Calendar Spreads are when the iv is low and the gains will become more when iv increases as long call with long duration will have more increase in premium. watch this video at 11.50 minute he will explain.
Tasty trade videos on youtube have very good backtest and explanation for all strategies.
I did lot of thinking on the strategies and as you shared your dad's document 2nd bullet point, i am thinking this is by far the simplest way to make money whether upside,downside,sideways.
To capture more profit, i am thinking buy strike way in the money like 5 to 10% of stock price, 2 months out, and keep selling out of money 7 days out until the long call becomes free. need to work on the right strikes.i am thinking to have good width between long and short strikes, that way if all become in the money, then at least the width of the strikes will be profit.
for example i have spy 430 and 433 strikes now and they are way in the money like your iwm. my 430 will be at least 3$ more than 433 any given time.
Start paying closer attention at 3:30 when Gartman describes a way to analyze contract term structures to determine if Contango of Backwardization exists.
Then again at 4:15 when he describes his method to analyze a particular market (he uses commodities) once every two weeks, on a Tuesday, to determine structure movement towards Congtango, or towards Backwardization.
His theory being presented here is term structure analysis provides insight where the smart money is moving, large institutional money, and then jump on the train.
FYI, I am still a student of the elements of Contango and Backwardization, and using the current NatGas market as a play ground. I still have much to learn, but this is interesting to me.
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