losses are mandatory — set immediately after entry. Avoid first 30 min and last 30 min of session.
Entry rules
Time window10:00–11:30 AM ET best
11:30–2:00 PM ET acceptable
Avoid: 9:30–10:00, 3:00–4:00 PM
11:30–2:00 PM ET acceptable
Avoid: 9:30–10:00, 3:00–4:00 PM
Delta (short)Δ5–15 per side
Equal credit both sides
Breakeven IC = same $ put & call
Equal credit both sides
Breakeven IC = same $ put & call
Width25–30 pts (SPX)
Collect $1.50–$3.00 per spread
Total credit ~$3.00–$6.00
Collect $1.50–$3.00 per spread
Total credit ~$3.00–$6.00
IVRNot critical for 0DTE
VIX level matters more
VIX <15 = avoid (low premium)
VIX level matters more
VIX <15 = avoid (low premium)
Avoid daysFOMC, CPI, NFP, PPI
OpEx week (increased gamma)
Monday after major weekend news
OpEx week (increased gamma)
Monday after major weekend news
Management rules
1
Set stop loss immediately
Stop = 1× total credit collected per side independently.
Example: collected $3 total → each side stops at $3 loss on that leg.
Example: collected $3 total → each side stops at $3 loss on that leg.
2
Take profit at 50%
Position worth $1.50 of original $3 credit → close it.
Don't hold to expiry — gamma risk explodes near close.
Don't hold to expiry — gamma risk explodes near close.
3
Hard close at 3:00 PM ET
Close all 0DTE positions by 3 PM regardless of P&L.
Final hour gamma can turn $150 profit into $500 loss in minutes.
Final hour gamma can turn $150 profit into $500 loss in minutes.
4
Never double down
If stop loss hit on one side → close the whole position.
A "double stop loss" (both sides hit) is your worst case day.
A "double stop loss" (both sides hit) is your worst case day.
Concurrent positions
1
2
3
4×
Max 3 concurrent 0DTE ICs. 4th = overexposed.
Expected move Live
Loading live data…
Entry checklist
0DTE BPS — Directional day trade. Only when SPX is clearly oversold and holding support. High risk — SPX can recover instantly. Use smaller size than IC.
Entry rules
Delta (short)Δ8–15 short put
Sell below 1σ intraday expected move
Width: 25–30 pts
Sell below 1σ intraday expected move
Width: 25–30 pts
Direction filterMust be above 200DMA
RSI <35 (oversold intraday)
Stoch K <20
RSI <35 (oversold intraday)
Stoch K <20
Best timingAfter an early morning sell-off
Enter when bounce shows confirmation
Not into a falling knife
Enter when bounce shows confirmation
Not into a falling knife
Never enterTrending strongly bearish day
VIX spiking and accelerating
Below 200DMA
VIX spiking and accelerating
Below 200DMA
Management rules
1
Stop loss = 2× credit
Collected $2.00 → stop at $4.00 loss. Tighter than IC because directional.
2
Take profit at 50–75%
0DTE BPS decays quickly if right. Take profit early, don't be greedy.
3
Close by 2:30 PM ET
Earlier close than IC — directional risk increases near end of session.
Expected move Live
Loading…
Entry checklist
0DTE BCS — Directional day trade. Only when SPX is clearly overbought and showing rejection. Mirror of BPS rules.
Entry rules
Delta (short)Δ8–15 short call
Sell above 1σ intraday expected move
Width: 25–30 pts
Sell above 1σ intraday expected move
Width: 25–30 pts
Direction filterSPX below 200DMA preferred
RSI >65 (overbought intraday)
Stoch K >80
RSI >65 (overbought intraday)
Stoch K >80
Best timingAfter morning rally shows exhaustion
Enter on first sign of rejection
Not into a strong trend up day
Enter on first sign of rejection
Not into a strong trend up day
Never enterStrong bullish momentum day
Post-Fed rally, short squeeze
SPX making new ATH
Post-Fed rally, short squeeze
SPX making new ATH
Management rules
1
Stop loss = 2× credit
Same as BPS. Directional spreads need tight stops.
2
Take profit at 50–75%
Close early when profitable. Call side can reverse sharply on news.
3
Close by 2:30 PM ET
Never hold BCS into final 90 min. Gamma explosion risk.
Expected move Live
Loading…
Entry checklist
1DTE — Next day expiry. Enter afternoon (2:00–3:30 PM ET today) for next day expiry. More time to be right than 0DTE but still high gamma risk near expiry.
