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<b>A Note from the Author.</b> <p><b>Introduction.</b></p> <p><b>CHAPTER 1: The Language of Options.</b></p> <p>The Basics.</p> <p>Listed Options.</p> <p>Nomenclature.</p> <p>Longs and Shorts.</p> <p>A Bit More Terminology.</p> <p>Offsetting Option Trades.</p> <p>Expiration, Exercise, and Assignment.</p> <p>American versus European.</p> <p>Quotations.</p> <p>The Special Properties of Options.</p> <p>Time.</p> <p>Volatility.</p> <p>How Options Respond to Changing Conditions.</p> <p>The Greeks.</p> <p>The Role of the Market Maker.</p> <p>Volume and Open Interest.</p> <p><b>CHAPTER 2: Option Strategies.</b></p> <p>Long Call.</p> <p>Short Covered Call.</p> <p>Short Naked Call.</p> <p>Long Call with Short Stock.</p> <p>Long Put.</p> <p>Short Covered Put.</p> <p>Short Naked Put.</p> <p>Long Put with Long Stock.</p> <p>Equivalent Strategies.</p> <p>Combinational Strategies.</p> <p><b>CHAPTER 3: Volatility.</b></p> <p>Volatility Trading—Buying and Selling Volatility.</p> <p>Tools of the V-Trade.</p> <p>Selling High Volatility.</p> <p>Buying Low Volatility.</p> <p>Delta-Neutral Trading—In a Nutshell.</p> <p>Seasonal Patterns in the Grains.</p> <p>Other Commodities.</p> <p>Volatility Skew—What Is It and How Can I Use It?</p> <p>Some Words of Warning about Naked Writing.</p> <p>The Relationship between Volatility and Price.</p> <p><b>CHAPTER 4: The Option Trader’s Arsenal.</b></p> <p>Buying Nearby Options—The Swing Trader’s Perfect Tool.</p> <p>Debit Spreads—The Calm Approach.</p> <p>Strategies for Trending Markets.</p> <p>The Horizontal Spread—A Good Strategy in a Sideways Market.</p> <p>Credit Spreads—Say “Don’t Go There”.</p> <p>Condors—Two-Winged Creatures.</p> <p>The Backspread—A Directional Strategy that Costs Nothing If You Are Wrong.</p> <p>Covered Writing—Enhancing Your Returns.</p> <p>LEAPS—An Alternative to Stock.</p> <p>The Synthetic—Another Alternative to Stock.</p> <p>The Butterfly Spread—When You Have a Narrow Target Range.</p> <p>Using the Right Option Strategy.</p> <p><b>CHAPTER 5: Special Situations.</b></p> <p>Playing Takeovers.</p> <p>Letting the Options Market Tip You Off on Takeovers.</p> <p>Covered Writing with Convertible Securities.</p> <p>Investing in a Rough Market.</p> <p><b>CHAPTER 6: Theoretical and Practical Matters.</b></p> <p>Options Pricing Models.</p> <p>Coming Up with the Right Volatility.</p> <p>Volatility Skew.</p> <p>What Causes Volatility Skew?</p> <p>Balancing Factors.</p> <p>Put/Call Parity.</p> <p>The Greeks Revisited.</p> <p>True Delta and Gamma.</p> <p>Understanding the Limitations of Your Model.</p> <p>Dealing with Anomalies and Pricing Difficulties.</p> <p><b>CHAPTER 7: Tips for Beginners.</b></p> <p>The Psychological Battle.</p> <p>Trading Mistakes and What I Learned.</p> <p>Some Thoughts on How Trading Fits In with Real Life.</p> <p><b>CHAPTER 8: Encore.</b></p> <p>Directional Trading Using Pattern Recognition.</p> <p>Timing the Market Using the VIX.</p> <p>Why a VIX Spike Stops a Market Sell-Off.</p> <p><b>Starting the Business (on a Shoestring).</b></p> <p>Business Philosophy.</p> <p><b>Glossary.</b></p> <p><b>Index.</b></p>

<b>Leonard (Len) Yates</b> is a professional programmer with over twenty-five years of experience in software development. He is the President and founder of OptionVue Systems International, Inc., which specializes in options trading software and services. Prior to founding OptionVue Systems International, Len was a software engineer at Tandem Computers, and a hardware and software engineer at IBM Corp. An active options trader with a comprehensive knowledge of corporate finance and financial models, Len has made important contributions in the field of options pricing models since the founding of his company–the most notable being the "Yates adjustment" to the popular Black-Scholes model as applied to American-style puts. Len holds a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University.

<b>Experts are praising <i>High Performance Options Trading</i></b><br /><b>From OptionVue Systems' Len Yates</b> <p>"Finally! A book by fellow Boilermaker and option software guru Len Yates! This book is a must-read for anyone interested in a sensibly based, analytical approach to options trading–whether you’re a stock or a future options trader. And the story behind the creation of OptionVue™ is a fascinating bonus."<br />—<b>Larry McMillan</b>, McMillan Analysis Corp.; author of <i>Profit with Options and McMillan on Options</i></p> <p>"An expert on volatility-based trading, Len Yates applies the same practical approach to this book as he has to his highly regarded software. This is not a technician’s white paper, but a thorough, accessible guide that uses his real-life trading history to fully illustrate how you can succeed in the options markets."<br />—<b>Jim Bittman</b>, Senior Instructor, CBOE’s Options Institute; author of <i>Trading Index Options</i> and <i>Options for the Stock Investor</i></p> <p>"For over two decades Len Yates has helped bring options to the masses by way of his groundbreaking software, OptionVue 5. Now, his new book offers the same user-friendly style and insight to the world of options investing. I’m sure I speak for thousands of grateful investors when I say, ‘Well done, Len!’"<br />—<i>Jon "Doctor J" Najarian</i>, PTISecurities.com; author of <i>How I Trade Options</i></p> <p>"Len leads the reader through the complex subject of options by recounting his triumphs and defeats and explaining in plain English the essence of each strategy."<br />—<b>David Krell</b>, President and CEO, International Securities Exchange (ISE)</p> <p>"A must-read for all options traders."<br />—<b>Paul Forchione</b>, Opportunities in Options, Inc.</p> <p>"From a master of options analytics comes this practical guide to options trading. Beginning and advanced traders alike will appreciate Len’s thorough coverage of options strategies and his easy-to-read style."<br />—<b>Price Headley</b>, President, BigTrends.com; author of <i>Big Trends in Trading</i></p>

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