Professional Documents
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0 DTE SPX “MEIC”
Multiple Entry Iron Condors
and the Importance of
Backtesting
January 16, 2023
By Tammy Chambless
This presentation is for informational purposes only. This presentation and all information
contained herein is not investment advice, and not intended to be investment advice. Any trades
you make based on this information are your responsibility alone. The presenter disclaims any
liability, loss, or risk resulting directly or indirectly, from the use or application of any of the
contents of this presentation.
• What is a 0 DTE trade? Slide 3
• Daily Swings/ Exp. Moves vs. Actual Moves Slide 5
• MEIC Strategy Outline Slide 8
• Determining # of Contracts Slide 10
• Double Stops Slide 11
• Distribution of Daily Results Slide 12
• Entry Time Performance Chart Slide 15
• Types of Stops Slide 16
What We’ll Cover • Backtesting Size of Stops Slide 19
• Backtesting Credit Targets Slide 23
• Backtesting Entry Times Slide 27
• Understanding Backtesting Results Slide 31
• Resources Slide 33
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• 0 Days to Expiration means no overnight risk.
This is a great advantage to this trade!
• Cash Settled so no risk of assignment.
• SPX has tax advantages (Section 1256 in the US
IRS Code). 60% of profits are taxed at the long‐
What is a 0 DTE term tax rate and 40% are taxed at the short‐term
tax rate.
trade? • You can use XSP for smaller accounts. It is 1/10
the size of SPX and it has the same benefits of
SPX. If you trade less than 10 contracts of XSP
there is no CBOE fee.
• You can use SPY, but there is risk of assignment
and you’ll need to close out your positions prior
to the EOD.
Things were fine until Dec 2021/Jan 2022
• Things changed in the market and my 0 DTE strategy was getting stopped out at
an increasing rate.
• I took about 20% drawdown in January and decided that something has changed
and I paused my trading until I could study it further.
• What I found was that due to inflation, coming interest rate increases, the war in
Ukraine, and other factors, the intraday moves in the market were greater than
could be tolerated by my 0 DTE strategy.
• I searched for a way to trade with better results in this market.
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Daily Point Swings from Lows to Highs
Actual Move Exceeding Expected Move
Intraday Moves that Exceed Expected Move
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MEIC: Multiple Entry Iron Condors
• The following information is the result of a lot of testing and working with
others to find strategies that would work in this market.
• I did not originate this strategy. I have built on the work of others. This is a
work in progress.
• I have live traded this since August 2022.
• The following information shows my research on this strategy.
• You may find other things that will improve this strategy.
• Enter multiple tranches on a regular
interval using 0 DTE options on SPX. I
enter every 30 minutes starting at
MEIC: 12:00 EST. I enter 6 tranches.
• Enter or leg into an Iron Condor using
Multiple Entry Put and Call Credit Spreads.
Iron Condor • Target a minimum of $1.25 credit on
each side. The average credit is
Rules around $1.50.
• I typically sell a 25 to 30‐point spread.
• Set a 1x Net Stop (2x the Initial
Credit) on each side and manage each
side separately.
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Iron Condor with a
1x Net Stop Profit
or Loss Sell 3860 Put Sell 3940 Call
Sell a Call Credit Spread and a
Put Credit Spread, 25 points $125+/‐
wide +/‐ each. $0 3860 3900 3940
‐$125+/‐ Stock Price
The credit for each side should
be $1.25 or greater. ($2.50
minimum combined)
Set Stop on each side to trigger ‐$2500
at 2x the initial credit for a 1x Buy 3835 Put Buy 3965 Call
net loss
© Tammy Chambless 2023
Please note that the prices and other statistics are hypothetical, and do not reflect the impact, if any, of certain market factors such as liquidity, slippage
and commissions.,
• Never risk more than 2%+/‐ of your account in
any one trading day. (Total of all MEIC trades)
• Max net loss using a stop is no more than 1x+/‐
the initial credit. (Set stop for 2x the initial credit.)
Determining • Example: $100,000 Account. 2% of that is $2,000.
I set up the trades so that if I lose on all trades on
Number of both sides, a 1x net loss will not exceed that
amount.
Contracts: • If I get $150 credit for each side, that’s $300 for the
whole IC, x 6 tranches = $1800. This is less than
2% of my account, therefore okay.
Please note that the prices and other statistics are hypothetical, and do not reflect the impact, if any, of certain market factors such as liquidity, slippage
© Tammy Chambless 2023 10
and commissions.,
10
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• If we are stopped out on only one side, using a 1x
net stop that means we will be at breakeven.
