Short Guts

neutral2 legs

Sell ITM call + sell ITM put. Premium-rich short-vol structure; UNLIMITED risk.

Payoff shape at expiration (illustrative)

Shape illustration on a normalized underlying — open the Lab below to price it on a real option chain.

How it works

Sell an in-the-money call and an in-the-money put, collecting a large credit that includes intrinsic value. Profit if the stock stays between the strikes, where you keep the credit minus the strike gap you must pay back.

When to use it

Rarely — it is a short strangle expressed in ITM options. Only preferable when ITM pricing is unusually favorable.

What can go wrong

UNLIMITED in both directions, like every naked short-vol structure. Assignment risk is real from day one because both options start in the money.

New to options? Start with the free curriculum — or see which strategy fits your outlook.

Educational content — not investment advice. Options involve substantial risk and are not suitable for every investor. All trading on Opus Options Trading is simulated.