Entry rules
Entry time2:00–3:30 PM ET (today)
After IV has been established
Collect more credit than 0DTE open
After IV has been established
Collect more credit than 0DTE open
Delta (short)Δ8–12 per side
Slightly wider than 0DTE
Equal credit both sides
Slightly wider than 0DTE
Equal credit both sides
Width25–30 pts (SPX)
Collect $2.00–$4.00 total
Higher premium than 0DTE same delta
Collect $2.00–$4.00 total
Higher premium than 0DTE same delta
AvoidMajor overnight news risk days
Earnings season (individual stocks)
Entering before Fed announcement
Earnings season (individual stocks)
Entering before Fed announcement
Management rules
1
Set GTC stop overnight
Set stop loss orders before market close tonight. Market can gap at open.
2
Review at 10:00 AM next day
If position at 50% profit by 10 AM → close immediately, don't wait.
3
Hard close at 2:00 PM ET
Close ALL 1DTE positions by 2 PM expiry day. Same gamma rules as 0DTE.
Expected move Live
Loading…
Entry checklist
Entry rules
Delta (short)Δ8–15, sell below 1σ
Width: 25–30 pts
Width: 25–30 pts
DirectionAbove 200DMA required
RSI <40, Stoch <25
RSI <40, Stoch <25
Entry time2:30–3:30 PM ET today
Enter after afternoon dip confirms
Enter after afternoon dip confirms
Management
1
GTC stop overnight
Critical for 1DTE BPS — gap down overnight is your biggest risk.
2
Close at 50% or 2 PM
Take profit early next day. Don't hold directional into gamma crunch.
Expected move Live
Loading…
Entry rules
Delta (short)Δ8–15, sell above 1σ
Width: 25–30 pts
Width: 25–30 pts
DirectionBelow 200DMA preferred
RSI >60, Stoch >75
RSI >60, Stoch >75
Entry time2:30–3:30 PM ET today
Enter after afternoon rally exhausts
Enter after afternoon rally exhausts
Management
1
GTC stop overnight
Gap up risk is real for 1DTE BCS. Must have stops set.
2
Close at 50% or 2 PM
Never hold BCS through final hour of expiry day.
Expected move Live
Loading…
7DTE — Weekly options. Best of both worlds. Enough premium to be worthwhile, enough time to manage if wrong. Enter Monday–Tuesday for Friday expiry.
Entry rules
Best daysMonday or Tuesday
Full week of decay available
Wednesday entry = half the premium
Full week of decay available
Wednesday entry = half the premium
Delta (short)Δ10–16 per side
Wider than 0-1DTE
~84% PoP per side
Wider than 0-1DTE
~84% PoP per side
Width50 pts (SPX)
Collect $3.00–$6.00 total
Min credit: 1/3 of spread width
Collect $3.00–$6.00 total
Min credit: 1/3 of spread width
IVR≥25% preferred
At IVR <20 → skip
Premium not worth the risk
At IVR <20 → skip
Premium not worth the risk
Max concurrent2 positions max
Don't stack 7DTE ICs week over week
Wait for prior position to close first
Don't stack 7DTE ICs week over week
Wait for prior position to close first
Management rules
1
Take profit at 50%
Position worth 50% of credit → close. Don't hold for last 50% — risk/reward degrades. Collect $3 → close at $1.50 remaining value.
2
Stop loss at 2× credit
Position worth 3× original credit paid → close. Collected $3 → stop at $6 debit to close.
3
Hard close at 2 DTE
Close remaining position at 2 DTE regardless of P&L. Gamma risk escalates sharply inside 2 days.
4
Roll if breached
Short strike threatened (delta >25) → roll the breached spread out 1 week for credit. Don't take max loss passively.
Expected move Live
Loading…
Entry checklist
Entry rules
Delta (short)Δ10–16, below 1σ weekly
Width: 50 pts
Width: 50 pts
DirectionAbove 200DMA required
RSI <45, Stoch <30
Weekly trend must be bullish
RSI <45, Stoch <30
Weekly trend must be bullish
Entry dayMonday–Tuesday only
Enter on a pullback, not on rally
Enter on a pullback, not on rally
IVR≥30% preferred
Elevated premium compensates for directional risk
Elevated premium compensates for directional risk
Management
1
50% profit target
Close at 50% credit. BPS has asymmetric loss — don't let winners become losers.
2
Stop at 2× credit
Hard stop. Your backtest max loss was $1,270 — that's what happens without stops.
3
Close at 2 DTE
Never hold directional spread into expiry week gamma crunch.