• If we stop out on both sides, we will take a 1x loss
on the trade.
• How many trades stop out on both sides using this
Double strategy?
Stops:
Please note that the prices and other statistics are hypothetical, and do not reflect the impact, if any, of certain market factors such as liquidity, slippage
© Tammy Chambless 2023 11
and commissions.,
11
Backtest Results
This graph shows the % of all
trades on each day that are
stopped out.
This illustrates why this strategy is
so profitable.
# of Days where Stop Outs were less than 50% of the trades that day: 401 (58.7%) Profitable Days
# of Days where Stop Outs were more than 50% of the trades that day: 113 (16.6%) Losing Days
# of Days where Stop Outs were at 50% of the Trades that day: 169 (24.7%) Breakeven Days
683 Total Trading Days in Study from 2019 through 2022
© Tammy Chambless 2023
Please note that the prices and other statistics are hypothetical, and do not reflect the impact, if any, of certain market factors such as liquidity, slippage
and commissions.,
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Live Trading Results
This graph shows the % of all
trades on each day that are
stopped out.
This illustrates why this strategy
is so profitable.
# of Days where Stop Outs were less than 50% of the trades that day: 31 (43.1%) Profitable Days
# of Days where Stop Outs were more than 50% of the trades that day: 18 (25.0%) Losing Days
# of Days where Stop Outs were at 50% of the Trades that day: 23 (31.9%) Breakeven Days
72 Total Trading Days in Study from Aug 16 – Dec 30, 2022
© Tammy Chambless 2023
Please note that the prices and other statistics are hypothetical, and do not reflect the impact, if any, of certain market factors such as liquidity, slippage
and commissions.,
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• Are some entry times better than others?
• Enter on a regular interval each day.
Entry Times • Suggested entries are every 30 minutes, but you
can choose what works best for you.
• Near the end of the day, if you are using a target
credit, your trade will be closer and closer to
the money as the day progresses.
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• Market Stop Order – You set the price at which the
stop triggers, and the broker closes at whatever
price they can get. Set Trigger for 2x the initial
credit.
• Stop Limit Order – You set the price at which the
stop triggers and you set the maximum price you
are willing to pay to close. Set Trigger for 2x the
Setting the initial credit and Limit for $.30‐.40 more.
Stops • Stop on a Condition – Example: Exit the short leg
when the stock hits a certain price.
• Manual Stop – You set a price mentally at which you
will get out and then enter a market order to exit.
(Worst performer!)
Please note that the prices and other statistics are hypothetical, and do not reflect the impact, if any, of certain market factors such as liquidity, slippage
and commissions., © Tammy Chambless 2023 16
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• I use a Stop Limit Order.
• Example: I got $1.50 credit for the calls and $1.60 credit
for the puts.
• I set the stop on the spread on the call side for $3.00 and
the limit at $3.30.
• ($.30 spread on the call side between the stop and the limit.)
• I set the stop on the spread on the put side for $3.20 and
the limit at $3.60.
Type of Stop • ($.40 spread on the put side between the stop and the limit.)
• About an hour before close, I change the stops to just be
on the short legs. I keep the same values for the stop.
• Don’t use a Stop Limit order if you can’t watch the
market. Occasionally they will get blown through
without filling.
Please note that the prices and other statistics are hypothetical, and do not reflect the impact, if any, of certain market factors such as liquidity, slippage
and commissions., © Tammy Chambless 2023 17
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• Will performance improve if we vary the
parameters of the trade?
• How does trading different stops affect the
Backtest trade?
Results:
2022 • How do different entry times perform?
• How do different credit targets perform?
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• Intuitively, you might think that if you
Let’s look at increase the stop multiple from 1x net to 1.5x
net or 2x net losses, you might avoid some of
the Size of the the stop outs.
Stops • Let’s do some backtesting to see if that
theory proves to be true.
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Test 1‐Basic strategy with a 1x net stop (2022 only): $1.25 credit on each side of an iron condor, 25 wide wings, 1x net
stop (2x the initial credit), entering 6 times or tranches every 30 minutes, starting at 12:00 EST. Relying on the stop or
take to expiration. I included commissions and slippage.
