Explore every episode of the podcast Stock Market Options Trading

Why would an SPX options trader purposely choose a lower win-rate strategy?

In Episode 200 of the Stock Market Options Trading Podcast, I break down my recent SPX 0DTE trading results and explain why win rate alone can be misleading. Over the past couple of months, these strategies have produced a 59.4% win rate, but the bigger story is the risk/reward: an average winner of $188 versus an average loser of $158 per lot. Pasted text

We’ll look at why I’ve shifted away from relying on traditional high-probability, far-OTM credit spreads for mechanical trades and toward defined-risk SPX strategies with more balanced risk/reward. A lower win rate can be much easier to tolerate when one loss doesn’t wipe out several previous winners. Pasted text

Then I walk through a recent premarket SPX iron condor where I used gamma exposure (GEX) to help select my strikes. With SPX expected to open relatively flat and trading in a positive gamma environment, I used the 7750 and 7785 gamma levels as the short strikes of the iron condor. Pasted text

The trade was opened about an hour before the market opened for a $4.50 credit and closed roughly 20 minutes after the open for $3.65, capturing $0.85 as opening premium came out while SPX remained inside the expected range. Pasted text

Topics covered: SPX 0DTE options, lower win-rate strategies, risk/reward and expectancy, defined-risk options trading, iron condors, premarket options trading, gamma exposure (GEX), gamma support and resistance, strike selection, and systematic SPX trading.

For educational purposes only. Not financial advice.

📊 SPX 0DTE Strategies from this video:

• EOD Iron Condor Strategy: https://www.alphacrunching.com/blog/end-of-day-iron-condor-a-simple-mechanical-strategy-for-spx-0dte

• EOD Put Debit Spread Strategy: https://www.alphacrunching.com/blog/spx-end-of-day-put-debit-spread-strategy-rules-backtest-and-automation

🤖 Automate the Strategies with PeakBot Automate the same Alpha Crunching trade setups covered in this episode: https://AlphaCrunching.Peakbot.com

📈 Join the Alpha Crunching Community Get our trade setups, SPX trading tools, alerts, research, and access to a community of traders focused on systematic options trading: https:/AlphaCrunching.com

Can gamma exposure (GEX) help identify better entry points for scalping SPX 0DTE credit spreads?

In this episode of the Stock Market Options Trading podcast, Eric O'Rourke from Alpha Crunching breaks down a real SPX call credit spread scalp using gamma exposure to identify potential support and resistance levels.

Rather than focusing on the textbook definition of gamma exposure and dealer hedging, we're looking at how to actually use GEX data to make trading decisions.

Eric walks through a trade taken on September 21, showing exactly what the gamma exposure chart looked like at entry, why the 7700 and 7725 SPX levels mattered, and how a relatively small pullback created an opportunity to capture approximately 30% of the original credit in about 30 minutes.

Access the Gamma Exposure & Market Analysis Platform:

https://alphacrunching.sensamarket.com/

Alpha Crunching has partnered with SensaMarket to bring retail traders affordable access to powerful market analysis tools, including gamma exposure, options flow, charting, options modeling, and more.

• How to use SPX gamma exposure (GEX) to identify potential intraday support and resistance.
• Why positive gamma and large gamma exposure nodes can help define a potential trading range.
• How to identify opportunities for contrarian call and put credit spread scalps.
• Why Eric prefers selling 10-point-wide SPX credit spreads and targeting approximately 30% of the premium collected.
• A real 0DTE call credit spread trade: selling the 7735 call spread for approximately $1.75 and closing near $1.20.
• Why gamma exposure levels can change throughout the trading day and why not every market condition presents a trade.

We also take a broader look at SPX market conditions, longer-term gamma exposure levels, the economic calendar, and upcoming Federal Reserve speakers.

The idea isn't to predict every market move or hold a credit spread until expiration.

Instead, we're looking for potential support and resistance levels using gamma exposure, waiting for SPX to approach those areas, and entering defined-risk credit spreads with the goal of capturing a relatively small move.

In this example, SPX was trading near 7725, where gamma exposure suggested potential resistance. Eric sold an out-of-the-money call credit spread and closed it after a small pullback and some time decay.

It's a practical example of combining options market data, trade structure, and disciplined profit-taking.

Learn more about systematic SPX options trading:

https://alphacrunching.com/

Join Alpha Crunching for backtested SPX trading strategies, automated trade alerts, market statistics, and our options trading community.

New episodes of the Stock Market Options Trading podcast are published every Monday after the market close. Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

For educational purposes only. Options trading involves risk, including the potential loss of the entire amount at risk on a spread. Historical results and individual trade examples do not guarantee future performance.

#SPX #0DTE #GammaExposure #GEX #CreditSpreads #OptionsTrading #SPXOptions #OptionScalping

Resources mentioned in this video:

The Money Show: https://orlando.moneyshow.com/?scode=068013

Historical Gamma Indicator: https://alphacrunching.sensamarket.com

Alpha Crunching Trading Community, Research, Tools: https://www.alphacrunching.com

In this episode of the Stock Market Options Trading Podcast, I break down another 0DTE XSP trade that I was able to convert into a risk-free position—but this time, I spend more time on the market analysis behind the entries.

I’ll show how I used Historical Net Gamma Exposure (GEX) to identify an important SPX gamma level around 7,600, look for potential mean reversion, and time multiple credit spread entries. We’ll walk through how the trade evolved from an in-the-money call credit spread, into a reverse iron condor, and eventually into a position with multiple potential profit zones and no remaining downside risk beyond commissions.

We’ll also discuss why I’m experimenting with XSP for these trades, how gamma levels can change throughout the trading day, and why I view GEX as another indicator—not something that should be traded blindly.

In this episode: Trading 0DTE XSP before the regular market open Using Historical GEX to identify potential SPX levels Turning a profitable credit spread into a reverse iron condor Adding an iron butterfly around a major gamma level Creating wider profit zones instead of simply closing a winning trade Why gamma exposure is context—not a standalone trading signal Managing a volatile 0DTE trading day while reducing risk

I’ll also be speaking about SPX 0DTE options trading at the Traders Expo / Orlando MoneyShow, October 5–7. If you’re attending, I’d love to meet you in person. Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors.

This content is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice.

In this week’s Stock Market Options Trading Podcast, I break down an XSP 0DTE trade I entered at the market open and how I was able to turn the position into a risk-free trade after the market moved in my favor.

We’ll walk through the trade structure, why I started with an in-the-money call credit spread, and how adding the opposing spread converted the position into an Iron Condor with no remaining downside risk.

I also take a first look at CBOE’s newer Magnificent 10 Index (MGTN), an equal-weighted index featuring the Magnificent 7 plus Broadcom, Palantir, and AMD. We’ll look at why cash-settled index options are interesting for traders, along with the biggest issue with MGTN right now: liquidity.

Plus, this week’s episode covers:

• The current SPX market setup and important gamma levels

• What I’m watching as the market trades below 7700

• This week’s major economic and employment reports

• Tuesday’s SPX Opening Range Breakout statistics

• The return of the X Files segment

The goal is always the same: use data, backtesting, and market statistics to find practical ways to trade the S&P 500 and index options.

📊 Learn more about Alpha Crunching and our SPX trading tools, research, trade setups, and community at AlphaCrunching.com.

New episodes of the Stock Market Options Trading Podcast are posted every Monday after the market close.

#SPX #0DTE #OptionsTrading #XSP #StockMarket #SP500 #IronCondor

📊 Trade These SPX Setups With Us

The strategies discussed in this episode are part of the Alpha Crunching Trade Setups, where we use backtesting and market data to build a portfolio of mechanical SPX strategies.

