executing in extremly illiquid stock options

A question to the more experienced option traders:

It's mostly not advisable to trade illquid options - I know. Let's leave that general notion aside for a minute.

I am looking at a stock that is in very unique environment:
Conditional on a certain event happening in the coming 1-3 month the stock is likely going to fall > 50% or rise > 100-200%.
I am sure the move is going to be that extreme and I want to bet on the possibility of a rising price.

The problem is the extreme illquidity of the options.

My question is how could I get a position as cheap as possible?

I would go for the strike at $23 by putting in buy orders at $ 0.30 and steadily increasing the price hoping to get a fill < $ 4.70. It's probably unlikely to get a better fill.
(Screenshot is after hours but there is 0 open interest during market hours, too.)

Is there a better way to do it?
Your advice is very much appreciated.

If your approach makes sense usually in principle the transaction price is not crucial, as you can just change the exit price accordingly. The question is why on earth one has to make his life miserable dealing with monster spreads and transaction risk when there are more suitable instruments to use. It just makes no sense if the real objective is to print $$$...
 
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It's a deep value play. There is one event which is going to push the stock from $20 to > $60. If the trigger evemt doesn't work out the stock could tank to < $5. The stock will move extremly fast or even gap so no chance to get out if it tanks and probably slim chance of getting in if it rises instantly.
See that is a very special situation. I wouldn't brood about that for fun.
I estimate the chances for the up move to be 80% and down 20%.
Let's assume I am willing to invest $30k while the maximum loss shall not exceed $10k.
Given those restrictions and estimates it would more rational in my humble opinion to buy calls (even if they are illiquid) instead of the stock.
 
It's a deep value play. There is one event which is going to push the stock from $20 to > $60. If the trigger evemt doesn't work out the stock could tank to < $5. The stock will move extremly fast or even gap so no chance to get out if it tanks and probably slim chance of getting in if it rises instantly.
See that is a very special situation. I wouldn't brood about that for fun.
I estimate the chances for the up move to be 80% and down 20%.
Let's assume I am willing to invest $30k while the maximum loss shall not exceed $10k.
Given those restrictions and estimates it would more rational in my humble opinion to buy calls (even if they are illiquid) instead of the stock.

Essentially, gambling uses illiquid options. Really leading nowhere, in terms of consistent $$$.

You will find yourself essentially locked in a trap. It's like putting your head in the jaws of a lion waiting for some crumbs of meat to fall from its teeth and expecting that the lion, by some strange case of fate, won't take your head off instead :)

Sure it is fine if you like the thrill and adrenaline of the gamble..., but it has nothing to do with consistently profitable trading :)
 
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You don’t know what you are talking about.

Which option is likely to be mispriced? One where 10,000 people are modelling or one with 2 people modelling?


Essentially, gambling uses illiquid options. Really leading nowhere, in terms of consistent $$$.

You will find yourself essentially locked in a trap. It's like putting your head in the jaws of a lion waiting for some crumbs of meat to fall from its teeth and expecting that the lion, by some strange case of fate, won't take your head off instead :)

Sure it is fine if you like the thrill and adrenaline of the gamble..., but it has nothing to do with consistently profitable trading :)
 
At IB you can put the IB model price between the bid/ask in option trader. Right click on the header of the columns and choose model from the options sub menu.

Then walk your price up/down towards the model price.
 
At IB you can put the IB model price between the bid/ask in option trader. Right click on the header of the columns and choose model from the options sub menu.

Then walk your price up/down towards the model price.

Good to know! Thank you!
 
It's a deep value play. There is one event which is going to push the stock from $20 to > $60. If the trigger evemt doesn't work out the stock could tank to < $5. The stock will move extremly fast or even gap so no chance to get out if it tanks and probably slim chance of getting in if it rises instantly.
See that is a very special situation. I wouldn't brood about that for fun.
I estimate the chances for the up move to be 80% and down 20%.
Let's assume I am willing to invest $30k while the maximum loss shall not exceed $10k.
Given those restrictions and estimates it would more rational in my humble opinion to buy calls (even if they are illiquid) instead of the stock.
Yes, you example resembles many clinical stage biotech companies. Their options are mostly illiquid and with mile-wide spread.

I trade those options because to me it is just a cheap leverage vehicle and they are quite often miss-priced. I am not a good option trader, simply cannot compete with folks like @destriero trading traditional option vehicles.
 
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