Test 1 – Basic Strategy with 1x net stop
189% Profit
6.9% Drawdown
Please note that the prices and other statistics are hypothetical, and do not reflect the impact, if any, of certain market factors such as liquidity, slippage © Tammy Chambless 2023
and commissions.,
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Test 2‐Basic strategy but with a 1.5x net stop (2022 only): $1.25 credit on each side of an iron condor, 25 wide wings,
1.5x net stop (2.5x the initial credit), entering 6 times or tranches every 30 minutes, starting at 12:00 EST. Relying on
the stop or take to expiration. I included commissions and slippage.
Test 2– Basic Strategy with 1.5x Net Stop
119% Profit
10.6% Drawdown
Please note that the prices and other statistics are hypothetical, and do not reflect the impact, if any, of certain market factors such as liquidity, slippage © Tammy Chambless 2023
and commissions.,
21
Test 3‐Basic strategy but with a 2x net stop (2022 only): $1.25 credit on each side of an iron condor, 25 wide wings,
2x net stop (3x the initial credit), entering 6 times or tranches every 30 minutes, starting at 12:00 EST. Relying on the
stop or take to expiration. I included commissions and slippage.
Test 3 – Basic Strategy with 2x Net Stop
108.7% Profit
15.5% Drawdown
Please note that the prices and other statistics are hypothetical, and do not reflect the impact, if any, of certain market factors such as liquidity, slippage © Tammy Chambless 2023
and commissions.,
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• Intuitively, you might think that if you reduce
the size of the credit target you’ll be further
away from the money and the % of wins will
increase and you’ll improve returns.
Let’s Look at • Conversely, you might think that if you
Credit Targets increase the size of the credit target it may
help the profitability of the trade.
• Let’s do some backtesting to see which of
these theories prove to be true.
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Test 1‐Basic strategy with a 1x net stop (2022 only): $1.25 credit on each side of an iron condor, 25 wide wings, 1x net
stop (2x the initial credit), entering 6 times or tranches every 30 minutes, starting at 12:00 EST. Relying on the stop or
take to expiration. I included commissions and slippage.
Test 1 – Basic Strategy with $1.25 Credit Target
189% Profit
6.9% Drawdown
Please note that the prices and other statistics are hypothetical, and do not reflect the impact, if any, of certain market factors such as liquidity, slippage © Tammy Chambless 2023
and commissions.,
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Test 4‐Basic strategy with a 1x net stop (2022 only): $0.80 credit on each side of an iron condor, 25 wide wings, 1x net
stop (2x the initial credit), entering 6 times or tranches every 30 minutes, starting at 12:00 EST. Relying on the stop or
take to expiration. I included commissions and slippage.
Test 4 – Basic Strategy with $.80 Credit
87% Profit
3.5% Drawdown
Please note that the prices and other statistics are hypothetical, and do not reflect the impact, if any, of certain market factors such as liquidity, slippage © Tammy Chambless 2023
and commissions.,
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Test 5‐Basic strategy with a 1x net stop (2022 only): $2.00 credit on each side of an iron condor, 25 wide wings, 1x net
stop (2x the initial credit), entering 6 times or tranches every 30 minutes, starting at 12:00 EST. Relying on the stop or
take to expiration. I included commissions and slippage.
Test 5– Basic Strategy with $2.00 Credit
830% Profit
11.4% Drawdown
Please note that the prices and other statistics are hypothetical, and do not reflect the impact, if any, of certain market factors such as liquidity, slippage © Tammy Chambless 2023
and commissions.,
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• In the past we have entered early to be able
to capture a higher premium since premium
near the open and because premium is
Let’s look at decaying through the day.
Entry Times • Will entering our tranches earlier or later
perform better for this strategy?
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Test 1‐Basic strategy with a 1x net stop (2022 only): $1.25 credit on each side of an iron condor, 25 wide wings, 1x net
stop (2x the initial credit), entering 6 times or tranches every 30 minutes, starting at 12:00 EST. Relying on the stop or
take to expiration. I included commissions and slippage.
Entry Times in this
study:
12:00 12:30
1:00 1:30
2:00 2:30
Test 1 – Basic Strategy starting at 12:00
189% Profit
6.9% Drawdown
Please note that the prices and other statistics are hypothetical, and do not reflect the impact, if any, of certain market factors such as liquidity, slippage © Tammy Chambless 2023
and commissions.,
28
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Test 6‐Basic strategy with a 1x net stop (2022 only): $1.25 credit on each side of an iron condor, 25 wide wings, 1x net
stop (2x the initial credit), entering 6 times or tranches every 30 minutes, starting at 10:00 EST. Relying on the stop or
take to expiration. I included commissions and slippage.