Members get access to:

• Weekly rules-based SPX Trade Setups
• Live trade alerts in the Alpha Crunching Discord
• SPX trading tools and market statistics
• Strategy discussion and live trading chat
• Automation options for select strategies

The goal is simple: data-driven SPX trading with repeatable rules and less time watching charts.

👉 Learn more and join at AlphaCrunching.com

What happens when you stop looking for the “best” SPX trading strategy and start thinking in terms of a portfolio of strategies?

In Episode 196, I break down four mechanical SPX strategies based purely on the math — without focusing on the actual strategy or setup.

We compare:

• Trade frequency
• Win rate
• Average winner
• Average loser
• Expectancy
• Risk/reward

The differences are significant. One strategy wins just 35% of the time, while others win more than 70%. But higher win rates come with their own trade-offs, including larger average losses.

The interesting part comes when we combine all four.

Instead of relying on one strategy that might go weeks without a trade or experience a losing streak, the different mathematical profiles can complement each other and produce a much smoother overall P&L curve.

The goal isn't necessarily to find the highest win rate or the perfect strategy. It's to build a collection of positive-expectancy trades that can work together over time.

Would you trade a strategy with only a 35% win rate if it improved the overall portfolio?

In this week's Stock Market Options Trading Podcast, we're looking at an interesting SPX pattern: Mondays have produced the strongest average S&P 500 returns so far in 2026.

Here's the video version: https://youtu.be/mM8y3koyL5A

That lines up with a rules-based strategy I've recently added back into the Alpha Crunching trade setups — a Friday 3DTE SPX put credit spread designed to take advantage of bullish market conditions heading into the weekend.

In this episode:

• The Friday 3DTE SPX put credit spread and its 4-year backtest
• Why a simple 3-day moving average filter matters
• The surprising strength of Mondays in 2026
• How the strategy fits into a diversified SPX options portfolio
• FOMC Minutes and this week's economic calendar
• Why markets are already looking ahead to Jackson Hole
• SPX gamma levels, including the 7900 call wall
• The employment data I'm watching this week

The goal isn't to predict where SPX goes next. It's to use data, backtesting and market statistics to identify potential edges and build repeatable trading strategies around them.

Alpha Crunching:

https://alphacrunching.com

Follow me on X:

@OptionAssassin

New episodes every Monday.

#SPX #OptionsTrading #SP500 #0DTE #OptionsStrategy #StockMarket #Trading

In Episode 194 of the Stock Market Options Trading Podcast, we take a data-driven look at the S&P 500, SPX options, gamma levels, opening range breakouts, and a mechanical 0DTE Iron Condor strategy.

We start with lumber prices after an 11-day losing streak and discuss what falling lumber prices may—or may not—be signaling about housing and the broader economy.

Then we turn to SPX and an important question for options traders: Do gamma levels lead the market, or does price lead gamma? We look at call walls, put walls, the gamma flip, and why I view gamma levels as useful context rather than a standalone prediction of where the S&P 500 is headed.

We also review some interesting SPX 0DTE Opening Range Breakout (ORB) data. Tuesday's 30-minute opening range has recently shown strong historical results following both upside and downside breakouts, creating some interesting possibilities for credit spreads and other intraday options strategies.

Finally, I share a mechanical 0DTE SPX Iron Condor strategy we've been trading and tracking at Alpha Crunching, including how the setup works and where you can review the backtest and strategy details.

📊 0DTE Iron Condor Strategy & Backtest:

https://www.alphacrunching.com/blog/end-of-day-iron-condor-a-simple-mechanical-strategy-for-spx-0dte

In this episode:

• Lumber prices and the economic outlook

• SPX near all-time highs

• SPX gamma levels, call walls and put walls

• Does gamma lead price or react to price?

• 0DTE Opening Range Breakout statistics

• Tuesday's 30-minute SPX ORB setup

• Mechanical 0DTE Iron Condor strategy

• Using historical data to improve options trading decisions

The Stock Market Options Trading Podcast is a weekly show focused on data-driven options trading, SPX strategies, backtesting, mechanical trading systems, and practical ideas designed to help traders become more consistent.

New episodes are posted Mondays around the market close.

Subscribe on YouTube or follow the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts to catch each week's episode.

#SPX #OptionsTrading #0DTE #SPXOptions #Gamma #IronCondor #OpeningRangeBreakout #StockMarket #TradingStrategies

In this week's episode of the Stock Market Options Trading Podcast, Eric O'Rourke takes a data-driven look at the markets, reviews the latest SPX price action, discusses key economic events for the week, and shares insights from a high-probability options strategy currently being traded and tracked.

Whether you're an experienced options trader or looking to improve your trading process, this episode focuses on risk management, mechanical trading, backtesting, and consistency rather than predicting market direction.

• Why even billion-dollar hedge funds can fail from excessive leverage
• SPX market update following the latest geopolitical headlines
• Gamma levels, put walls, call walls, and what they may signal
• Key economic events this week:
• JOLTS Job Openings
• ADP Employment Report
• Weekly Jobless Claims
• Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP)
• Why oil prices remain an important inflation indicator
• A breakdown of a 14 DTE SPX Iron Butterfly strategy
• How to evaluate options strategies using:
• Win rate
• Average winner vs. average loser
• Expectancy
• Position sizing
• Why diversifying across multiple options strategies can reduce risk
• A fun look at common trading myths from the "X Files" segment

Instead of chasing predictions, focus on building a portfolio of strategies with positive expectancy. A single strategy will experience losing streaks, but combining multiple backtested approaches with proper risk management can help create more consistent long-term results.

• Alpha Crunching – SPX research, reports, trading strategies, and Discord community: https://alphacrunching.com
• Option Omega – Backtesting and options strategy development (use code SMOT for a discount)
• Follow Eric on X: @OptionAssassin

New episodes are released weekly covering:

• SPX market outlook
• Options trading education
• Mechanical trading strategies
• Backtesting concepts
• Risk management
• Trading psychology
• Data-driven market analysis

If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps the channel reach more traders looking for a systematic approach to options trading.

#OptionsTrading #SPX #StockMarket #OptionSelling #IronButterfly #OptionOmega #TradingStrategies #RiskManagement #Backtesting #MechanicalTrading #0DTE #SwingTrading #MarketAnalysis #GammaLevels #OptionsEducation

This week on Stock Market Options Trading, Eric O'Rourke and Brian Terry break down the latest market action following geopolitical headlines, discuss why the recent SPX rally continues to stall, and share several option trading ideas they're watching this week.

Topics covered include:

• Why the latest SPX gap higher failed and what it says about market sentiment
• Current gamma levels and key support/resistance zones
• This week's major economic events, including the FOMC meeting, GDP, PCE, and Consumer Confidence
• Why intraday trend trading has become more challenging in recent weeks
• New research showing stronger end-of-day trading opportunities
• Eric's updated 0DTE trading approach and end-of-day Iron Condor strategy
• Brian's QQQ and Micron (MU) broken-wing put butterfly trades
• Managing defined-risk option strategies during volatile markets

Whether you're trading SPX, QQQ, or individual stocks, this episode explores how current market conditions are changing the way we approach options trading and risk management.

Resources Mentioned

► Alpha Crunching: https://alphacrunching.com

► Stock Market Options Trading Podcast: https://www.stockmarketoptionstrading.net

If you enjoy systematic options trading, backtesting, and weekly market analysis, be sure to subscribe for new episodes every week.

