Options trading

Options trading: build, backtest and inspect

Create an options strategy, explore completed historical backtests and inspect trades, pricing and strategy decisions.

As of 2026-10-10

Follow the example

Choose a step to follow the example. Opening a request lets you review it; it does not submit a job or change your account.

Start with one long call: authored process map
Authored task map. It describes what to inspect; it is not an account screenshot or a measured result.
Step 1 of 3

Start with one long call

Open the long-call example. It specifies SPY, the SMA50 entry, a $1,000 premium budget and trend/time exits, so you can follow one strategy before comparing spreads.

Open the long-call example
What you should see

One concrete example with saved rules, a completed curve and captured selected contracts.

Inspect its risk and pricing: authored process map
Authored task map. It describes what to inspect; it is not an account screenshot or a measured result.
Step 2 of 3

Inspect its risk and pricing

Follow the full history and the largest decline. Compare recorded fills with quote coverage, commissions and modeled slippage; read the SPY comparator assumptions.

What you should see

Risk and costs beside the return. An expiration payoff calculator is a different scenario from this historical result.

Preview a complete draft: authored process map
Authored task map. It describes what to inspect; it is not an account screenshot or a measured result.
Step 3 of 3

Preview a complete draft

Use the long-call guide's Aurora request. Inspect all opening and closing rules before saving or asking for a new test.

What you should see

A first draft that can be checked against the published example, with trading kept off.

From an idea to an inspectable result

  1. Create

    Write complete entry, contract-selection, allocation and exit rules, then verify the saved draft.

  2. Backtest

    Run fixed dates with declared capital and fees. Explore the full historical curve and trade events.

  3. Inspect

    Trace a signal through its selected contracts, size decision, filled orders and close.

15 algorithms with completed backtests

Explore long calls and puts, all four directional call and put spreads, condors, straddles, strangles, calendars, diagonals, butterflies and covered income strategies. Every page includes exact saved rules, its completed 2024 simulation, full curve and captured trade events. The calendar and diagonal candidates executed no trades; their pages show the resolver's rejection diagnostics.

Long call: rules and completed backtest

Buy one SPY call with a premium cap, trend exit and time exit. 2024 model: 31.16% return; 13.27% reported drawdown. Inspect the captured fills.

Open page

Bull call spread: rules and completed backtest

Buy an ATM SPY call and sell a higher-strike call with trend and time exits. 2024 model: 26.49% return; 14.19% reported drawdown. Inspect the captured fills.

Open page

Long put: algorithm and completed backtest

A bearish trend rule buys an ATM put and closes when the trend reverses or time runs short. 2024 model: -26.04% return; 41.94% reported drawdown. Inspect the captured fills.

Open page

Bear put spread: algorithm and completed backtest

A bearish debit spread buys the higher-strike put and sells the lower-strike put. 2024 model: -13.34% return; 23.74% reported drawdown. Inspect the captured fills.

Open page

Bull put spread: algorithm and completed backtest

A bullish credit spread sells the higher-strike put and buys a lower-strike hedge. Size depends on risk and collateral, not credit received. 2024 model: 12.68% return; 11.38% reported drawdown. Inspect the captured fills.

Open page

Bear call spread: algorithm and completed backtest

A bearish credit spread sells the lower-strike call and buys a higher-strike hedge. 2024 model: -11.21% return; 22.67% reported drawdown. Inspect the captured fills.

Open page

Iron condor: algorithm and completed backtest

A range rule combines a put credit spread and call credit spread. All four legs must share an expiration and close together. 2024 model: -5.50% return; 5.63% reported drawdown. Inspect the captured fills.

Open page

Long straddle: algorithm and completed backtest

A momentum trigger buys an ATM call and put. The move must cover both premiums and costs; direction alone does not decide the payoff. 2024 model: -5.35% return; 9.26% reported drawdown. Inspect the captured fills.

Open page

Long strangle: algorithm and completed backtest

A momentum trigger buys an OTM call and put. Both premiums are at risk if the subsequent move is too small. 2024 model: -5.98% return; 7.49% reported drawdown. Inspect the captured fills.

Open page

Call calendar spread: algorithm and completed backtest

A range rule buys a later-expiring call and sells a nearer-expiring call at the same target strike. Inspect different-expiration resolution and collateral. 2024 model: 0.00% return; 0.00% reported drawdown. No trades executed.

Open page

Call diagonal spread: algorithm and completed backtest

A bullish rule buys a later ATM call and sells a nearer higher-strike call. Different expirations change the payoff and early-assignment exposure. 2024 model: 0.00% return; 0.00% reported drawdown. No trades executed.

Open page

Iron butterfly: algorithm and completed backtest

A range rule sells ATM call and put premiums with purchased wings. Inspect the actual center strike, both wing widths and all four close orders. 2024 model: -16.37% return; 16.72% reported drawdown. Inspect the captured fills.

Open page

Long call butterfly: algorithm and completed backtest

A range rule buys lower and upper calls and sells two center calls. The 1:2:1 ratio and resolved wing symmetry determine its expiration payoff. 2024 model: -48.28% return; 59.21% reported drawdown. Inspect the captured fills.

Open page

Covered call: algorithm and completed backtest

Buy 100 SPY shares when stock holdings are empty, then write one higher-strike call during a bullish trend. Retain the stock when the call closes; inspect stock coverage and dividends separately. 2024 model: 11.81% return; 4.71% reported drawdown. Inspect the captured fills.

Open page

Cash-secured put: algorithm and completed backtest

A bullish trend rule writes one OTM put with sufficient starting cash for strike times multiplier. Inspect reserved collateral and buying power; received premium is not the risk budget. 2024 model: 0.57% return; 0.65% reported drawdown. Inspect the captured fills.

Open page

Learn the workflow

Explore payoff and cost assumptions

These interactive calculators use hypothetical inputs. They calculate expiration payoff or cost sensitivity; they do not run a historical test.

Aurora · AI research assistant

Try this in Aurora

Edit the request, then open it in Aurora. You choose when to send it.