Entry Times in this
study:
10:00 10:30
11:00 11:30
12:00 12:30
Test 6 – Basic Strategy starting at 10:00 EST.
89% Profit
7.1% Drawdown
Please note that the prices and other statistics are hypothetical, and do not reflect the impact, if any, of certain market factors such as liquidity, slippage © Tammy Chambless 2023
and commissions.,
29
Test 7‐Basic strategy with a 1x net stop (2022 only): $1.25 credit on each side of an iron condor, 25 wide wings, 1x net
stop (2x the initial credit), entering 6 times or tranches every 15 minutes, starting at 1:30 EST. Relying on the stop or
take to expiration. I included commissions and slippage.
Entry Times in this
study:
13:30 13:45
14:00 14:15
14:30 14:45
Test 7 – Basic Strategy starting at 1:30 EST.
358% Profit
9.6% Drawdown
Please note that the prices and other statistics are hypothetical, and do not reflect the impact, if any, of certain market factors such as liquidity, slippage © Tammy Chambless 2023
and commissions.,
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• Backtesting looks at what might have happened in the
Understanding past based on a certain set of rules.
Backtest Results • This does not mean that you can or should expect this
performance in the future.
• Results in actual trading may vary from the backtesting
results because the backtest is using 1 minute data, and
that interval may not capture some stops.
• There’s a psychological component to trading that
backtesting does not take into account.
• Trading with a set of rules helps remove some of the
emotions from trading, but they can still be a factor. We
are all human.
• Backtesting ignores the news at the time, ignores market
conditions, and ignores many factors that may influence
you as a trader in live trading.
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Backtesting
Compared to • How do live results compare to backtested results?
Live Trading • Backtesting is based on 1 minute data. It will miss an
occasional stop out.
• I did a study comparing a backtest and live trading over
the same period of time – from Aug. 16 – Dec 30, 2022.
• Backtest Results: 59% winners/41% losers = 4.92 losers
out of every 12 trades
• Live Trading Results: 53% winners/47% losers = 5.64
losers out of every 12 trades
• Backtest showed a 100% return on Buying Power.
• Live trading resulted in a 58% return on Buying Power.
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• Backtesting Software
• “Build Your Own Backtest”
• Built specifically for MEIC trades
• Cost – Free (At least currently)
• Available at www.tradeautomationtoolbox.com
• It is true automated backtesting software.
• It has data on only SPX.
• It has intraday data on a 1‐minute interval for SPX.
Resources • It has excellent trade analysis summary.
• This was built for the MEIC trade. You can test many
different parameters for that trade:
• Enter by credit target or delta
• Determine quantity by fixed number of Contracts or by
% of Buying power per entry.
• Set various Stop Multiples or Profit Targets.
• Can enter multiple times a day without having to
rerun a test on each time.
• You can review individual trades.
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• Backtesting Software
• OptionOmega.com
• Cost – Approx. $99/month or $599/year.
• You can use this link to get 50% off:
https://optionomega.com/register/tammychambless
• It is true automated backtesting software.
• It has data on several underlyings: SPX, SPY, IWM & QQQ.
Resources • It has intraday data on a 1‐minute intervals for those
underlyings.
• It has excellent risk graphs and trade analysis tools.
• You can test many different strategies and use many
different parameters.
• You can review individual trades.
• You can group results in “Portfolios” for analysis.
• I recommend selecting “Cap Non‐Opening Losses at Stop
Loss”.
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• Backtesting Software
• OptionNet Explorer.com
• Cost – Approx. $60/month. (in British Pounds)
1‐month trial is free.
• It is not a true backtesting software, but it acts
Resources similarly to TOS OnDemand.
• It has intraday data, where most backtesting
programs don’t.
• Also it has the Greeks for intraday data.
• It has excellent risk graphs and trade analysis tools.
• Use the Beta Version for latest features.
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• Email:
• Feel free to contact me at
tamchambless@gmail.com
• “TastyTrade Options” Group on Facebook
Resources • https://www.facebook.com/groups/1930565613719977
• Lots of great traders and we keep it very civil.
• A good place to see what strategies are working for
traders.
• There are quite a few people who trade 0DTE options.
We post frequently about what’s working and what’s not
working.
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The End!
This presentation is for informational purposes only. This presentation and all
information contained herein is not investment advice, and not intended to be
investment advice. Any trades you make based on this information are your
responsibility alone. The presenter disclaims any liability, loss, or risk resulting directly
or indirectly, from the use or application of any of the contents of this presentation.
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