#SPX #OptionsTrading #StockMarket #0DTE #SPXOptions #Gamma #FOMC #IronCondor #QQQ #Micron #TradingPodcast

In this episode of the Stock Market Options Trading Podcast, Eric O'Rourke and Brian Terry discuss the current SPX market environment, why June was a difficult month for many options traders, and what they're watching as earnings season begins.

Topics include:

• SPX support and resistance using call wall and put wall analysis
• How gamma positioning may impact short-term market direction
• CPI, PPI, Federal Reserve commentary, and potential interest rate scenarios
• Why financial stocks could lead the next market move
• SpaceX (SPCX) options, covered calls, cash-secured puts, and long-term investing ideas
• Current 0DTE SPX credit spread trades and managing risk during volatile markets
• How to approach trading during headline-driven markets

Whether you trade SPX 0DTE options, swing trades, or longer-term option strategies, this episode shares practical insights on navigating today's market conditions.

📊 Learn more about Alpha Crunching's SPX research, backtested strategies, Discord community, and market reports:

https://alphacrunching.com

🎙️ Follow Brian Terry and Conservative Options Income Network:

https://stockmarketoptionstrading.net

#SPX #OptionsTrading #SPXOptions #0DTE #StockMarket #EarningsSeason #FederalReserve #CPI #Gamma #CreditSpreads #CoveredCalls #CashSecuredPuts #Investing #SwingTrading #SpaceX

In Part 3 of this series on building an automated SPX 0DTE portfolio, we explore the final strategy we've added to our growing mix of high-frequency, positive expectancy trades: the 30-minute Opening Range Breakout (ORB) Call Debit Spread.

In previous episodes, we discussed the Trend Spread Engine (TSE) credit spreads and the End-of-Day Put Debit Spread (PDS). In this episode, we look at how the ORB strategy adds another layer of diversification by introducing a different combination of win rate, risk/reward, and market conditions.

Topics discussed include:

• Why combining strategies with different win rates and risk/reward profiles matters
• The mechanics of a 30-minute Opening Range Breakout strategy
• Why we're only trading upside ORBs above the 5-day moving average
• The importance of trade frequency and automation
• Using one-minute confirmation for more consistent execution
• How portfolio construction can reduce drawdowns and improve consistency
• Why position sizing matters more than any individual trade outcome

📈 30-Minute ORB Call Debit Spread Strategy

https://www.alphacrunching.com/blog/30-minute-opening-range-breakout-orb-30-a-mechanical-0dte-call-debit-spread-strategy

📉 End-of-Day Put Debit Spread Strategy

https://www.alphacrunching.com/blog/spx-end-of-day-put-debit-spread-strategy-rules-backtest-and-automation

📈TSE (Trend Spread Engine) 0DTE Credit Spread Strategy

https://www.alphacrunching.com/blog/spx-0dte-credit-spread-strategy-using-time-trend-and-strike-selection

Get access to SPX trade research, weekly backtested trade setups, real-time alerts, automation options, and our growing community of SPX traders.

👉 https://alphacrunching.com

Use coupon code SPX50 for 50% off your first year.

The Opening Range Breakout (ORB) is one of the most widely used day trading strategies across stocks, futures, and options markets. The concept is simple: traders allow the market to establish an initial trading range after the open and then look to enter positions when price breaks above or below that range, attempting to capture momentum and trend continuation throughout the trading session.

The theory behind the ORB is that the opening period often contains important information about institutional positioning, overnight sentiment, and market direction. By waiting for the market to define a range before entering, traders attempt to avoid some of the noise and volatility that typically occurs immediately after the open.

There are many variations of the ORB strategy. Traders may use opening ranges of 5, 15, 30, or 60 minutes and can trade breakouts in either direction using shares, futures, or options strategies. Additional filters such as trend direction, moving averages, volatility measures, volume, or market internals are often incorporated to improve performance and adapt the strategy to different market conditions.

In this episode, we discuss how the ORB concept can be applied to SPX 0DTE options trading, how different risk/reward profiles impact performance, and why systematic execution and automation can play an important role when trading high-frequency strategies.

In this episode, Eric continues the Automated Strategy Pipeline series by tackling one of the most misunderstood topics in trading: win rate.

Many traders evaluate a strategy based on a single number: the percentage of winning trades. But a high win rate alone doesn't tell you whether a strategy is profitable, scalable, or even worth trading.

Using real examples from his own SPX trading portfolio, Eric explains why win rate, average win, average loss, expectancy, and risk reward all work together to determine a strategy's long-term performance.

Topics discussed include:

• Why win rate by itself can be misleading

• The relationship between win rate, average win, and average loss

• Why a 30% win rate strategy can still have positive expectancy

• The differences between credit spreads and debit spreads

• How combining strategies with different risk/reward profiles may smooth portfolio returns

• The role of trade frequency in systematic trading

• Why automation makes it easier to consistently execute multiple strategies

• How Alpha Crunching's new EOD Put Debit Spread complements the existing TSE 0DTE Credit Spread strategy

Eric also discusses how he is building a portfolio of automated SPX strategies designed to work together rather than relying on a single edge or market environment.

Alpha Crunching:

https://www.alphacrunching.com

🚀 Join Alpha Crunching and save 50% on your first year:

https://www.alphacrunching.com

Get weekly SPX forecasts, backtested trade ideas, trade alerts, Discord access, and research designed to help you trade with more confidence.

In Episode 188, we're kicking off a new series on strategy research, development, testing, automation, and the mindset required to trade systematic strategies successfully.

Many traders spend all their time looking for the next great trade. But what happens after you find an edge?

In this episode, Eric discusses the concept of building an automated strategy pipeline and why finding a profitable strategy is only the beginning. You'll learn why markets constantly evolve, why every strategy has strengths and weaknesses, and why relying on a single trading system can create unnecessary risk.

Topics discussed include:

• Why successful traders should always be researching and testing new ideas

• The benefits of automation beyond simply saving time

• How Alpha Crunching's TSE 0DTE credit spread strategy fits into a larger portfolio approach

• Why trade frequency matters when building confidence in a strategy

• Credit spreads vs. debit spreads and diversifying risk/reward profiles

• Building a portfolio of strategies instead of relying on a single edge

• How community feedback, backtesting, and real-world execution help improve trading systems over time

Whether you're trading manually or exploring automation, this episode will help you think differently about developing and managing trading strategies for the long term.

Alpha Crunching:

https://www.alphacrunching.com

This week on the Stock Market Options Trading Podcast, Eric O’Rourke breaks down the current SPX market pullback, key support levels, upcoming FOMC minutes, and why Nvidia earnings could be a major catalyst for the broader market and AI trade.

Eric also shares how the recent uptrend has continued to favor SPX put credit spreads, how the Alpha Crunching 7-day strategy has been performing, and what traders should be watching heading into the summer market environment.

Topics include:

• SPX support and resistance levels
• Nvidia earnings and AI stock momentum
• FOMC minutes and interest rate expectations
• Zero gamma and put wall discussion
• Trading SPX put credit spreads in an uptrend
• Managing profits and pullbacks
• Current market sentiment and positioning

📈 Learn more about Alpha Crunching:

Alpha Crunching

🔥 Get 50% Off Your First Year of Alpha Crunching

Use code: SPX50

Inside Alpha Crunching you'll find:

• Weekly SPX trade ideas
• 0DTE TSE trade alerts
• Backtested options strategies
• Discord community & live discussion
• SPX market forecasts and research

👉 Alpha Crunching (SPX data, trade ideas & alerts): https://alphacrunching.com

👉 Conservative Options Income Network (Brian Terry): https://stockmarketoptionstrading.net

In this episode, Eric sits down with returning guest Brian Terry from the Conservative Options Income Network to break down what’s shaping up to be another interesting week in the market.

