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Short strangle

Neutral / rangeLimited profitUnlimited loss

Sell OTM call + put: wider profit zone than a straddle, less premium.

Payoff at expiry — live BTC example

spot 65,771
Net credit
$76.75
Max profit
$76.75
Max loss
Unlimited
Breakevens
64,723 / 66,877
Example legs (0.7 DTE front)
  • Sell 66,800 call
  • Sell 64,800 put

Entry greeks (per 1 BTC notional): Δ 0.010 · Γ -0.2977 per 1% · vega $-10.25/pt · theta $201.46/day

30-day backtest — daily expiries

real expired-contract marks · updated 2026-07-22
UnderlyingDaysWin rateAvg/dayTotalProfit factorMax DD
BTC3080%+0.108%+3.24%1.592.34%
ETH3080%+0.120%+3.59%1.324.34%

Daily-expiry replay: enter 24h before settlement at the mark close, settle at intrinsic vs the 11:00 UTC spot close. Mark fills, no fees or spread. P&L in % of entry spot per 1 unit of notional. Past performance of a mechanical replay is not indicative of future results.

How it works

Short OTM call and put: keep the credit while price stays between the strikes; risk opens beyond either wing.

When to use it

The workhorse premium-selling structure: elevated IV, a range thesis, and strikes set beyond the expected move.

Risks & management

Tail risk both sides with a much smaller credit than the straddle. Discipline on the losing side (roll or close at a multiple of credit) is the whole game.

Open in payoff builder →

Related structures

Example built from live Delta Exchange BTC marks on the nearest constructible expiry; numbers refresh with the chain. Educational content, not investment advice.