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Lesson 11: Common Mistakes (And How to Not Donate Money)

Promise: Recognize the failure modes before they happen.

The Reality​

Most "option losses" aren't bad luck. They're preventable errors:

Category
What Goes Wrong
Lesson to Review
Execution mistakes
Wide spreads, slippage, bad order types
Lesson 8
Conceptual confusion
Payoff vs P&L mix-up
Lesson 3
Risk sizing errors
Over-leveraging short positions
Lesson 10
Platform ignorance
Expiry time, settlement mechanics
Lesson 9
💡

Most "option losses" are execution, misunderstanding, or risk sizing. Not bad luck.

Mistake #1: Payoff vs P&L Confusion​

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The error: Thinking an ITM option at expiry means profit.
🚨
Reality: P&L = Payoff − Premium. An option can expire ITM and still lose money.
Component
Value
Premium paid
$3,000
Strike
$100,000
Settlement price
$102,000
Payoff (ITM!)
$2,000
P&L = Payoff − Premium
−$1,000
💡
Fix

Always think in terms of P&L, not payoff. Know your breakeven before entering.

→ Review: Lesson 3: Payoff vs P&L

Mistake #2: Trading Wide Spreads​

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The error: Using market orders on illiquid options without checking the spread.
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Reality: Wide spreads can cost 10-20% of the option price in execution alone.
Price Level
Value
Bid
$800
Ask
$1,200
Spread
$400 (33% of mid!)
You buy at
$1,200
Now worth (mid)
$1,000
Instant loss
−$200
💡
Fix

Always check the spread before trading. Use limit orders on wide markets.

→ Review: Lesson 8: Execution on Orderbook

Mistake #3: Ignoring Expiry Time and Settlement​

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The error: Assuming you can trade until the last second, or using spot price as settlement.
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Reality: Trading stops at 08:00 UTC sharp. Settlement uses 30-minute TWAP, not spot.
Rule
Detail
Trading cutoff
08:00 UTC
Your local time
Settlement method
30-minute TWAP (not spot)

Plan: "I'll wait until the last minute to close"

Reality: Orders rejected at 08:00 UTC

Result: Stuck with settlement outcome, no exit possible

💡
Fix

Close positions well before expiry if you need to exit. Know the TWAP mechanics.

→ Review: Lesson 9: Expiry & Settlement

Mistake #4: Selling Options Without Margin Buffer​

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The error: Selling options for "easy premium" without understanding worst-case scenarios.
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Reality: Short options have large or unlimited downside. Near-expiry gamma can cause rapid margin calls.
What Happened
Value
Premium received
$500
Strike sold
$100,000
BTC at entry
$95,000
BTC overnight
$105,000
Your loss
−$5,000 (10× premium)
Result
Margin call → Liquidation

How to Avoid This

  • Model worst-case scenarios before selling
  • Keep significant margin buffer (2×+ recommended)
  • Understand that near-expiry shorts are especially dangerous (high gamma)

→ Review: Lesson 10: Margining Basics

Mistake #5: Confusing IV with Direction​

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The error: Thinking high IV means bullish or bearish.
🚨
Reality: IV is about magnitude of movement, not direction. High IV = expensive options.
Timeline
What Happened
Before event
IV spikes to 100%
Your thought
"High IV = bullish!" → Buy calls
Event passes
IV drops to 60% (vol crush)
BTC price
Flat, didn't move
Your calls
Lose value despite being "right"
💡
Fix

Separate your vol view from your directional view. If you're buying options, you're implicitly long IV. If IV drops, you lose even if direction was correct.

→ Review: Lesson 5: Implied Volatility

Mistake #6: Ignoring Gamma Near Expiry​

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The error: Holding short-dated options without understanding how fast they move.
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Reality: Gamma is highest for ATM options near expiry. Small spot moves cause large delta changes.
Scenario
Value
Time to expiry
1 day
Initial delta (ATM call)
0.50
BTC moves
+$2,000
New delta
0.75
P&L impact
Much larger than expected
💡
Fix

Respect gamma, especially near expiry. Short-dated ATM options are the most "twitchy."

→ Review: Lesson 6: Greeks 101

Top 6 Mistakes Summary​

#
Mistake
One-Line Fix
1
Payoff vs P&L confusion
Always calculate P&L = Payoff − Premium
2
Trading wide spreads
Check spread before trading; use limits
3
Ignoring expiry mechanics
Know 08:00 UTC cutoff and TWAP settlement
4
Selling without margin buffer
Model worst case; keep 2×+ margin buffer
5
Confusing IV with direction
IV = magnitude, not direction
6
Ignoring gamma near expiry
Short-dated ATM = high gamma = twitchy

Pre-Trade Checklist​

Before every trade, ask yourself:

✅

Pre-Trade Checklist

Run through this before every position

  • What's my max loss? Can I state it in one number?
  • What's the spread? Is it acceptable?
  • When does it expire? Have I accounted for 08:00 UTC?
  • What's my breakeven? (If directional)
  • Am I paying for IV? Is vol elevated?
  • Do I have enough margin buffer? (If selling)

Test your understanding before moving on.

Q: Name the #1 conceptual mistake beginners make with options.
Q: Name the #1 execution mistake.
Q: Name one Hypercall-specific rule you must remember.

💡 Tip: Try answering each question yourself before revealing the answer.

Congratulations!​

You've completed the Options Explainers (0→1) course.

🎓

What You Now Understand

  • What options are and how to read them
  • Payoff vs P&L (the #1 thing most people miss)
  • Why options have time value and how IV affects price
  • The four Greeks and what they measure
  • How to pick strategies based on direction and vol views
  • Execution costs and orderbook mechanics
  • Hypercall-specific settlement and margin rules
  • The mistakes to avoid
🚀

Next Steps

  • Place a small risk-defined trade (long option or spread)
  • Read the deeper docs: Standard Margin, Settlement
  • Explore the API for programmatic trading

See Also​

Navigation: ← Lesson 10: Margining Basics | Course Home →