May
20
As I learn more I am tightening up my conditions for buying options, to the extent that the level of IV is precluding nearly all my potential trades (perhaps others are homing in on the same options, or perhaps volatility is generally high at the moment).
Therefore I am considering switching to vertical spreads, where the pros and cons of low/high implied volatility should cancel each other out. Do the options experts here think IV can effectively be ignored (within reason) if one uses the spreads instead of the single options?
I've seen a lot of charts today, but been unable to set foot in any of them, and hope to ameliorate this situation tomorrow.
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"Do the options experts here think IV can effectively be ignored (within reason) if one uses the spreads instead of the single options?"
Not at all. IV can never be ignored whether you are buying or selling options. Its inexorably linked to time decay. No matter the spread you choose, IV will be the determining factor on whether you win or lose money.
If you buy a much higher vol than when you sell it, you will either lose or not make anywhere near as much as you thought you would make even if price moves to your strike.