Thanks for this post. I will say in Augen's Expiration day plays the straddle appeals more to me or the trading around pinning which is what I try to set up with the butterflies. You're right he explains the ratio spread quite a bit. I just don't like anything with the unlimited risk element to it. I've noticed the Friday close spike on the SPX last couple of weeks but it had also been dead as a doornail last hours of the Monday and Wednesday expiration. I've had success with doing the straddle in /ES on expiration day usually putting it on the morning or early morning and taking it off in a couple hours. A little success with the ODTE Iron Fly in SPX last week. Flies into expiration are proving to be my more consistently profitable play for the time being.
Last 2 hours of SPX (ES) near expiration price movement has
been the same magntitude as last Friday. I am definitely not
ready to move from paper trading. Although last few hours
of both Monday and Wednesday offered long straddles and
ratio spread opportunities if I could time them right. I think this
has isolated my market timing problems. Maybe cash settled
Mon., Wed. and Fri SPX options are not better than ES options.
Any suggestions.