With the S&P pushing toward new highs—even with ongoing geopolitical headlines in the background—we talk through what that actually means for traders right now and how we’re positioning around it.

We cover:

• Why this market still feels “underinvested” for a lot of traders
• Brian’s recent synthetic stock trade and how he’s using options for leverage
• Eric’s latest SPX credit spread setups and managing risk into the weekend
• The impact of volatility, gaps, and why sometimes not trading is the best trade
• Thoughts on the potential removal of the PDT rule and what it could mean for 0DTE traders
• Balancing short-term trades with longer-term positioning in a fast-moving market

As always, this is a real-time conversation about what we’re actually seeing and trading—no hindsight, just process.

Watch the full video version of this episode:

https://youtu.be/2RgGjxUe35w?si=m1BU5TwEq973he2k

Links & Discounts:

• Option Omega → https://optionomega.com (Use code SMOT for a discount)
• Alpha Crunching → https://alphacrunching.com (Use code SPX50 for 50% off your first year)

In this episode, I sit down with Matt from Option Omega to break down how I’m using their platform to backtest and execute strategies from Alpha Crunching—with a focus on the Trend Spread Engine (TSE).

We dig into the core problem many traders are facing right now: what should I actually be trading in this market? With volatility shifting, trends changing, and many swing strategies not triggering, the goal is to find something repeatable that can be traded consistently.

That’s where the Trend Spread Engine comes in.

We walk through:

• Why high-probability spreads alone don’t create an edge
• How intraday time-of-day + trend + strike selection changes outcomes
• The idea of tracking trades every 15 minutes to uncover intraday seasonality
• Using a rolling 90-day dataset to adapt to changing market conditions
• How I turn that data into actual trades using Option Omega

We also get into real examples of how certain time slots (like 10:30am vs 11:30am) rotate in and out of effectiveness—and how that impacts execution week to week.

If you’re trading SPX options—or trying to build a more mechanical, data-driven approach—this is a great behind-the-scenes look at how I’m thinking about strategy development right now.

In this episode, Eric and Brian Terry break down a market that just won’t quit—despite geopolitical tension, rising oil, and a packed economic calendar. With the S&P 500 hovering near all-time highs, the conversation dives into positioning, risk management, and where the real opportunities might be right now.

• 🌐 Alpha Crunching: https://alphacrunching.com
• 🎧 Stock Market Options Trading Podcast: https://stockmarketoptionstrading.net
• 💬 Join the Discord Community: (included with Alpha Crunching subscription)
• 📊 Weekly TSE Report & Trade Setups: Available inside Alpha Crunching

This week’s discussion centers around a tricky market environment—strong momentum on the surface, but plenty of uncertainty underneath.

• The market rallied over 4% last week and continues to hold near highs, even with rising oil and geopolitical concerns
• Key events this week include retail sales, PMI data, and a major appearance from the incoming Fed Chair
• Despite potential volatility, the market continues to show resilience, with dips getting bought quickly

Eric shares how he’s navigating this environment:

• Sitting on higher cash levels after covered calls were assigned
• Looking for pullbacks to re-enter long positions or potentially deploy collar strategies
• Increasing focus on SPX 0DTE trades for short-term opportunities with defined risk

Brian walks through a practical hedge idea using a broken wing butterfly on QQQ, highlighting:

• Favorable risk/reward structure
• Ability to profit even in downside scenarios
• A flexible way to hedge without tying up large capital

• Short-term uncertainty, long-term bullish tone continues to define the market
• Many traders are holding cash, which could fuel continued dip-buying
• 0DTE trading is gaining traction, especially with potential changes to PDT rules making it more accessible
• Gamma levels and options positioning suggest possible resistance near current levels, but nothing is guaranteed

Eric discusses leaning more into:

• Mechanical 0DTE credit spreads using the Trend Spread Engine (TSE)
• Staying active even when swing strategies aren’t triggering
• Using data-driven timing, trend, and strike selection to find edge intraday

Available on:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• And all major podcast platforms

If you’re looking to stay active in this kind of market, this episode is a solid mix of macro perspective and actionable strategy ideas.

🔗 Links & Resources

👉 Alpha Crunching (SPX Options): https://alphacrunching.com

👉 Brian Terry’s COIN Group: https://www.stockmarketoptionstrading.net

👉 Podcast Episodes: https://www.stockmarketoptionstrading.com

👉Latest YouTube video: https://youtu.be/qe_F_GE5Pqo

In this episode, Eric O’Rourke and Brian Terry break down a wild stretch in the S&P 500, with the market ripping higher despite ongoing macro uncertainty and headline-driven volatility.

They dig into what’s actually driving the move, why traditional indicators like the 200-day moving average aren’t carrying the same weight, and how traders can navigate a market that’s shifting quickly between fear and momentum.

You’ll also hear insights on:

• Why this rally may be more about positioning than fundamentals
• The role of contrarian indicators like the put/call ratio and fear index
• How short-term options traders are adapting in this environment
• Real trade examples and how risk/reward is being managed right now

If you’re trading SPX options or just trying to make sense of this market, this episode gives you a grounded, real-time perspective from two active traders.

Trading is better when you’re not going it alone—plug into the communities above to stay connected and keep improving.

In this episode of the Stock Market Options Trading podcast, host Eric O'Rourke breaks down three key reasons why a potential short-term bottom may be forming in the market.

Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and recent volatility, Eric walks through the signals that suggest the market may be stabilizing—and possibly preparing for a move higher.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why dip buyers stepping in during negative news could signal strength
• What the recent drop in the VIX tells us about market sentiment
• How stronger-than-expected economic data is influencing market direction
• Why the market may already be looking past current headlines
• How short-term traders can think about longer-term market positioning

Eric also shares an important perspective on how the stock market tends to look months ahead—something many short-term traders often overlook.

Whether you're trading SPX options or just trying to understand current market conditions, this episode offers a practical, data-driven view of what might come next.

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Alpha Crunching (SPX trading tools, data, and community): https://alphacrunching.com
• Stock Market Options Trading: https://www.stockmarketoptionstrading.net

About the Host:

Eric O’Rourke is the founder of Alpha Crunching, a growing community focused on data-driven SPX options trading strategies. Through research, backtesting, and real-time tools, Alpha Crunching helps traders identify high-probability opportunities in short-duration trades.

Brian Terry’s Conservative Options Income Group: https://www.stockmarketoptionstrading.net

Eric O’Rourke’s SPX Trading Community:

https://www.alphacrunching.com

Trading in a community gives you perspective, shared ideas, and support—far better than trying to figure it all out on your own.

In this episode, Eric O’Rourke is joined by Brian Terry to break down how they’re navigating a highly volatile, headline-driven market. With uncertainty tied to global events and sharp intraday reversals, both emphasize that sometimes the best trade is no trade at all—and that sitting in cash can be a strategic edge.

Brian shares how he’s staying active by focusing on strength in the energy sector, using diagonal call strategies and poor man’s covered calls on oil-related stocks showing relative strength. Rather than changing strategy structures, he explains how simply rotating into stronger sectors can maintain a bullish or neutral approach even in a weak market.

Eric contrasts this with his SPX-focused approach, where many bullish credit spread strategies are no longer triggering. He discusses why “flipping” strategies (e.g., turning put spreads into call spreads) doesn’t always work, based on backtesting results. Instead, he’s adapting through shorter-duration trades, including 0DTE trend-based spreads, while being more selective—especially on volatile gap days.

