A Risk Reversal is perhaps the ideal strategy for a directional trade that is more forging than a long option or vertical spread. By strategically placing a long vertical call spread and a short put spread (or the reverse), traders mitigate volatility, skew and time premium risk associated with a directional trade such as a vertical spread, while allowing a huge room for the market to move in the wrong direction without a loss. That doesn’t happen with a long call or put spread.
The key to this trade is the correct selection of strike prices, width of vertical spreads, expiration dates, and adjustment/hedging techniques. Perhaps this is why so many large traders and firms use this strategy as a speculation and hedging tool.
This is a strategy we are going to be using very often in POT classes during this low volatility environment that is frustrating most traders. Why? It can implemented in any market condition, and it ideal for overbought and over sold market conditions.
About the Salepage
We teach stock, options, index, and futures trading with real strategies used by pros. Our instructors—retired floor traders and fund managers—offer transparent, hands-on training through classes, webinars, and workshops.
Unlike others, STRATAGEM shows every trade, win or loss. No cherry-picking—just honest, practical lessons that build real trading skills.
About the Author
Scott (aka JL Lord) is a retired floor trader (CBOE) with over 20 years of extensive experience and expertise in leading others in their trading education journey on the subtleties of stock, commodity, currency, index and option trading.
He rose to prominence as the lead instructor/head trader for option education companies such as TradeSecrets, Optionetics, and Random Walk. His many accolades and accomplishments include authoring over 15 books, textbooks and course manuals under the nom de plume J.L. Lord.