Expected move Live
Loading…
Entry rules
Delta (short)Δ10–16, above 1σ weekly
Width: 50 pts
Width: 50 pts
DirectionBelow 200DMA preferred
RSI >55, Stoch >70
Weekly trend must be bearish
RSI >55, Stoch >70
Weekly trend must be bearish
Entry dayMonday–Tuesday only
Enter on a rally into resistance
Enter on a rally into resistance
IVR≥30% preferred
Management
1
50% profit target
Your backtest BCS max loss was $2,025. Stops are not optional.
2
Stop at 2× credit
BCS can blow up on sudden bullish news. Hard stop protects account.
3
Close at 2 DTE
Expected move Live
Loading…
30–45 DTE — The Tastytrade Standard. Theta sweet spot.
This is the most studied, most systematic approach to selling options premium. Open 35–49 DTE. Close at 50% profit or 21 DTE. 1–2 new positions per week maximum.
The 21 DTE rule: Close at 21 DTE regardless of P&L. The final 3 weeks have increasing gamma risk but decreasing theta benefit. Time decay has already done most of its work by 21 DTE.
Entry rules (Tastytrade Standard)
Open window35–49 DTE
Weekly options available at ~45 DTE
Never open at >50 or <30 DTE
Weekly options available at ~45 DTE
Never open at >50 or <30 DTE
Delta (short)Δ16–20 per side (Tasty standard)
Or Δ10–16 for more conservative
Width: 50–100 pts (SPX)
Or Δ10–16 for more conservative
Width: 50–100 pts (SPX)
IVR required≥30% minimum
Wait for IVR ≥50% if possible
IVR <20% = don't open
Wait for IVR ≥50% if possible
IVR <20% = don't open
Frequency1–2 new ICs per week MAX
Not every day — let IVR guide you
3+ concurrent max across all expiries
Not every day — let IVR guide you
3+ concurrent max across all expiries
TrendIC works in any trend
Adjust strikes to be neutral
Don't fight strong trending markets
Adjust strikes to be neutral
Don't fight strong trending markets
Management rules (Golden Rules)
1
Close at 50% profit
Collected $10 credit → buy back at $5. This is non-negotiable. Research shows 50% is the optimal take-profit for risk-adjusted returns.
2
Close at 21 DTE (hard rule)
Even if not at 50% profit. Close at 21 DTE to avoid gamma risk. Open a fresh IC at 45 DTE the same day.
3
Roll at 2× loss
Position worth 2× original credit → roll out 30 days for additional credit (not for debit). Never roll for a debit.
4
Max loss = close, no hero trades
If 21 DTE arrives and position is at max loss → close it. The next IC will recover. Don't double down.
Concurrent positions
1
2
3
4×
Max 3 concurrent 45DTE ICs across different expiries.
Expected move Live
Loading…
Entry checklist
Entry rules
Open window35–49 DTE
Delta (short)Δ16–20, below 1σ move
Width: 50 pts
Width: 50 pts
RequiredAbove 200DMA required
IVR ≥30%
Long-term trend bullish
IVR ≥30%
Long-term trend bullish
When to openAfter a pullback, not at ATH
VIX elevated (25+) = best entry
Your backtest: VIX 25-30 = 91.7% WR
VIX elevated (25+) = best entry
Your backtest: VIX 25-30 = 91.7% WR
Management
1
50% profit OR 21 DTE
Same rule as IC. Whichever comes first.
2
Roll at 2× credit loss
Roll down and out if market drops through your strikes. Only for credit.
3
Max 2 concurrent BPS
Directional — correlation risk is high. Your backtest max loss $1,270 = 2 bad BPS positions without stops.
Expected move Live
Loading…
Entry rules
Open window35–49 DTE
Delta (short)Δ16–20, above 1σ move
Width: 50 pts
Width: 50 pts
RequiredBelow 200DMA preferred
IVR ≥30%, RSI >55
After extended rally
IVR ≥30%, RSI >55
After extended rally
CautionBCS in bull market = fighting trend
Your backtest: BCS max loss $2,025
Use IC instead when trend unclear
Your backtest: BCS max loss $2,025
Use IC instead when trend unclear
Management
1
50% profit OR 21 DTE
Same golden rule. Don't deviate.
2
Roll at 2× credit loss
Roll up and out if market rallies through strikes. Credit only.
3
Max 1 concurrent BCS
BCS is hardest to manage in uptrending markets. Keep exposure minimal.
Expected move Live
Loading…