Check this Video: https://youtu.be/WLNR_5wf6YI

They also dive into:

• The impact of extreme intraday reversals on short-term trading
• Why timing (like the 10:30am window) can improve probabilities
• Adjusting position sizing and exposure during uncertain conditions
• Using moving averages (like the 100 and 200-day) to manage longer-term portfolios
• The challenge of knowing when to re-enter after going to cash

The episode wraps with a key reminder: markets like this require flexibility, patience, and discipline. You don’t need to force trades—wait for conditions to improve and protect capital so you’re ready when opportunities return.

In this episode, Eric O’Rourke is joined by Brian Terry from the Conservative Options Income Network (COIN) to break down a recent SPX iron condor trade that caught attention for its unusually wide structure.

With volatility elevated and market conditions shifting, Brian walks through how he constructed a 7-day iron condor nearly 600 points wide—while still keeping defined risk and a high probability of success. The discussion covers how iron condors work, why wider strikes can make sense in high VIX environments, and how to think about risk, adjustments, and profit targets.

They also dive into:

1. Why Brian targets ~50% profit and exits early
2. How to manage trades when one side gets challenged
3. The pros and cons of rolling vs. closing one side
4. Using iron condors as a “campaign” strategy in volatile markets
5. The role of discretion vs. systematic trading

Eric also shares how this type of neutral strategy can complement Alpha Crunching systems, especially when bullish setups are paused during bearish market conditions.

If you’ve ever wondered how to trade iron condors in volatile markets—or how to stay active when directional strategies aren’t triggering—this episode is packed with practical insights.

👉 Learn more about Alpha Crunching and join the community: https://alphacrunching.com

👉 Check out Brian’s COIN alerts: https://stockmarketoptiontrading.net

Want to trade SPX 0DTE with a proven system instead of guessing?

Alpha Crunching gives you the tools, alerts, and community to do it.

👉 Try it today and take 50% off with code SPX50 at AlphaCrunching.com

In this episode, Eric O’Rourke breaks down a practical question many options traders ask: what does it actually take to make $100 per day selling options?

Using real SPX credit spread examples, Eric walks through different ways traders approach profit targets—from letting spreads expire worthless to taking profits early—and why focusing only on percentage returns (like 50%) can be misleading. He explains how spread width, contract sizing, commissions, and capital requirements all play a role in reaching consistent daily income goals.

You’ll hear the trade-offs between:

1. Selling narrower vs. wider spreads
2. Taking profits early vs. holding to expiration
3. Increasing contracts vs. increasing risk per trade
4. Moving further out of the money for higher probability setups

Eric also shares how he’s been adjusting his own approach, including using wider spreads and targeting fixed dollar profits per trade, along with how tools like the Trend Spread Engine (TSE) fit into decision-making.

If you're looking to better understand the mechanics behind generating consistent income with SPX credit spreads—without overcomplicating the strategy—this episode lays out the key concepts.

👉 Learn more and explore strategies at AlphaCrunching.com

Join a growing community of SPX traders using data-driven tools and real-time alerts.

In this episode of the Stock Market Options Trading Podcast, Eric explains an idea that comes up frequently in the SPX trading community: the difference between market conditions and trading signals—and why that distinction matters when trading credit spreads.

Many traders use indicators like moving averages or trend indicators strictly for buy or sell signals, such as a moving average crossover. But when trading premium strategies like credit spreads, Eric explains why it can be more effective to evaluate market conditions instead. For example, a simple condition like the 5-day moving average being above the 10-day moving average can indicate a bullish environment without waiting for the actual crossover signal.

Eric also shares how this concept applies to the 0DTE Trend Spread Engine, where trend is checked at set time intervals throughout the day to determine whether conditions favor bullish or bearish credit spreads—without waiting for the indicator to flip signals.

Because credit spreads benefit from time decay (theta) and only require the market to stay generally on the correct side of the trade, focusing on conditions rather than perfect timing can allow traders to increase trade frequency, trade smaller, and stay aligned with the broader market environment.

About the Host

The podcast is hosted by Eric O’Rourke, options trader and founder of Alpha Crunching, a data-driven platform and community focused on trading SPX options strategies. Inside the Alpha Crunching community, traders explore tools like the Trend Spread Engine, backtested strategies, and market condition frameworks designed to help structure credit spread trading.

Learn more about the community and tools at:

👉 https://alphacrunching.com

Before we jump in — if you want to see the tools mentioned in this episode in action, including the 0DTE Trend Spread Engine and the 1DTE Bias indicator, visit AlphaCrunching.com to learn more and join the trading community.

In this episode, Eric discusses the recent market breakdown and how current geopolitical tensions, volatility, and upcoming economic data are shaping trading decisions. With SPX experiencing sharp moves and uncertainty rising, he walks through how he’s adapting his approach and managing trades during this environment.

A major theme is market structure and key levels. Right now, gamma positioning appears scattered across large round numbers, suggesting institutional traders themselves are uncertain. As a result, Eric is watching major SPX levels every 100 points (6600, 6700, 6800, etc.) as potential support and resistance zones while the market “ping-pongs” between them.

He also reviews the macro backdrop driving volatility, including geopolitical tensions, sector rotation away from AI stocks, and a busy week of economic data with CPI, jobless claims, and PCE all ahead. These events could determine whether the market stabilizes or pushes lower toward the mid-6600s.

Eric then explains how he’s positioning his portfolio:

1. Maintaining a core SPY position while actively trading around it
2. Using covered calls and rolling positions to manage downside while leaving room for upside participation
3. Pausing many longer-duration spreads due to increased uncertainty

Much of the current trading activity has shifted toward shorter-term strategies, particularly SPX 0DTE trades.

The episode highlights how the AlphaCrunching 0DTE Trend Spread Engine (TSE) is being used in practice. The system ranks the best times of day for 0DTE spreads based on historical performance and now posts the short strike levels from the highest-probability trades. These levels act as data-backed areas where SPX has historically stayed away from by expiration, allowing traders to use them as reference points for structuring credit spreads.

Eric also introduces progress on the 1DTE Bias indicator, an experimental tool that evaluates market regimes using factors like trend behavior and VIX conditions. By comparing current conditions to historical matches over the past three years, the tool estimates the probability of the market closing higher the next day. The recent volatility spike has highlighted one of the challenges of building this model: unusual market conditions sometimes produce very small historical sample sizes.

The episode closes with an important reminder about patience and risk management. In volatile environments, it’s often better to wait for conditions to settle rather than forcing trades. Sometimes the best position is simply holding cash until clearer opportunities emerge.

Overall, this discussion provides a real-time look at how Eric is navigating a volatile market using a combination of macro awareness, probability-based levels, and adaptive options strategies.

👉 Read the Trend Spread Engine article here:

https://www.alphacrunching.com/blog/spx-0dte-options-trading-using-the-trend-spread-engine-to-find-high-probability-intraday-windows

In this episode, I expand on a concept Brian Terry shared in Episode 174 about entering iron condors one side at a time — waiting for rallies to sell calls and pullbacks to sell puts.

That idea of patience and better positioning really resonated with me… and I’ve started applying it directly to my SPX 0DTE trading.

After launching the Trend Spread Engine in Episodes 172 and 173, we’ve been tracking every 0DTE credit spread posted throughout the day and compiling weekly performance reports. We’re seeing certain morning time blocks show 90%+ expiration win rates.

But here’s the key:

High probability doesn’t mean you need to enter immediately.

