Put Selling Checklist

Last updated: April 15, 2026

Use this checklist immediately before trade execution. It is designed to reduce beginner mistakes by forcing one consistent decision path.

What you will learn in 30 seconds

  • How to run a final setup, contract, and portfolio quality check.
  • How to distinguish pass vs fail signals before execution.
  • How to stop low-quality trades even when premium looks attractive.
Checklist sequenceRun setup quality, contract review, and portfolio fit in fixed order.

Pre-trade checklist

Run all checkpoints in order. If one critical checkpoint fails, pause the trade.

CheckpointPass SignalFail SignalAction
Underlying qualityYou are willing to own the stock after assignment.You would avoid owning this stock in a drawdown.Reject setup and move to next candidate.
Delta + BE contextDelta profile and BE Distance align with your risk profile.Delta is too aggressive or cushion context is too weak.Compare conservative alternative before approval.
Liquidity qualitySpread/activity context supports stable execution.Liquidity warning or weak fill context.Reject or downgrade to advanced-only watchlist.
Warning profileNo unresolved critical warning.Multiple unresolved warnings.Pause trade and validate warning impact in Analyzer.
Portfolio fitPosition keeps ticker/sector concentration in range.Trade breaks concentration or capital guardrails.Reject and rebalance candidate set.

Checklist examples

Example A: One failed checkpoint blocks execution

Setup: All checks pass except portfolio concentration, which turns sector overweight.

Interpretation: One critical fail is enough to stop the trade.

Next Step: Drop candidate and select next-best contract from another sector.

Example B: Premium is strong, but liquidity fails

Setup: Premium looks excellent, but spread and warning context fail liquidity checkpoint.

Interpretation: Execution-quality failure can negate premium advantage.

Next Step: Reject or postpone until contract quality improves.

Common checklist mistakes

  • Skipping checklist when a candidate looks obviously attractive.
  • Treating checklist as optional after Analyzer approval.
  • Ignoring one failed checkpoint because others look strong.
  • Changing checklist logic trade by trade.

Execution sequence

  1. Step 1Run checklist in fixed order.
  2. Step 2If a critical fail appears, stop and replace candidate.
  3. Step 3If all pass, validate final details in Analyzer Engine.
  4. Step 4Confirm portfolio fit and execute.