Instead of chasing the alert the moment it posts, I’m marking those statistically backed strike levels on my chart and waiting for volatility to give me a better entry — either higher strikes or better credit.

In today’s volatile market, patience can mean:

1. Better distance from price
2. Higher probability positioning
3. Improved risk/reward structure
4. Less emotional trading

This applies whether you’re trading 0DTE, 7DTE, or 30+ days to expiration.

If you trade credit spreads, this episode will help you think differently about execution and timing — especially in fast-moving markets.

Referenced Episodes:

1. Episode 174 – Brian Terry’s Breakeven Iron Condor Strategy
2. Episodes 172 & 173 – Introduction to the Trend Spread Engine

As always, trade smart and manage risk.

In this episode, I’m joined by Brian Terry to break down a breakeven iron condor strategy he’s actively trading right now.

Brian walks through how he enters the call side and put side separately, targeting equal credits on each side with 7 days to expiration. The key twist? He uses a 200% stop on each side, which means if one side gets stopped out, the trade is designed to be roughly breakeven overall.

We talk through:

1. Why separating entries can improve flexibility
2. How the 200% stop changes the risk profile
3. Why this works well on SPX, and how newer traders can adapt it to SPY for smaller size
4. The mindset behind trading income strategies defensively, not emotionally

Brian runs the Conservative Options Income Network (COIN) over at https://stockmarketoptionstrading.net, where you can start a 14-day free trial and see his real trades, including the strategy discussed in this episode.

If you’re interested in structured, rules-based options income strategies, this is a great one to study.

Earnings season can be one of the biggest drivers of volatility in the stock market—and understanding how stocks behave around earnings is critical for options traders.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dan to talk about trading earnings and a tool he uses called Earnings Watcher. We break down the basics of volatility around earnings announcements, common patterns traders look for, and how Earnings Watcher helps stay organized while analyzing historical price and volatility behavior around earnings events.

Whether you actively trade earnings or just want a better understanding of how earnings impact the broader market, this conversation will help put the process into context.

🔗 Earnings Watcher: https://earnings-watcher.com/pricing_smot

In this episode, we review some early backtest results from AlphaCrunching.com's newly launched 0DTe Trend Spread Engine (TSE).

We're only 3 weeks into the stats but taking 0DTE trend spreads during the lunch hour at 12pm over the past 3 weeks has won 100% of the time. We're not expecting this type of performance to last forever but seeing this hot spots of high performance based on time of day entry is revealing some edge most traders are missing.

We would love you to join Alpha Crunching as we continue this build in public approach for SPX 0DTE Options Trading.

👉 Explore Alpha Crunching and get a discount:

https://alphacrunching.com

Discount code: SPX50 for 50% off first month or year.

🔗 Connect with Eric on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jericorourke/

In this episode, Eric breaks down the core ideas behind the 0DTE Trend Spread Engine (TSE) and how it fits into the broader Alpha Crunching philosophy of trading probabilities, not predictions.

The TSE is built to systematically identify high-probability SPX credit spread ideas by combining intraday trend, time-based structure, and defined risk. Rather than reacting to every move, the focus is on stacking small statistical edges and letting data—not emotions—drive decisions.

This episode also explains why strike selection and credits can vary, why these are trade ideas (not alerts), and how Alpha Crunching approaches options trading like an insurance business built on consistency and process.

👉 Explore Alpha Crunching and get a discount:

https://alphacrunching.com

Discount code: SPX50 for 50% off first month or year.

🔗 Connect with Eric on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jericorourke/

In this episode, we'll cover the key levels based on options positioning and the large range the S&P500 has been in since October.

We'll review the Fed's dual mandate and why so much attention is paid economic reports involving jobs, inflation, and rate cuts.

We've got some major economic events happening this week that will likely decide the next leg of the market.

In this episode, I’m walking through an SPX Iron Condor setup I’m pricing out as volatility continues to rise and the market dips below key moving averages.

Here's the link the video version: https://youtu.be/0NAAbb6bbcI

When volatility spikes, option premiums expand — and that’s when I like to sell Iron Condors on SPX for wider ranges and better credits. I’ll break down:

✅ How I’m positioning this Iron Condor between recent highs and lows

✅ Entry criteria and credit received (~$3.25 on 10-wide wings)

✅ How to calculate max profit and max loss

✅ My profit-taking plan (~30%) and adjustment ideas if SPX moves sharply

✅ Why higher VIX levels can offer better Iron Condor setups

Whether you’re learning to trade index options or refining your Iron Condor strategy, this walkthrough gives you a practical framework to plan your trades in higher volatility environments.

📊 Tools Mentioned: AlphaCrunching.com — data-driven SPX options setups and backtested strategies.

🎯 Related Topics:

SPX Iron Condor strategy for volatile markets

SPX options trading explained

Selling premium when VIX spikes

Managing Iron Condors and rolling spreads

#SPX #IronCondor #OptionsTrading #Volatility #SPXOptions #AlphaCrunching #SPXStrategies #TradingSPX #VIX #OptionsIncome

In this episode, Brian shares his LEAP call strategy — a flexible options approach that uses long-dated calls as a stock substitute while selling weekly calls for steady income. He breaks down real trade examples on NVIDIA, Google, and other names, showing how the strategy can generate solid returns with less capital than owning shares outright.

You’ll hear how Brian manages exits, adjusts when short calls get breached, and keeps risk in check even when the market moves against him.

👉 Follow Brian over at stockmarketoptionstrading.net

💬 You can also get his trade alerts inside Alpha Traders Club to see this strategy in action.

In this episode, Eric and Brian kick off the week with a look at the SPX options market, recent price action, and key gamma levels heading into FOMC week. Eric recaps his recent put credit spread trades from Alpha Crunching, discusses how he’s managing new positions into record highs, and explains how he’s balancing bullish exposure with call credit spreads and discretionary hedges. The conversation also covers upcoming events—including major tech earnings from Apple, Microsoft, and Google—and how they might influence market sentiment.

Brian shares a practical example of a LEAPS diagonal trade on AVGO that’s been profitable even without much price movement, illustrating how selling weekly calls can generate consistent income against a long-dated call. The two also discuss covered call timing, hedging approaches, and using instruments like SSO to gain leveraged exposure with less capital.

🎧 Whether you’re trading SPX spreads or building income strategies with diagonals and covered calls, this episode offers a mix of mechanical systems and discretionary risk management ideas you can apply right away.

👉 Join the next live session at stockmarketoptionstrading.net or inside the Alpha Crunching Discord.

In this episode, Brian breaks down a bullish put diagonal strategy he’s been testing on individual stocks — a twist on the traditional diagonal that behaves more like a cash-secured put with built-in protection. He explains how he buys a longer-dated put and sells weekly puts against it to steadily collect premium, manage risk, and generate consistent returns.

You’ll hear examples from trades in Google, AMAT, and Bank of America, plus how he handles adjustments when prices move.

👉 Join us for the next live Zoom or meetup at StockMarketOptionTrading.net to see more strategies like this in action.

Want backtested SPX strategies before the trading week begins? Use code SPX50 at AlphaCrunching.com to get started with a 50% discount.

👉 Join us live every Monday at StockMarketOptionsTrading.net to be part of the next Zoom call and get your questions answered in real time.

📈 Market Recap & Trading Lessons:

🚀 Big rebound after last week’s 200-point SPX drop — market shakes off China tariff and shutdown worries

🍏 Apple headlines and possible government deal spark optimism

📊 Moving averages still recovering — 5-day hasn’t crossed back above 10-day yet

🧠 Eric explains how one huge candle can distort technical indicators short-term

💰 Shows an Iron Condor entered during the volatility spike — wide wings, 25% profit target

⚡ Volatility crush helped profits as VIX cooled off

📉 Trend-following strategies paused last week but could resume if short-term averages recover

❌ Reminder: selling call spreads during downtrends doesn’t backtest well — stick to data-driven setups

🔗 Check out all backtested trade setups at AlphaCrunching.com for this week’s SPX strategies

🎯 Get 50% off AlphaCrunching.com with code SPX50 — your edge for data-driven SPX option strategies.

In this episode, Eric O’Rourke breaks down what happens when an uptrend breaks — and how traders can stay grounded when volatility spikes. He covers the recent tariff shock, key SPX levels to watch (6650–6800), and why the market’s recovery above the volume trigger could signal renewed bullish momentum.

Eric also discusses risk management in trend-following strategies, explains how short-term setbacks fit within high-win-rate systems, and shares insights from the latest Alpha Crunching forecast showing a cautious but stabilizing market outlook.

Want to join our next Live Zoom call?

Check out our Events calendar. It's free to join.

https://www.stockmarketoptionstrading.net/events

In this episode of the Stock Market Options Trading Podcast, Eric dives into the concept of expectancy—a key metric that blends win rate, average win size, and average loss size into one number that helps traders understand whether a strategy has a real edge over the long run.

We break down why a high win rate alone doesn’t guarantee profits (think 98% win rate ads…), and how expectancy provides better context by showing how much you can expect to make or lose per trade on average. Eric also shares updates inside Alpha Crunching: the Trade Ideas tab now includes expectancy alongside win rate, giving subscribers deeper insight when sorting potential setups for the week.

You’ll also hear about future enhancements—like adding average win and loss values—so traders can better gauge risk-reward and decide which setups fit their personal style.

👉 Try Alpha Crunching for yourself and get 50% off your first month here: https://alphacrunching.com

This episode centers on navigating markets at all-time highs after last week’s FOMC head-fake. We discuss how to balance staying long with reducing risk, trimming SPX put-credit spreads, and the trade-offs of skipping entries during volatile weeks.

Brian joins to walk through his weekend watchlist and three core income strategies: in-the-money covered calls, poor man’s covered calls (diagonals), and broken-wing butterflies—including how he manages risk, targets returns, and selects trades. We also cover SPY covered calls vs. selling puts, an update on Intel’s surprise breakout, and practical ways to use mechanical strategies like Alpha Crunching’s Thursday PCS setup.

Symbols mentioned: SPX, SPY, ETSY, BABA, RKLB, INTC.

Join us for another live session of the Stock Market Options Trading Podcast with Eric and co-host Brian as we dive into trading SPY options. We start by comparing SPY vs SPX — looking at the key differences in contract size, settlement style, tax treatment, and liquidity.

Brian also shares details on his Delta Neutral “double diagonal” strategy with SPY, walking through trade setups, adjustments, and lessons learned from managing the position. We cover how rolling strikes works, how IV impacts results, and why this approach may fit best in lower-volatility environments.

Eric wraps up by discussing how he’s using covered calls on SPY as a way to generate income and manage positions during the current market uptrend.

👉 If you want to join future sessions live, visit https://stockmarketoptionstrading.net and check the Events tab for schedules and Zoom links. Replays are always posted here on the YouTube channel.

🎁 50% OFF: Option Omega (code SMOT) • Alpha Crunching (code SPX50) — grab both and build + automate your SPX playbook.

This episode is a fun, nerdy deep-dive with Troy and Matt from Option Omega. We cover how to build realistic backtests for options (especially 0DTE) and when it makes sense to automate entries/exits so you’re not chained to the screen. We also walk through a few trade structures—including the much-misunderstood Reverse Iron Condor (RIC)—and talk about portfolio-level thinking: position sizing, diversification across edges, and why “one-lotting” more often than not can save your sanity.

What we cover:

• Why end-of-day data lies for options backtests and how 1-minute, intraday pricing changes the conclusions (stops, profit targets, and whether you even got filled).
• The rise of 0DTE and why intraday realism matters way more than it did for 45–90 DTE trades.
• The “Punisher”: stress-testing backtests with slippage, fills, and tougher assumptions so results hold up in live trading.
• Liquidity matters: why OO focuses on top tickers (SPX, SPY, QQQ, etc.), and the pros/cons of instruments like XSP.
• RICs (Reverse Iron Condors) as long-gamma plays: when long premium + the right signal can still have positive expectancy, and sizing so a few losses don’t nuke the account.
• Credit-spread philosophy: structure ≠ edge. Edge comes from when you put it on (signals), then you pick the simplest structure that monetizes that edge.
• Automation better than willpower: broker-resting stops, time windows, and signal-gated entries so your plan runs even when you’re walking the dog.
• Sizing & psychology: allocations as a strategy; why many traders should downshift to one-lots more often; diversifying edges (theta harvest + long-gamma + price-action) on the same ticker.
• My ASD signal (Alpha Crunching): using Average Strength Deviation as a weekly, day-of-week filter; combining ASD with simple MAs/EMAs for “aggressive” ATM put-credit spreads; converting those rules into hands-off automations.
• Broker support today: Schwab, Tastytrade, Tradier (IB not currently supported for U.S. retail cloud API).

Key takeaways:

• Backtests need intraday realism or they’re just stories.
• Structure is just the container; edge = timing + conditions.
• If your edge is “market stability”, credit spreads monetize it better than naked long calls.
• Automation lets you run more strategies with smaller per-trade risk and fewer emotional mistakes.
• Test harshly (slippage, fills, stops) so live results rhyme with backtests.

Resources & links:

• 🔧 https://OptionOmega.com (backtesting + automation) — Use code SMOT for 50% off.
• 📈 https://AlphaCrunching.com (signals, forecasts, ASD/WTR/TTR, weekly trade ideas) Use code SPX50 for 50% off first year.

This Week in Options Trading with Eric & Brian 🎙️📈

In this episode, Eric and Brian recap a volatile week in the markets, share updates on recent SPX trades, and walk through trade setups they’re watching. Topics include:

• Last week’s market moves, Powell’s comments, and how they affected options positions
• An Intel trade idea: building a position with stock, covered calls, and long-term outlook
• A deep dive into a broken wing butterfly setup on Carvana and why it flips the risk/reward compared to standard spreads
• Key economic events on this week’s calendar (GDP, core PCE, jobs data) and how they may impact price action
• Tools for traders: Forex Factory, Unusual Whales options flow, and Alpha Crunching’s new ASD forecast research

Whether you’re into SPX spreads, directional trades, or income strategies, this session covers practical setups and the thought process behind them.

👉 Catch the live session every week by RSVPing at https://stockmarketoptionstrading.net/events.

👉 Join the conversation in the Alpha Crunching Discord to access research, options flow tools, and weekly trade ideas.

Welcome to the first segment on the show of This Week in Options Trading with Eric O’Rourke and Brian Terry! We’ll be going live every Monday at 12pm ET to share option strategies, market setups, and answer community questions in real time.

👉 To RSVP for future live sessions: https://stockmarketoptionstrading.net/events

In this kickoff episode, Eric walks through the Monday 7DTE Put Credit Spread strategy powered by Alpha Crunching’s Weekly Triumph Rate (WTR). He compares backtest results of holding to expiration versus taking early profits and shows why risk/reward balance is key for long-term success. We also dig into trade management, allocation, and automation using Option Omega.

Brian shares one of his go-to strategies—the Poor Man’s Covered Call (Diagonal Call Spread)—breaking down a real trade example in $ANET, including strike selection, rolling, and risk management.

We also touch on the week’s economic calendar, including the FOMC minutes and Jackson Hole Symposium, and how traders might factor these events into their setups.

👉 To RSVP for future live sessions: https://stockmarketoptionstrading.net/events

👉 Watch replays on YouTube: Stock Market Options Trading channel

⚠️ Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and not financial advice. Options involve risk and are not suitable for every investor.

In this week's episode, we cover the major economic reports and catalysts driving the markets and what caused the current break in the uptrend.

🎥 Mentioned in this episode:

Check out the latest YouTube video where Eric explains how the ASD indicator from Alpha Crunching helps spot slowing momentum and potential SPX trend reversals — before they happen.

📺 Watch here: https://youtu.be/H48aAu4WxBA

💡 Get 50% off your first year at AlphaCrunching.com

🎧 Episode Description – SPX 0DTE Risk-Free Profit Forest

In this episode, Eric breaks down a risk-free SPX trade using the “Profit Forest” approach—where the focus is on locking in gains and building multiple profit zones on the risk graph, rather than chasing max reward with max risk.

📺 Watch the full video version of this trade on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/ONQCRfjrMZ0

📹 Also check out these related videos on risk-free 0DTE setups:

• 🌲SPX 0DTE Iron Butterfly Risk Free Walkthrough
• https://youtu.be/AUpTVV-a4sQ
• 
  
• 🌲SPX 0DTE Options Strategy: Risk Free Trade Walkthrough
• https://youtu.be/nSLOBTKgvmw
• 
  
• 🌳SPX 0DTE Risk Free Profit Forest Trade: Green Everywhere!
• https://youtu.be/mojAC_DXZ6M

📈 Get your edge with AlphaCrunching.com

Access daily SPX forecasts and backtested trade ideas to help guide your SPX decisions.

👉 Use code SPX50 for 50% off your first month/year: https://www.alphacrunching.com

💬 Join the free SMOT community

Chat with other SPX traders, explore trade alerts, and access educational content at:

🔗 https://www.stockmarketoptionstrading.net

SPX Market Outlook, FOMC Setup & This Week’s Trade Ideas"

In this episode of the Stock Market Options Trading Podcast, Eric breaks down the current SPX market setup heading into a big week of economic events, including Wednesday’s FOMC meeting. After last Friday’s selloff, the market rallied hard on Monday—highlighting the continued volatility.

Eric recaps last week’s inflation data (CPI, PPI), stronger-than-expected consumer sentiment, and why these may give the Fed room to ease up. He also walks through this week’s AlphaCrunching forecast, revealing a potential shift toward late-week weakness and how that’s impacting his current trades.

Plus, you'll hear the latest backtested trade ideas, including put credit spreads and hedge setups—all driven by AlphaCrunching’s proprietary Triumph Rate metrics and trend data.

📈 Join Alpha Crunching for weekly SPX forecasts, trade ideas, and strategy tools: AlphaCrunching.com

🎙️ Chat with Eric and other traders in the free SMOT Community at StockMarketOptionsTrading.net

The S&P 500 is closing in on all-time highs, but is momentum starting to fade? In this episode, Eric O’Rourke breaks down the key SPX levels to watch, including major option walls, falling volatility, and upcoming economic events like CPI and PPI that could shake things up.

You'll also get a look at this week’s Alpha Crunching trade ideas and market forecast, plus how Eric is managing a mix of put and call credit spreads to stay balanced as the uptrend continues.

🔹 Get 50% off Alpha Crunching tools with code SPX50 at AlphaCrunching.com

🔹 Join the free SMOT Community Chat to connect with other traders at StockMarketOptionsTrading.net

New video episodes now available on YouTube! 🎥 Just search for Stock Market Options Trading.

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Options trading involves risk and is not suitable for all investors. Nothing discussed should be considered financial or investment advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial professional.

In this episode, I’m joined by longtime trader and retiree Brian Terry to talk about the realities of trading in retirement. We cover how trading can keep your mind sharp, add structure to your day, and become a fulfilling part-time income stream. Brian also shares practical tips for managing risk, avoiding overtrading, and staying consistent—especially when you’re no longer working a 9–5.

👉 Come join the free community at StockMarketOptionsTrading.net where Brian and I hang out and discuss trades in real time. You’ll also find on-demand courses and our private trading group where we post trade alerts and educational content each week.

Whether you’re retired or just planning ahead, this episode has something for every trader looking to keep learning and stay engaged.

🎯 Want to trade alongside us? Get a 30-day trial to the Alpha Traders Club at StockMarketOptionsTrading.net. Inside, you'll get access to real-time trade alerts, weekly trade breakdowns, and a private chat community focused on SPX options and consistent strategy execution.

In this week’s episode of the Stock Market Options Trading Podcast, Eric recaps last week’s pullback in SPX, driven by fresh EU tariff headlines, and how the forecast data from Alpha Crunching has responded. He highlights the shift in market tone based on the Average Strength Deviation (ASD) metric, which has now gone negative — a potential warning sign for deeper weakness ahead.

👉 You can access the Average Strength Deviation (ASD) indicator and all Alpha Crunching forecast tools at https://AlphaCrunching.com — use code SPX50 for 50% off your first plan.

Eric also walks through a potential SPX call credit spread trade he's considering around the 6000 level, outlining the logic behind the strike selection and risk management with a possible roll into an iron condor.

Plus, he touches on key option levels from SpotGamma, the latest consumer confidence data, and how this week’s economic calendar (including GDP and inflation reports) might play into market moves.

🎥 Watch the video version here: [Insert YouTube link]

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not financial advice. Always do your own due diligence before making any trading or investment decisions.

This week on the Stock Market Options Trading Podcast, I'm joined by fellow trader Brian Terry as we break down the market’s reaction to the Moody’s U.S. credit downgrade, recent economic data, and the relentless uptrend in the S&P 500. We dive into current market sentiment, the Fed’s role this week, and a few trade setups we’re watching closely—including a bullish broken wing butterfly on DASH and a 7-day SPX put credit spread from the AlphaCrunching.com trade ideas tab.

We also touch on using tools like SpotGamma levels, Truflation, and how we're managing trades during this volatile yet resilient market environment.

💬 Want to join the conversation and see all the charts we’re talking about?

Head over to https://www.stockmarketoptionstrading.net and become a free member to access the trade feed, comment on episodes, and follow along with our strategies.

📈 Volatility, Indicators, and the SPX Weekly Forecast | Episode 151

In this episode of the Stock Market Options Trading Podcast, I cover how volatile price action can distort technical indicators—and what that means for traders. Using Alpha Crunching’s SPX Weekly Forecast as an example, we look at how past outlier moves (like the recent tariff news spike) are dropping out of the data and shifting indicator readings.

I also walk through:

• Why this week’s forecast still looks bullish despite a lower net gain
• The impact of recent news and options positioning on key SPX levels
• Potential trade ideas using put credit spreads and how I’m managing them
• Updated weekly Triumph Rates (WTR) and what they say about market conditions

🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube to follow along with charts and levels

https://youtu.be/rd5RFVy7WKs

Mentioned Tools:

Alpha Crunching – Weekly forecast & trade ideas

https://www.alphacrunching.com (Use code SPX50 for 50% Discount)

SpotGamma – Daily options positioning updates

https://spotgamma.com

Want to connect? Find me on X:

Eric O'Rourke: https://twitter.com/OptionAssassin

After that, join other listeners at https://StockMarketOptionsTrading.net and join the community for free right now where there are daily posts with clues to the where the market may be headed next.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice.